Engagement Manager, New York & Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative
Position type: Independent contractor, 20 hours per week. Six-month contract, subject to grant renewal
Reports to: Director, New York & Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative
Location: NYMI SOJO prefers the candidate be located in southeast Michigan or western New York. Both NYMI SOJO and the Local Media Association, which will contract this position on behalf of NYMI SOJO, are virtual organizations, so the program manager can work from anywhere.
Compensation: $38.46/hr.
Application deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but those received by Sept. 8 will be prioritized.
Are you a dedicated professional who is passionate about driving change through impactful journalism? Would you thrive in a collaborative environment, working alongside talented newsroom partners and engaging diverse audiences in two states? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join the New York & Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative as an Engagement Manager.
This grant-funded position is crucial in supporting the director of the Collaborative, providing support in editorial coverage, fundraising and ensuring long-term sustainability. Your focus will be on maximizing our reach across platforms and enhancing the impact of our journalism.
The Engagement Manager also plays a pivotal role in fostering strong partnerships with our newsroom members. The manager will serve as a resource to partners by sharing information, responding to questions, and working closely with them. You’ll help strengthen collaborations, fuel innovation and contribute to groundbreaking journalism that empowers communities and drives positive change. You’d partner with other journalists on engagement projects that deepen the scope and reach of our award-winning solutions journalism, and help to connect these projects with the communities we are covering.
Beyond the newsroom, this role involves engaging our audiences and building relationships that extend the impact of our stories. Using your creativity and understanding of digital platforms, you’ll help captivate our readers, listeners, and viewers, sparking meaningful conversations and fostering engagement.
Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to support our development, by assisting and tracking our grant opportunities, showcasing the impact of donor investments and ensuring the sustainability of our collaborative journalism.
If you’re a dynamic, results-oriented professional with a passion for building bridges, engaging communities and telling stories that matter, we invite you to apply. Join us in our mission to transform journalism and make a lasting impact.
Specifics we’re looking for:
- Impeccable organizational skills and an ability to move projects forward independently
- Proven interest in community engagement and network building
- Experience with social media platforms and content management systems
- Excellent oral, written and presentation skills, and the ability to write clearly
- Solid analytical and editorial judgment
- Experience working with diverse audiences
- Advanced knowledge of audience analytical tools and social media strategies to grow and engage audiences
- Demonstration of critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities
- Strong computer skills and proficiency in Google Workspace
- Willingness to experiment and think outside the box
- Familiarity with solutions journalism and diverse journalism outlets is preferred
- Experience in community-based nonprofit organizations and grant writing is a plus.
ABOUT NYMISOJO & SJN
The New York & Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative is a diverse group of news, academic and community organizations pooling time, talent and resources to cover chronic problems with a solutions lens. It is modeled on other successful news collaboratives supported by the growing nonprofit Solutions Journalism Network. Solutions journalism provides a framework, grounded in journalistic ethics and informed by today’s professional challenges, that enables journalists to cover society more comprehensively, revealing possibilities for civic agency and connection.
The New York & Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative is Solutions Journalism Network’s first interstate collaborative — a diverse group representing approximately 20 news organizations, two universities, a talk show, and a book publisher.
The Collaborative is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment.
Want to be considered for this role? To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and links to your portfolio showcasing your relevant work to monica.williams@localmedia.org. Do you have skills or experiences that we haven’t thought of that you can bring to this job? Tell us how you can see this role benefit from your individual experiences.