Technology is both a thread through the successful delivery of KEXP’s mission of music discovery and a solid base underlying all operations. KEXP was an early adopter of live and on-demand online streaming radio, still a core service today, and strives to be on the leading edge of digital music discovery. KEXP’s current digital offerings have seen significant growth and investment, with a mobile-first philosophy and plans for further development in the works.

Pairing digital tools and delivery with human curation and creativity from our staff of passionate music experts is what sets KEXP apart from other sources of music discovery. In addition, a robust technology infrastructure enables KEXP to provide our DJs with an expansive music library at their fingertips, our video and audio production staff with the tools they need to further our mission, and our audience with dependable access to the programming they love. KEXP’s technical staff work across a broad range of areas, including software development, technical operations, broadcast engineering, and information services, to serve KEXP’s vision of a connected and compassionate world embracing curiosity and a shared love of music.

Position Summary: The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) leads a growing team of technology professionals in multiple areas and works in collaboration across the organization to bring the full KEXP experience to the digital world. A key leader at KEXP, the CTO applies tech field curiosity and research, trend following, and future-focused visioning to keep KEXP out in front of music engagement evolution.  The CTO will extend our digital experience into services not currently represented, creating greater opportunity for KEXP storytelling and mission delivery, and integrate the community building and human connections that are core to KEXP. They have a deep understanding of emerging technology and translate that understanding into impacts to KEXP and opportunities to extend our reach. The CTO provides strategic guidance to all technology teams, mentoring and supporting the team leaders, maintaining a broad awareness of challenges and priorities across all of KEXP’s technical infrastructure and projects, and ensuring that the tech teams align with KEXP’s overarching strategy.

Essential duties include:

• Oversees KEXP’s technology teams and infrastructure, including ultimate responsibility for a nearly $4 million budget and 15 staff members with a strong likelihood of future growth.
   
• Leads strategic decision-making in the technology sector, balancing competing organizational priorities and representing technology teams at the highest level, as well as adoption of and alignment around major technology changes.
   
• Oversees internal technology infrastructure and provides leadership and guidance on architecture, systems, and lifecycle management.
   
• Seeks out digital innovations, such as platforms KEXP is not currently represented on, and leads exploration, data-driven analysis, and evaluation of trends and developments, including assessing opportunities to add value and connect with music lovers as well as risks.
   
• Ensures that KEXP’s technology teams build and maintain a scalable architecture enabling rapid innovation and new product development.
   
• Works with tech team leaders and other relevant staff to respond to a quickly evolving content delivery landscape; maintains a current awareness of emerging technologies, methods, and best practices across KEXP’s technology stacks.
   
• Oversees cross-divisional teams working on org-wide projects and effectively nurtures and promotes KEXP’s organizational culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values leadership, collaboration, learning, trusting relationships, music discovery, and a commitment to equity.
   
• Mentors and develops all technical staff using a supportive and collaborative approach including assigning accountabilities, setting objectives, establishing priorities, and monitoring and evaluating results; ensures staff members receive timely and appropriate training and development, frequent feedback, and ongoing professional development.
   
• Ensures that KEXP adheres to all relevant compliance standards, regulatory requirements, laws, and security best practices, by overseeing staff efforts and maintaining broad familiarity of the regulatory landscape.
   
• Serves on KEXP’s Executive Team, as a member of the C-level, and in a leadership role for the organization, including active participation in and promotion of racial equity work, multi-year strategic planning, and the creation and execution of org-wide annual planning processes.
   
• Effectively communicates and presents digital and technology infrastructure matters at Board of Directors meetings; works with the Digital Director to engage the Digital subcommittee of the Board around issues, trends, and changes in the digital landscape.

• Models the values and priorities of KEXP in their work and interactions with colleagues, Board, artists, KEXP community, and the public.
   
• Builds and engages on key external high-level technology partnerships on behalf of KEXP.

Organizational & Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Maintains thorough understanding of KEXP organizational policies, including employee handbook, procedures, expense reporting, and payroll submission; follows policies and leads by example.
   
• Works closely with direct reports to plan, guide, and execute professional development plans and opportunities; sets clear, achievable, and measurable goals for individual performance, providing frequent and constructive feedback, and holds staff accountable to themselves, the team, and KEXP.
   
• Actively participates in our culture of philanthropy, which honors the important role our donors, volunteers, business and community partners play in the life of KEXP. Collaborates across teams and departments to steward donors on behalf of KEXP and actively seeks opportunities to integrate philanthropy into their role within KEXP operations, programs, and projects.

Supervision Received: Position reports to Chief Executive Officer.

Supervision Exercised: Directly supervises Digital Director, Director of Engineering, and Associate Director of IT Operations.

Education & Experience: Ten or more years of relevant professional experience, including management of technology professionals; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above. Experience with digital media distribution preferred.

Position Qualifications:

• Broad familiarity with and knowledge of a wide range of technologies.
• Experience navigating competing priorities in multiple technology areas with limited capacity.
• Experience explaining complex technology to a non-technical audience and working with stakeholders of many backgrounds.
• Familiarity with media technology and distribution.
• Experience building complex software services and applications at multiple levels of engagement.
• Awareness of the importance of design and incorporation of user experience throughout the development process.
• Familiarity with technology operations and management frameworks such as ITIL, Scrum and/or Agile and experience leading organizations in adoption of effective frameworks.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity and enforcing regulatory compliance.
• Experience producing digital products that build community and foster connection.
• Outstanding relationship building skills.
• Experience recognizing and working within multiple team cultures.
• Experience working in a mission-driven organization.
• Ability to flex communication style to multiple cultural environments.
• Experience coaching and mentoring supervisors and team leaders.
• Experience in recruiting, retaining, and leading dynamic and talented people to build superior, inclusive teams.
• Experience in successfully managing teams including the ability to set, motivate, and achieve individual as well as departmental goals; to mentor and manage performance for all team members; and to facilitate communication between teammates with different styles.
• Ability to work cross-departmentally, facilitating cooperation between teams and leading by example to ensure alignment on organization-wide goals and mission delivery.
• Experience building community and conducting outreach on behalf of an organization.
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color, in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of a decision-making process. 
• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on under-invited communities, either through lived experience and/or training and education.
• Commitment to advancing justice and equity in the arts with a passion for community building.
• Availability to represent KEXP at events, including occasional evenings or weekends as needed.
• Outstanding attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy. 
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality. 
• Ability to take initiative and use independent judgment within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Strong self-motivation in carrying out responsibilities, organizing and prioritizing multiple tasks, and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, relationship-building, and communication skills - both written and verbal - for a wide variety of audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities. 
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a professional demeanor, especially while working in a fast-paced environment of constant demands and frequent interruptions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and promote a positive working environment, spirit of cooperation, and react positively to change and conflict resolution. 

• Deep knowledge, appreciation for, and understanding of KEXP programming and mission. 
• Ability to embody the community-oriented spirit of KEXP to both internal and external constituents.
   

What if you don’t have skills in every qualification listed above? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that people from marginalized communities – such as women, LGBTQIA+, and people of color – are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification, and we want to hear from you.

Physical Requirements: Long periods of being in a stationary position; operating a computer and other office equipment; frequently moving to/from various work areas; frequently communicating by phone and email; frequently remaining in a stationary position during meetings, discerning meeting content, expressing oneself, and exchanging accurate information; frequently moving to/from off-site meeting and/or event locations; occasionally moves supplies and/or equipment weighing up to 20 pounds.

Working Conditions: Primary location in typical business office environment, with frequent meetings and event attendance at a variety of off-site locations. This position is eligible for up to 75% remote work.