About

Jobs

Choose a career with purpose. Check out current open positions with WSKG. Tab through each job title to learn more about the position. To apply for any open position, email jobs@wskg.org.

Chief Development Officer Leadership Society Manager

Chief Development Officer

WSKG is seeking an experienced fundraising professional with a passion for Public Media to join our team as our new Chief Development Officer (CDO). Live and work in the beautiful Southern Tier and Finger Lakes area of NY State! Nestled between the Catskill Mountains and the Allegany Forest, the Southern Tier of New York offers the perfect blend of natural beauty, small-town charm, and big-time opportunity.

WSKG TV and Radio has been a part of the community for over 50 years and enjoys support from the residents of the 21-County area that we serve. Our organization is in a phase of growth and strategic transformation. Bring your skills to WSKG at this pivotal time and make a difference

Primary Function

Reporting to the President/CEO, the Chief Development Officer is responsible for planning, directing, and implementing a successful fundraising program to achieve fundraising and underwriting goals.

The CDO must have superb management skills to successfully lead results-oriented staff in growing donors and revenue to support the needs of the organization. The position oversees the Major Gifts, Leadership Society, Gift Planning and Annual Membership programs, and provides oversight to stewardship and database activities ensuring programs are well executed. The CDO provides oversight to the Underwriting program and its staff, ensuring effective strategy and achievement of goals. Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, the CDO's effective collaboration and partnership supports and encourages the achievement of organizational goals.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership (10%)

Provide development, underwriting, and donor strategy for the President & CEO and other senior management and staff.
Provide effective and inspiring leadership that produces dollars, volunteers and advocates.
Provide leadership support and management of development efforts for the Development Committee and Board of Trustees.
Evaluate the strategies currently used to solicit gifts and underwriting sponsorships with the goal of increasing revenue as well as efficiency and effectiveness.
Participate as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in partnership with CEO and colleagues.
Represent WSKG at community events, meetings, conferences and other relevant forums across the region.
Treats all internal and external stakeholders with respect regardless of differences in backgrounds, lifestyles, viewpoints and needs in areas such as race, gender, ethnicity, creed, sexual orientation and others.
In partnership with SLT, develop fundraising priorities to share with external constituents to secure funding.
Provide expert technical assistance and guidance to all program staff interested in securing private funding from individuals, corporations and foundations.
Develop and implement processes that promote clear communication and the healthy flow of information with staff and board and ensure that everyone in the organization understands their role in development.

Program Management and Oversight (55%)

Create, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, multi-year plan to increase underwriting sponsorships, donors and dollars in support of WSKG. The plan will include audience segmentation, timing, messages, and goals. Develop, implement, and evaluate specific strategies to improve performance where appropriate.
Monitor progress toward the annual and multi-year goals. Provide a rigorous, systematic review and analysis of all development and underwriting activities to find ways to do things more effectively and efficiently. Develop appropriate formats for regular, routine reporting on performance to share with a broad array of internal and external stakeholders. Provide accurate and timely reporting and analysis to volunteers, supervisor, and colleagues for use in management decision making.
Serve as the leader of the team, with day-to-day oversight for the entire development and underwriting program and its staff. Provide advice, support, and guidance to staff. Evaluate staff performance annually. Hire and train staff as appropriate by being versed in all aspects of the development and underwriting program and the work of volunteer management, personal solicitation, and broad-based campaigns.
Provide the framework for and oversight of goal setting and benchmarking; recognition of volunteers and donors; events; volunteer recruitment; training and support; along with related activities of identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for donors and underwriting sponsors.
In coordination with the Director of Marketing & Community Engagement, maintain a comprehensive communications schedule and calendar on behalf of development, including donor communications, donor centered publications, and communication and publications around special events, online giving, and donor recognition.
Develop strategy and implement solicitation and messaging for all development and underwriting programs, including solicitation and stewardship, ensuring timely and effective written and oral communication to meet all program deadlines.
Provide leadership, feasibility goal setting, and direction, implementation and evaluation of all broad-based solicitation, including pledge drives, direct mail, email, and personal solicitations and related stewardship functions.
In partnership with the Senior Leadership Team, design, manage, and guide campaign efforts as appropriate.
Oversee gift entry and acknowledgement and ensure accurate administration of donor data.
Oversee fundraising special events, with an emphasis on donor cultivation and recognition events.
Develop and manage the annual giving budget based on programmatic goals and objectives as reviewed and approved annually.

Volunteer Management (20%)

Serves as the primary staff liaison to the Development Committee of the board. Ensures the committee reaches their full potential in support of the fundraising effort. This includes establishing goals for the committee in conjunction with the chair; identification, recruitment, training, and support of volunteers; and analysis and evaluation of various efforts. Update databases to monitor, discern, and track the appropriate activities. Personally contact members of the committee to ask for their support.
Advocate for annual membership to the Board of Trustees. Partner with staff and the Development Committee to ensure all members are asked for gifts and that the 100% participation goal is met.

Major Gift Portfolio Management (15%)

Responsible for a portfolio of approximately 15 donor households, and with active participation of the President & CEO and other senior management staff and board members/volunteers, cultivate and manage long-term relationships with individuals for the purpose of securing gifts to support the programs and mission of WSKG across the region.
Coach staff and board on their roles to identify and cultivate prospective donors within their networks and to steward existing donors. Provide advice, coaching and support on the execution of appropriate potential donor engagement strategies.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities):

Bachelor's degree or relevant experience.
Eight or more years in development; thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of development and fundraising with an understanding of individual giving programs and detailed understanding of annual fundraising programs, such as direct mail, email, pledge drives, membership and personal solicitation programs. Previous experience in public media is preferred.
Conversant in relevant and contemporary technologies and how they can be used in support of development, including management of major and planned gifts, direct mail and electronic solicitation programs to measure and manage results.
Proven record of leadership, management and supervisory skills. Possess a supportive and accessible management style, a strong commitment to personal and professional development, with a proven track record in motivating, training and managing a staff with diverse skills and experience.
Superior communication skills with the ability to connect to a variety of audiences, clarity, crispness, and persuasiveness in written and oral communications. Proven ability to guide a successful broad-based messaging platform including a mix of print, electronic, radio, television and social media in support of the program.
Willingness to work evenings and weekends and travel.
Experience in personally soliciting gifts.
Extensive experience working with volunteers; demonstrated ability to work successfully and effectively with a wide range of constituents and manage complex relationships; proven collaboration and teamwork skills.
Ability to work effectively in a team environment-excellent interpersonal skills, outstanding personal initiative.
Knowledge of modern data management practices and techniques including data-based computerized information systems, data modeling, and models of analysis that lead to effective decision making on behalf of the program. Strong Excel skills, including use of formulas, pivot tables, and v-lookups, are required; familiarity with Allegiance is preferred.

About Us:

WSKG Public Media is a non-profit, community-supported public media organization in Vestal, NY. WSKG covers 21 counties in New York’s Southern Tier, central New York and northeast Pennsylvania. It operates two radio stations and a television station, broadcasting a mix of local and national programming, educational programs, news and public affairs shows, documentaries, and arts and cultural programs. The news department has won numerous awards from the Associated Press, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated and New York State Broadcasters Association.

Our Mission:

Guided by your aspirations, WSKG serves to inspire with the highest quality educational programming, explore the arts, culture and heritage of the region and beyond, engage in thoughtful consideration of news and issues of importance, and entertain with the very best in multimedia programming.

Learn more at WSKG.org.

Our Location:

Live and work in the beautiful Southern Tier and Finger Lakes area of NY State!

Nestled between the Catskill Mountains and the Allegany Forest, the Southern Tier of New York offers the perfect blend of natural beauty, small-town charm, and big-time opportunity. With its rolling hills, winding rivers, and lush green valleys, this is a place where scenic views aren’t just for weekends—they’re your everyday backdrop.

Outdoor lovers will find their paradise here. Hike forested trails, paddle down the Susquehanna River, reel in your next trophy fish, or pitch a tent under the stars. This is a community that values connection—to nature, to neighbors, and to new ideas.

Interested?

Please submit the following required documents: 1) Resume, 2) Cover letter and, 3) Contact information for three professional references.

Required documents should be emailed to jfrank@hrworks-inc.com.

Deadline to apply: until filled

WSKG is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Type: Full-time, Exempt

Pay: $90,000 - $110,000 per year

Day to Day activities reporting to: President & CEO

Benefits:

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Employee assistance program

Flexible spending account

Health insurance

Health savings account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

WSKG is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We welcome your interest in joining our team.

Leadership Society Manager

Leadership Society Manager

Primary Function:

The Leadership Society Manager is primarily responsible for planning, directing, and implementing programs that secure gifts at the $1,200+ level, essential to meet the overall revenue goals each year for WSKG. This position oversees the engagement of a large prospective pool of leadership-level supporters—over 1,000 households. This position works closely with the Director to set goals for all leadership societies, and integrates the solicitation and stewardship of these giving societies into development’s activities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Leadership Society Membership Management (60%)

At the start of the fiscal year, conduct a feasibility analysis including the identification of past, current, and potential donors at the $1,200+ level. Set goals for donors at each level of membership to continue to grow and strengthen Leadership Society giving. Set annual activity goals (travel plans, personal and phone solicitation goals, visit goals, and engagement strategies) based on this review. Document plans, goals, and results in the database to monitor and report on progress.
Throughout the year, perform a range of data monitoring to inform and improve the solicitation process, including: review of open pledges and pledge schedules for those in the annual fund solicitation pool; monitoring of overlapping Campaign/Major Gifts solicitations planned for those in the annual fund solicitation pool; monitoring committee and solicitation assignment lists; ongoing data integrity tests to identify and resolve entry errors; and preparation of monthly reports on solicitation status. Document processes as needed.
Throughout the year, ensure that donors are being appropriately thanked and stewarded through personal calls to support overall membership and donor retention goals. Implement the annual Leadership Society recognition event and support participation of members in other regional events. Call and thank donors who make gifts of $250 or more in the Leadership Society pool, or donors who make gifts of $1,000 or more.
At the close of the fiscal year, conduct the Annual Review process which includes identification of prospects to be tracked at the Leadership Society level and coordinate with others who manage portfolios to determine the annual gift solicitation plan for each in the upcoming fiscal year.
Develop, implement, and evaluate specific strategies to increase membership, including approaches for recognition to ensure strong retention along with effective marketing of societies for upgrades and acquisition. Work proactively with partners to promote giving societies.
Work in close collaboration with the development team, staff and volunteers to identify new donors for addition to the pool. In the monthly prospect review meeting, recommend prospects for movement to major gifts, prospects who should be added to the pool or who should be removed.
Participate in events and programs to engage and meet prospective donors.

Personal Solicitations (40%)

Personally solicit top-level annual giving prospects. Set annual activity goals based on a review of the gift table and the number of individuals who are appropriate for solicitation. Document information in the database to assure proper recording and tracking of results.
Travel for in-person visits or conduct virtual visits as required to qualify potential donors for major and mid-level giving. Document contacts in the database; recommend donors for major or planned giving follow-up as appropriate.
Participate in pledge drives and play an active role in recorded and live pitches for support.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities):

Bachelor's degree required.
Five or more years in development; thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of development and fundraising with an understanding of individual giving programs; detailed understanding of annual fundraising programs, such as direct mail, pledge drives, and personal solicitation programs. Experience in public media strongly preferred.
Proven success in soliciting and securing individual gifts. Demonstrated skills in effective relationship management with mid-level and high-level supporters.
Knowledge of and compliance with the Fundraising Code of Ethics.
Demonstrated ability to qualify potential donors for the organization.
Ability to create strategic plans for each donor including reasonable financial goals based on the donor’s giving and capacity, cultivation and stewardship steps.
Ability to create a personal contact and solicitation plan that considers the individual donor’s interest, motivations, giving patterns and areas of interest.
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills including the ability to investigate, interpret, advise, compose, persuade, arbitrate, and autonomously determine conclusion.
Must have ability to safeguard confidential and sensitive donor and organizational information.
Ability to form relationships with board members and leadership volunteers to cultivate, solicit and steward new donors.
Conversant with relevant technologies and how they can be used in support of communicating, engaging donors and volunteers in activities, and measuring results.
Solid aptitude for working with databases, Word, Excel, and other e-resources is essential.
Ability to create timely reports that reflect performance within and outside of donor software, Allegiance.
Ability to travel regularly across the region.
Ability to manage process, deadlines, and budget while adhering to the policies and procedures of the organization and ability to get along with peers, subordinates, volunteers and management.
Maintain a positive and constructive attitude while solving problems.
A commitment to WSKG’s mission, vision and values along with a commitment to providing services to a diverse range of clients and to the goals of WSKG is essential.
Ability to work some nights and weekends to accommodate donor availability

About Us:
WSKG Public Media is a non-profit, community-supported public media organization in Vestal, NY. WSKG covers 21 counties in New York’s Southern Tier, central New York and northeast Pennsylvania. It operates two radio stations and a television station, broadcasting a mix of local and national programming, educational programs, news and public affairs shows, documentaries, and arts and cultural programs. The news department has won numerous awards from the Associated Press, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated and New York State Broadcasters Association.

Our Mission:
Guided by your aspirations, WSKG serves to inspire with the highest quality educational programming, explore the arts, culture and heritage of the region and beyond, engage in thoughtful consideration of news and issues of importance, and entertain with the very best in multimedia programming.

Our Location:
Live and work in the beautiful Southern Tier and Finger Lakes area of NY State!
Nestled between the Catskill Mountains and the Allegheny Forest, the Southern Tier of New York offers the perfect blend of natural beauty, small-town charm, and big-time opportunity. With its rolling hills, winding rivers, and lush green valleys, this is a place where scenic views aren’t just for weekends—they’re your everyday backdrop.

Live where adventure meets accessibility. The Southern Tier puts you within easy reach of major hubs like New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia, while offering a peaceful, affordable lifestyle far from the daily grind.
Outdoor lovers will find their paradise here. Hike forested trails, paddle down the Susquehanna River, reel in your next trophy fish, or pitch a tent under the stars. This is a community that values connection—to nature, to neighbors, and to new ideas.

Interested? Please submit the following required documents: 1) Resume, 2) Cover letter and, 3) Contact information for three professional references.
Required documents should be emailed to jobs@wskg.org.
Deadline to apply: October 3, 2025
Job Type: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Pay: $50,000 - $55,000 per year

Day to Day activities reporting to: Chief Development Officer