Society of Environmental Journalists, Executive Director
ABOUT THE SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS
The Society of Environmental Journalists is seeking a new Executive Director to lead North America’s largest membership organization for journalists covering energy, climate and the environment. This is an extraordinary opportunity to take an influential role supporting a community of more than 1,500 members working to strengthen coverage of the environment, energy, environmental justice, health, biodiversity, climate change and related issues.
For three decades, the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) has been committed to educating the public about environmental issues through the support of journalism. Today, SEJ stands out as the only organization created by and for journalists covering the environment and dedicated to empowering them through a comprehensive suite of programs.
Through combined efforts of its Board of directors, staff, members and partners, the Society of Environmental Journalists offers unique educational programs and services, primarily for professional journalists, educators and students, including an annual conference and regional events, tours, meet-ups and workshops; SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment; mini grants through the Fund for Environmental Journalism; publications like the SEJournal, TipSheet, and EJToday; a Freedom of Information WatchDog project; members-only communication platforms; a mentoring program; website-based resources; and a lively membership network of journalists and academics.
These activities create a vital sense of community among members. Yet as SEJ enters its fourth decade, its member-journalists face challenges, among them the collapse of the advertising revenue model that kept many traditional news outlets afloat. The COVID-19 pandemic further magnified financial pressures, accelerating the loss of journalism jobs and transformation of the industry. These issues compounded existing disparities in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the field of environmental journalism. At the same time, planetary pressures such as climate change have increased the need for high-quality journalism that informs the public about causes, impacts and solutions, making SEJ's work more crucial than ever.
SEJ acts to raise awareness among philanthropists, editors, news managers, publishers, and other key decision-makers on the value and importance of robust reporting on the environment and intersecting issues. The organization also advocates for freedom of information and works to address actions that threaten journalists and their ability to cover the environment. Non-members are welcome to participate in SEJ programs, especially the annual conference.
Learn more by visiting the Society of Environmental Journalists website.
THE OPPORTUNITY
We are seeking a strategic and innovative executive with proven experience in organizational leadership, growth and development. The Executive Director in partnership with the SEJ Board of Directors will implement the strategic goals, objectives and policies of the organization.
CONTACT
Liz Lombard and Angie Sessoms of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role please fill out our Talent Profile or email Angie directly at asessoms@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
ABOUT KOYA PARTNERS
Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
To learn more about how we can help you with your search, please visit Koya Partners website.