Community Manager

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.