Community Manager

Position description

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 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 http://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. 

Application instructions

Please email a cover letter and resume with “Community Manager” in the  subject line. The deadline to apply for this position is September 20 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Candidates must  be authorized to work in the United States.

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