Director of Student Media (Publications Leader)

Department

STUDENT MEDIA (BL-STMD-IUBLA)
Job Summary

The Director of Student Media serves as the publisher and executive leader for the IU Student Media umbrella organization. This position provides leadership and operational direction for both professional and student staff, serving as the chief financial and operational officer with a focus on long‑term sustainability. The findings and recommendations of the Task Force on Editorial Independence and Sustainability will guide this position's work. While responsible for the business, financial, and operational health of these brands, the director also acts as an advocate for student reporters, hosts, and producers, operating under a codified commitment to protect their editorial independence. This role provides students with an experiential learning laboratory that complements The Media School curriculum and prepares them for professional careers in the media industry. This position reports to the Executive Director of Integrated Public Media.
Department‑Specific Responsibilities

Develops and executes a comprehensive, multi-year business and revenue strategy in collaboration with student leadership. Oversee the creation of strategic and operating plans that reflect the unique goals, audiences, and resources of each media brand.
Pursues and embraces innovation to connect with new audiences and utilize new platforms. Launch and manage the Student Media Startup/Innovation Fund to support student‑led experimental media projects, with clear success metrics tied to audience growth and sustainability.
Creates strategic and operating plans for Student Media and present plans to appropriate bodies for input, review, and guidance. Consults with Student Media Advisory Board on significant policy changes or strategic adjustments.
Rigorously protects the editorial autonomy of Student Media outlets. Provides guidance on legal compliance, ethics, and operational best practices while ensuring content decisions remain the exclusive responsibility of student creators.
Works closely with The Media School advancement team to fundraise for Student Media initiatives. Serves on appropriate Student Media bodies, particularly to support fundraising initiatives, including the development of an endowed Student Media Center.
Supervises professional staff and mentors student journalists. Ensures student leaders actively participate in budget planning and operational decision‑making as part of their learning experience.
Directs and manages budgets for IU Student Media. Ensures financial strategies are transparent, aligned with The Media School's budget operations, and supports the sustainability of the umbrella organization and the individual outlets.
Serves as the primary representative of Student Media to The Media School and university leadership and encourages collaborations across campus.
Represents IU Student Media nationally through organizations such as the College Media Association to stay current with industry trends and career pathways.
Ensures all operations adhere to university, state, and federal policies.
General Responsibilities

Provides highest level of operational leadership and coordination of assigned staff members to define media production methodologies and standards; provides direction and guidance on high priority projects/initiatives.
Establishes short‑term business plans and long‑term operational objectives, including managing project timelines/deliverables and developing resource plans for multi‑project/multi‑phase initiatives.
Conducts a variety of personnel actions to include, but not limited to hiring, promotion, performance management, and dismissal.
Manages high level assignments and allocation of media production resources, including negotiating and coordinating initiatives that involve staff in other departments/areas/teams; may coordinate large‑scale projects with a wide range of audiences in support of academic initiatives.
Makes budgetary recommendations/proposals based on resource needs and ensures cost containment.
Researches and stays up to date on new industry production standards, technology, equipment, and methodology; responsible for the implementation of new protocols/procedures to address business needs.
Works collaboratively with other leaders across departments in recommending standards, best practices, and related policies/procedures.
Prepares management reports and summaries for senior administration, executive, steering and advisory committees; acts as advisor to executive committees; serves on various university committees, communities of practice, and task forces related to student media.
Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.
Education

Required: Bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism, or related field
Preferred: Master's degree in related field
Work Experience

Required: 4 years in relevant field
Required: 1 year of management experience in relevant field
Preferred: Experience with transformative change management, innovation and strategy development particularly within a media‑related field
Preferred: Experience in media production
Preferred: Experience with student media
Skills

Required: Proficient communication skills
Required: Maintains a high degree of professionalism
Required: Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
Required: Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
Required: Excellent organizational skills
Required: Excellent collaboration and team building skills
Required: Effectively coaches and delivers constructive feedback
Required: Instills commitment to organizational goals
Required: Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision‑making skills
Required: Effective conflict management skills
Required: Builds and manages effective teams
Preferred: Demonstrated success building partnerships and establishing beneficial internal and external relationships
Preferred: Demonstrated success developing and implementing innovative strategies
Preferred: History of policy and procedure compliance
Preferred: Experience managing budgets and pursuing new revenue sources
Preferred: Demonstrated success working with students or early career professionals
Preferred: Knowledge of FCC and intellectual property rights
Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.
Work Location

Franklin Hall
Indiana University Bloomington Campus
Advertised Salary

$89,000 - $99,000 annually
Work Hours

Generally works 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Due to the nature of news publication, this role requires flexibility to address time‑sensitive issues as they arise.
Benefits Overview

For full‑time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:
Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
Health savings account with generous IU contributions
Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
Basic group life insurance paid by IU
Voluntary supplemental life, long‑term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
Generous paid time off plans
Paid leave for new parents and IU‑sponsored volunteer events
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Job Classification

Career Level: Sr. Operational
FLSA: Exempt
Job Function: Marketing & Communications
Job Family: Publication & Print Production
Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non‑Discrimination which includes contact information.

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