The Board of Directors of Hartford Public Access Television (“HPATV”) seeks a dynamic and skilled executive director who will lead the organization in effectively achieving its important vision and goals. HPATV is a 501(c) (3) corporation that has operated three TV channels providing public, educational and government access television to the Hartford community since 1976. Working from a state-of-the-art facility, HPATV is dedicated to producing high-quality community and institutional TV programming and to providing an electronic forum for the free exchange of information and ideas which reflect the talents, skills, interests, concerns and diversity of the Hartford community. HPATV seeks an entrepreneurial leader and manager to partner with its board, staff, producers and supporters in continuing and expanding its important work.

The Organization and its Programs
HPATV staff currently consists of a full-time executive director and two full-time and several part-time professional staff with impressive skills in production, programming, editing, audio and video, curriculum, training and technical operations. In addition to skilled staff, the organization boasts a active roster of volunteers who are engaged on-site in a variety of aspects of program design and production.

HPATV’s budget of approximately $310,000 is primarily supported by three funding sources – the local cable company (Comcast), the region’s largest community foundation (Hartford Foundation for Public Giving) and the local government (City of Hartford). In addition, AT&T recently entered the market with its U-Verse service and will also provide, and will also provide HPATV with regular funding. The organization also boasts a number of generous community partners who provide financial support to organizational efforts.

HPATV hosts three channels - Public Access Television (Channel 5) presents a wide array of programs produced and hosted by individuals and groups, as well as state or national programs sponsored by local community members and of interest to the Hartford community. Educational Access Television (Channel 19) is designated primarily for school-related programs and events related to the Hartford school system. Government Access Television (Channel 21) is primarily focused on Hartford local government, but also airs shows about State and Federal government issues or activities, that are produced elsewhere. The channel airs all Hartford City Council meetings and public hearings live

HPATV extends additional service to the community by offering exceptional training opportunities in almost every aspect of media operations, including: studio production, audio, interview techniques,
lighting design, graphics, directing, field production, digital editing and web page design among others.

Executive Transition
HPATV has engaged the assistance of a talented and well-seasoned interim executive to bridge the short-term leadership gap and to ensure confidence and continuity during the transition period, since the departure of its long-term executive director. The interim executive director has been supported by a fully engaged board of directors and by a transition committee. A transition consultant has also been engaged to conduct an organizational assessment, including identification of organizational strengths, challenges and opportunities that will assist with the development of the candidate profile and the selection of a new executive director.

Strategic Challenges and Opportunities
The challenges and opportunities for HPATV are closely intertwined. Hartford is an urban community of approximately 124,000 residents, including a highly-educated, activist population as well as a significant number of poor residents with low educational levels. Hartford also has many active and vibrant immigrant and ethnic communities and a significant number of large institutions for whom access television could be a powerful resource. HPATV’s leadership sees the following as the most pressing challenges and opportunities ahead for the organization.

• Visibility, Marketing and Outreach
  In spite of the exceptional opportunities that the City of Hartford offers for engaging diverse and active partners, HPATV has not, until now, focused its considerable energy, attention and resources on a major community outreach effort. In addition to the obvious potential to expand its viewership and individual producer engagement (currently numbering approximately 75), Hartford’s numerous, prestigious organizations and institutions (i.e., universities, hospitals, museums, etc.) could extend their reach into the community far more effectively through partnerships with HPATV. With its skilled staff and its 100% digital file-based playout, HPATV has the potential to meet the programming needs of a diverse range of members and partners and to provide a venue for a wide variety of community-sponsored media events. A strategic, aggressive assessment of community and institutional needs and interests is seen as a first step in a high-visibility campaign to become a premier community resource, a showcase for the talents of community residents and a highly subscribed alternative source of news, information and programming for the City of Hartford.
  
• Access TV and the Digital Age
  The rapid and ongoing emergence of new trends and technology in media consumption is of interest and importance to HPATV leadership. Access television fills a unique media niche and HPATV leadership needs to constantly evaluate how to adapt to and capitalize on technological developments and shifts in the communications industry, and maintain high-quality, accessible programming. In addition, with three separate channels offering very different services to populations that in many cases do not overlap, HPATV must clearly define the purpose and audience for each effort and ensure that in each case, goals, activities and products are consistently and closely aligned to achieve maximum impact.
  
• Leadership and Change Management
  Both HPATV board and staff have an ambitious vision for the future contribution of the organization to the Hartford community. Moving to this new and expanded identity will take time, strategic thinking and leadership. As with any relatively small but complex organization, staff responsibilities are separate and distinct in many respects and board roles and responsibilities have evolved to fill gaps in oversight and operations. The new vision for HPATV will require a new look at operations and at the roles of staff, board and the executive director in a mature organization with a growth agenda. Strategically planning for the future and gaining the ownership, engagement and consensus of both board and staff will be an important and exciting early effort for a new executive director.

Profile of the Ideal Candidate
HPATV offers prospective candidates the opportunity to lead the organization at a time when extraordinary opportunities are ripe and the organization’s leadership is engaged and optimistic. The HPATV board of directors is active and involved and staff members are dedicated and experienced. Maintaining the strength and effectiveness of HPATV’s existing efforts and carefully managing the budget and finances of a small organization are clear priorities for a new director. However, the performance and effectiveness of the new executive director will also be evaluated based on his or her success in strengthening a collaborative staff team, in inspiring the confidence of the board, in broadening, diversifying and deepening HPATV’s universe of producers, partners, viewers and potential donors, in serving as an articulate and powerful public spokesperson for HPATV and in initiating, leading and joining effective and strategic coalitions that further HPATV’s mission and enhance its visibility and value.

• Marketing, Outreach, Communications and Collaboration Skills
  In keeping with the board’s desire to understand existing and potential audiences and to craft strategies to increase visibility, relevance and support, the ideal candidate for the executive director’s position will possess demonstrated experience in accurately assessing and addressing the needs and priorities of the kind of audiences that are of greatest interest and relevance to HPATV.
  
  The Executive Director is regarded as the “public face” of HPATV and needs to be a highly effective speaker in a variety of settings and to a variety of audiences including community groups and organizations, the public sector and local businesses.
  
  Success will require energy, enthusiasm, a desire to be out in the community on a regular basis, and the ability to listen actively and to instill a customer service culture within the organization, and the ability to draw more volunteers into the station.
  
• Leadership and Organizational Management Skills
  Demonstrated management skills and significant, successful experience as a competent, creative, trusted leader of both board and staff and as a highly effective staff supervisor are essential requirements of the new executive director. A seasoned staff leader and manager with the skills to develop, energize, and nurture the staff team will be welcome in this position. In addition, with significant ambitions for growth and visibility, HPATV seeks documented experience in creating a welcoming organizational culture that values customer service and user-friendliness to a high degree, that subscribes to a high standard of operations and that promotes creativity and freedom for staff within an accountable framework. A self-disciplined doer who is open to new ideas, is a creative problem-solver and is committed to staff and bard development will thrive in the HPATV environment.
  
• Knowledge of Access Television
  The ideal candidate for this position will have significant knowledge of or direct experience in access television and will be, or have been, active in the access community. He or she will understand the audiences, sponsors, supporters and public accountability that are unique to this segment of the media market and will have a meaningful understanding of production flow and the language of the industry. It is expected that the new executive director will be comfortable with the technology that is critical to HPATV’s success and imaginative about emerging or future technology that is likely to enhance the reach and effectiveness of access TV.
  
• Experience Working with a Board of Directors
  Working with the Board to create a vision for HPATV, creating a sense of energy and enthusiasm at the Board level, engaging the Board in establishing strategic direction for HPATV and communicating clearly, professionally, honestly and effectively with the Board of Directors are all critical skills for the Executive Director. HPATV’s Board seeks a self-disciplined, self-starter with the ability to represent staff interests to the Board and to convey Board priorities to the staff in an effective manner.

In addition to the explicit and implicit attributes required to meet the expectations outlined above, HPATV will welcome a new executive who possesses a high degree of initiative and a friendly, responsive and approachable demeanor.

The Selection Process
To express interest in this position, please respond to HPATV.Search@hotmail.com by November 20, 2008. Please submit your candidacy or recommendations as a MS Word document attachment and include a resume, cover letter with salary requirements and where you learned of the position. In order to facilitate screening, please type HPATV Search: First and Last Name as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.

All resumes will be reviewed when they are received, and will be acknowledged. No phone calls or letters please. The executive search is being conducted by: Michael J. Negrón, Transition Consultant, Third Sector New England (www.tsne.org/etp).

HPATV is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and encourages applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and cultures.