Overview
Reporting to the Head of National Programs and serving as the team’s lead project manager, the Program Manager for National Programs will manage and help design a dynamic portfolio of programs that support business sustainability for news organizations across the country.
Highly organized and self-motivated, the Program Manager will work closely with the Head of National Programs and partner with the Community Manager to ensure timely execution of tasks, maintain excellence of programs, while staying within budget. The Program Manager is also adaptable, as programs will evolve to meet the changing needs, resources, and opportunities identified by the Institute to support local news.
The Program Manager will also collaborate with internal stakeholders to maintain alignment with institutional priorities. Effective coordination with teams across the Lenfest Institute including Operations, Communications, and Advancement, is crucial to maximize role effectiveness.
- National Programs: Play a key role in the program design and implementation of a portfolio of national programs that support the financial and operational; resilience of publishers, including Beyond Print, Local Independent News Coalition, Local News Summit, and others. Serve as lead project manager for these programs, contribute to program design, coordinate virtual and in-person convenings and events, and collaborate with Operations Manager on the implementation of grant programs.
- Pennsylvania Strategy: Collaborate with the Head of National Programs and stakeholders to establish a comprehensive Pennsylvania Strategy that builds on the success of Spotlight PA. Engage with partners on Pennsylvania Press Forward initiatives and seek opportunities to support and promote wins in the region and state, including those of Spotlight PA. Work with the Head of Philadelphia Programs to develop an import/export strategy for Pennsylvania and National Programs with Philadelphia at its center.
- Goal Setting and Strategy: Collaborate with the Community Manager and Head of National Programs to help align community-driven insights with overarching national and organizational goals, and enhance the relevance and impact of our communities of practice (CoPs). Work with the National Programs team to restructure or sunset existing programs when needed. In collaboration with the Head of National Programs facilitate an annual team OKR process to establish goals and assess the impact and effectiveness of CoPs.
- Identify and Engage With Partners: In collaboration with the Head of National Programs, identify partners, including internal partners / cross-departmental collaborations, contractors, and potential collaborators in the industry that complement our work, and leverage their expertise to keep overlap with other initiatives to a minimum. Lead and help oversee a strategy for engaging with partners and collaborators, including through grants and contracts.
- Communications: Collaborate with the Institute’s editorial and communications team to share learnings and insights from national programs, including commissioning case studies from program participants, publishing research, and promoting national programs to the news industry at-large.
- Team Support: Serve as a key member of the national programs team, manage the project/task management system for the National Programs team, and support the Community Manager with activities related to communities of practice as needed. Coordinate closely with other departments for programming ideas and direction that aligns with National and CoPs insights, and partner with executing the programs (i.e: Demo Day, 2025 NPN Summit).
- Grant Programs and Administrative Support: Assume primary responsibility for National and Pennsylvania grant administration. Support the Community Manager and work closely with the Operations Manager on grant programs cycle management. Provide strategic input, design, and evaluation. Manage administrative duties related to payment requests, contracts, program budgeting, and scheduling.
- Meetings: Weekly meetings with Head of National Programs and Community Manager, National Programs. Occasional meetings with COO and other internal stakeholders. Facilitate virtual sessions and webinars a few times per month. Meet with external stakeholders as needed.
The ideal candidate should be mission-driven with a commitment to equity, demonstrating a collaborative spirit and enthusiasm for their work. Things we look for in a successful candidate:
- Five or more years of experience in program design and execution within the nonprofit sector, deep understanding of the local news industry’s needs, and robust project management skills.
- Excellent communication skills, the ability to manage multiple priorities, direct engagement with funders are all essential.
- 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.
- Familiarity with using digital tools such as Asana, Atlassian products, etc. to stay organized, communicate transparently, and collaborate with team members remotely.
- 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.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred, but relevant professional experience may substitute for educational credentials.
- Working experience in project management; product development processes such as research, roadmapping, and conducting retrospectives; and/or familiarity with grant-making is highly valued.
- Prior experience working in the news industry is preferred.
Finally, candidates have a sense of fun: Work does not consume your entire life. You have a good sense of humor and understand the importance of work/life balance.
Employment details
- The Program Manager is a full-time position with a salary between $75,000-$95,000, commensurate with experience.
- 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 weekly basis. This job may also include travel to conferences and other Institute events approximately four to six times per year.
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
- Paid parental leave
- Employer-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term insurance policies
- Professional development opportunities
About The Lenfest Institute for Journalism
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is a unique nonprofit 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 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, Pennsylvania, 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.
Please email a cover letter and resume to jobs@lenfestinstitute.org with “Program Manager, National Programs” in the subject line. The deadline to apply for this position is Friday, August 23, 11:59pm ET. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.