Community Manager Job Description
August 2023
The Lenfest Institute seeks a full-time Community Manager to strengthen the work of our communities of practice and deepen our engagement with members and partners. As a key member of the National Programs staff, the Community Manager will coordinate the day-to-day operations of CoP activities, help build relationships with members and help recruit new ones, and contribute to program design and facilitation.
The Institute develops and manages several communities of practice (CoPs) to convene, connect, and serve the needs of news organizations around the country in developing sustainable solutions to local news. We currently manage four CoPs: the News Philanthropy Network (more than 2,500 individual members), the Audience Development Community (more than 200 individual members), the Statewide News Collective (29 member organizations) and the Engaged Cities Community (9 member organizations). The Institute is in the midst of a growth period for our national programs. Over the next two years, we are looking to grow our communities of practice and deepen the support we provide to members and their news organizations.
Job activities:
- • Serve as a key member of the national programs team and collaborate regularly with internal departments, consultants, partners and other stakeholders.
- • Schedule, manage, and coordinate virtual and in-person programs; including creating agendas, securing external speakers, disseminating pre- and post-program communications, and occasionally facilitating conversations among participants.
- • Be the primary point of contact for community members, actively build relationships and engage with members, onboard new members, and lead membership recruitment activities.
- • Manage various internal and external communications channels and produce member-facing communications tailored to varying needs and delivery methods.
- • Collaborate with the Institute’s editorial and communications team to share learnings and insights from CoP programming, including commissioning case studies from members of the communities.
- • Coordinate day-to-day operations of CoP activities, including administrative duties related to payment requests, contracts, budgeting, and scheduling.
- • In collaboration with the National Programs team, contribute to the development of programming that responds to the interests and needs of community members, experiments with various formats for program delivery, and engages community members and industry experts with diverse perspectives and experiences.
- • Create feedback loops through surveys, conversations, and digital tools to gather honest feedback that can be used to measure member satisfaction and develop targeted and responsive programming.
- • Contribute to the creation of short- and long-term plans for projects, including setting realistic milestone targets and deadlines.
- • Work with the National Programs team to grow the national portfolio of work, including potential new CoPs, mentorship opportunities, grant opportunities, and research projects as needed.
Experience and qualifications:
The ideal candidate is an organized and self-motivated team member with a track record in program management and experience in the news industry.
Things we look for in a successful candidate:
- • Three or more years of experience in journalism, community engagement, nonprofits, philanthropy or other relevant industries.
- • Attention to detail and skill in managing program activities, timelines and budgets from idea generation to execution.
- • Ability to juggle multiple projects, work with various stakeholders and contractors, and connect with people across time zones.
- • Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, including comfortability facilitating large group meetings, and a natural curiosity to learn about people from a variety of backgrounds.
- • Familiarity with using digital tools to stay organized, communicate transparently, and collaborate with team members remotely.
- • Experience with a range of community engagement strategies, from facilitating virtual learning opportunities, to leading in-person event planning, to implementing outreach and recruitment campaigns.
- • Team player who is passionate about collaboration and is willing to offer a helping hand when needed.
- • Willingness to ask for help when needed, be transparent about issues that arise, and demonstrate an ability to learn and grow in the role.
- • A mission-driven person, who cares about local news, innovation and democracy and is committed to equity in all aspects of the work.
- • Bachelor’s degree preferred, but relevant professional experience may substitute for educational credentials.
- • Prior experience working in the news industry is preferred.
Employment details
The Community Manager is a full-time (2-year contract with possibility for extension) grant-funded position with a salary between $75,000-$85,000, commensurate with experience. The Institute provides a comprehensive benefits package including:
- • Minimum of 18 days of paid time off, plus 10 corporate holidays and a winter break the last week of the calendar year
- • Medical, dental and vision benefits
- • Retirement plan with a generous matching policy
- • Paid parental leave
- • Employer-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term insurance policies
- • Professional development opportunities
The Lenfest Institute’s office is located in Philadelphia, PA. Our staff currently works on a hybrid schedule with staff working in the office once per week on Wednesdays. We will consider remote candidates from anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast regions who can easily travel to Philadelphia on a regular basis. This job will also include travel to conferences and other Lenfest events approximately four to six times per year.
About Us
About the Lenfest Institute for Journalism
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is a unique non-profit organization whose sole mission is to build sustainable business models for local journalism. With the guiding belief that quality news and information is essential to a healthy, just, vibrant democracy, The Lenfest Institute supports local journalism through its focus on diversified revenue models, digital product development, and equity and representation.
The Lenfest Institute delivers training and support programs, provides grant funding and synthesizes best practices to develop and disseminate sustainable solutions to the business challenges facing local news providers. Our four core focus areas are: The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia news media ecosystem, SpotlightPA, and national solutions for local news. See www.LenfestInstitute.org for more information on the Institute’s grants, programs, mission, and impact.
The Lenfest Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to apply so we can build a team that reflects the diversity of news organizations and journalism professionals we wish to serve. We view diversity as multi-dimensional and intersectional, encompassing race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, class, geography, veteran status, lived experiences, and more.
We know there are excellent candidates who might not have all the skills and experience that we have outlined. If that describes you, please apply and tell us about yourself.
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