The Business Development Officer will assist in commercializing sustainable journalism or media enterprises and will advance for-profit and nonprofit efforts aimed at promoting high quality, ethically sound journalism. The BDO will help move journalism research, concepts, funded projects and experimentation into self-sustaining entities. The BDO will do so by developing strategic business plans, helping raise capital, monitoring the progress of entities it helps start and providing guidance in maximizing the potential for follow-up funding from appropriate commercial, private or governmental sources. The BDO may provide consulting services to other entities when appropriate and when that consulting corresponds to the Center for Sustainable Journalism’s mission of providing high quality, ethically sound journalism. In this joint appointment between the Center and the Department of Communication, the BDO also will hold the academic title of Distinguished Lecturer in Professional Practice in this 12- month, non-tenured faculty appointment and have a one-one-one teaching load.
As a member of the KSU Department of Communication faculty, the BDO will work with students, faculty, staff, the profession and the community in furthering KSU’s educational research, service and teaching missions especially as they relate to hands-on learning activities in areas such as entrepreneurship, business development, media management and information economics in journalism and the larger communication discipline.
The successful candidate is expected to have the following:

• a track record in launching successful media related start-up businesses.
• an advanced degree in business, economics, communication or in an academic discipline related to the Center’s mission
• effective interpersonal, communication, and team building skills.
• evidence of success in raising capital for entrepreneurial, business start-ups or related endeavors.
• an understanding of, and experience with, issues that influence journalism sustainability.
• a commitment to addressing journalism challenges in the profession, in communities  and in higher education.
• a documented understanding of how disruptive technologies are affecting old sustainable media models and how those technologies might be used to advance high quality, ethically sound journalism in the future.
• skilled fiscal management and oversight, and experience in developing, managing, and justifying budgets for start-ups and sustainable businesses.
• experience in overseeing a business or entrepreneurial enterprise.
• proof of successful working relationships with venture capitalists and other business underwriters.
• a well earned, highly regarded reputation within the field of journalism, digital media or media change.

To apply, send a letter addressing your qualifications for the position; current curriculum vita or resume; two business plans you have written (redact names, confidential information if necessary); a statement explaining what role, as a member of the Center, you might play in addressing the current journalism environment  challenges, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three references; and official transcripts to:

Amber Hutchins
Business Development Officer, Search Committee Contact
Center for Sustainable Journalism
Kennesaw State University
1000 Chastain Road, #2207
Kennesaw, Georgia 30144-5591.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To guarantee consideration, materials for your application must be postmarked by May 7.

For a detailed description of the university, college and department, please visit our home page at www.kennesaw.edu.

This is a new faculty line. For questions about this position, please contact Leonard Witt at csjinfo@kennesaw.edu