Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

The Vermont Journalism Trust, Ltd. seeks a CEO to oversee the operations of VTDigger, Vermont’s statewide, non-profit digital news publication. VTDigger’s newsgathering is led by an experienced Editor-in-Chief, and statewide newsroom of award-winning reporters and editors committed to rigorous, independent journalism. The CEO will provide the leadership necessary to sustain and expand VTDigger’s editorial ambitions while strengthening its role as an essential civic institution in Vermont.

The Vermont Journalism Trust, Ltd. is a 501c3 organization whose mission is to produce rigorous journalism that explains complex issues, promotes public accountability, and fosters democratic and civic engagement.

Position Summary

The Vermont Journalism Trust, Ltd seeks an outstanding, mission-driven leader committed to journalism in the public interest. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will lead VTDigger’s next chapter following a successful transition from its founder, guiding the organization as it deepens its service to Vermonters in a rapidly changing media and information-needs landscape.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO is responsible for ensuring the overall success and long-term resilience of VTDigger by sustaining editorial excellence and a stable, inclusive organizational culture. The CEO will build a clear, compelling vision grounded in Vermonters’ information needs and will play a central role in mobilizing philanthropic and public support to further that vision.

This position is based in Montpelier, Vermont.

Essential Functions

• Strategic Decision-Making for Impact
• Fundraising and Revenue Generation
• Organizational Leadership and Management
• External Leadership
• Editorial Partnership and Newsroom Support
• Board Relations and Governance

Desired Qualifications and Attributes

We recognize that applicants may not possess all qualifications listed below and would consider individuals who demonstrate the will, ability, and initiative to grow into new areas of responsibility.

• 5 years+ of executive or equivalent leadership experience in a mission-driven organization with an annual budget of $3 million+, ideally in journalism or a related civil or public-service field.
• Passion for journalism in the public interest as a key element of democratic civic life.
• Proven experience overseeing organizational finances, budgets and core operations.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and develop relationships with a diversity of individuals and organizations in order to secure significant philanthropic support, including personal solicitations and working with foundations and/or donors on multi-year grants.
• Demonstrated experience fostering a culture of trust, transparency, respect and integrity across different functions in an organization.
• Experience articulating and advancing a long-term vision for an organization and how it serves and grows from its community.
• High ethical standards and sound judgment.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills and the ability to represent an organization publicly with confidence, credibility and authority.

About VTDigger

VTDigger provides daily news coverage, as well as probing investigative reporting informing and connecting Vermonters through fact-checked, original reporting. It serves as the paper of record for Vermont.

VTDigger reaches more than 500,000 monthly unique visitors and distributes reporting to more than a dozen community news organizations throughout the state. At the end of 2025, 33,200 people subscribed to our flagship “Daily Digger” newsletter, a 25% increase since 2023. Charitable contributions, accounting for over two thirds of VTDigger’s revenues, have grown steadily over the past two years, half of that from 9,200 Vermonters who contribute less than $1,000 per year.

Learn more about VTDigger here.

The Vermont Journalism Trust, Ltd., is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

VTDigger currently offers health, dental, vision, disability, and life/AD&D insurance | paid time off (6 holidays and 25 CTO) | and a 403(b) retirement plan with immediate vesting and an automatic employer contribution of 2.5% of annual salary.