Solutions Journalism Network Program Operations Manager

Title: Program Operations Manager

Reports to: VP of Program 

Position Type: Full-time, permanent

Compensation:  $75,000 - $95,000, Annual Salary

Location: remote, some travel required.

Benefits: 100% premiums covered by SJN for medical insurance, access to dental and vision insurance, 20 days paid vacation, 3 floating personal days, 10 sick days, 8 paid holidays, the last week of December off, work schedule flexibility,  a remote work stipend.

Timeline:

Application deadline: Feb 18, 2025

Application review: Feb 18, 2025- Feb 21, 2025

Hiring committee Interviews: Mar 3, 2025-Mar 10, 2025

Potential Start date: Apr 1, 2025

Background:

Since 2013, the Solutions Journalism Network (SJN) has worked to legitimize and spread solutions journalism — rigorous reporting that examines not just problems, but also effective efforts to respond to them — in order to rebalance the news. We’ve made a strong case for how and why audiences and society benefit when solutions journalism is integrated into the news — and we’ve had real success. We’ve worked with over 600 news organizations and 25,000 individual journalists and, based on growing demand for our work, currently staff are working across the United States as well as in Africa and Europe. Around the world, solutions reporting is being adopted by news organizations because it increases audience trust and engagement, sharpens accountability and can open up new sources of revenue.  

Today we believe it is more urgent than ever that we take bold action and significantly broaden our reach. Building on our foundational work with newsrooms, we are embarking upon an ambitious new strategy aimed at advancing a system-level change across the field of journalism, in which strong communications will play a critical role. Working with a core group of journalists, educators and allies, we aim to engage tens of thousands more along with hundreds of news organizations in a movement to ensure ready access to news that is informed by solutions reporting. Our vision of success is sweeping but achievable. With broad adoption of solutions journalism, we envision an increase in society’s capacity to solve problems, widespread reach of more complete and accurate coverage, advances in fairness and equity in reporting and a public that is actively involved in the stories being told about their communities.  

Role Purpose: 

The Program Operations Manager reports to the Vice President of Program, supporting the work of the program team as well as operations across the organization. The Program Operations Manager will work with the program team to ensure that program directors and managers are working in sync and with the necessary support ensuring that all initiatives are clearly organized and managed in alignment with both internal systems and SJN strategic goals. 

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized Project Manager to join our growing team. This is a critical role that will play a key part in driving operational efficiency and success across the organization. In this role, you will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a robust project management framework, fostering a culture of project excellence, and ultimately contributing to the strategic alignment of our operations.

Year 1: Project Management Foundation Building

- Establish Project Management Framework: Implement a comprehensive project management framework for all program initiatives within Asana, including standardized templates, workflows, and best practices.

- Build Organizational Buy-in: Foster a culture of accountability and collaboration by educating, training and celebrating program team members on project management methodologies and how to apply them using the SJN tool framework, including Asana, Google docs, Salesforce and Slack.

- Track Progress Toward Goals: Work with the vice president of program to define and track goals to measure project success, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate the value of the project management framework.

Year 2: Operational Strategic Alignment

- Conduct Organizational Assessment: Analyze existing operational structures and identify areas for improvement in efficiency, communication, and resource allocation.

- Develop Strategic Roadmap: Contribute to the development of a strategic roadmap for operational excellence that aligns with organizational goals.

- Drive Continuous Improvement: Continuously evaluate and refine project management processes, tools, and methodologies to ensure optimal performance and adapt to evolving business needs.

• Program
• Project Management: Implement and maintain a robust project management system in Asana for all SJN program initiatives.
• Program Oversight: Oversee the annual SJN Awards program. Manage the monthly Solutions Journalism Intro webinar training program.
• Team Coordination: Coordinate and facilitate bi-weekly internal program team meetings. Coordinate External Training Calendar/schedule. Coordinate Training Request Form for external requests
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Work with the vice president of program to define goals, track project progress and measure success. Analyze project data to identify trends, areas for improvement, and best practices.
• Adaptability & Communication: Utilize change management techniques to effectively navigate and communicate changes to project plans, timelines, or resources. Ensure all involved parties understand and accept necessary adjustments.

• Operations
• Conference Management: Coordinate the allocation, pitching, budgeting, and planning of conferences.
• Process Improvement: Identify and implement opportunities to streamline internal processes and leverage cross-team learning.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Foster strong relationships and collaboration between the Program team and other departments within the organization.
• Coordinate with other departments on administrative and operational functions.
• Internal Communications: Maintain and distribute a monthly internal newsletter.

• Project Management Expertise: Proven experience in managing projects from inception to completion.  Expertise in project management software including  Asana and Salesforce.
• Process Optimization: Demonstrated ability to analyze and improve operational processes.Strong understanding of program development, implementation, and evaluation. Ability to research and analyze problems, providing effective solutions and guidance.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders at all levels. Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills. Proven ability to work effectively within a team environment and across departments.
• Organization & Execution: Excellent organizational and time management skills. Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy. Willingness to be flexible and adaptable, including the ability to assist with various program-related tasks as needed.

Does this sound like your calling? We hope so: We’re an energetic, ambitious, and fun bunch, and we want great people to join us.

Equity, Justice, Diversity and Inclusion at SJN means a workplace where individual differences are recognized, appreciated, respected and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. Diversity of perspective, identity, and experience is important to us.  We want to reflect and serve the whole of society. As a result, we encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to seek employment, and we make all employment decisions without regard to race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or any other factors protected by federal, state or local law. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Eva Blanc, [email protected]

SJN Application & Hiring Process FAQ

Q: Where’s the best place to learn more about the Solutions Journalism Network and the work that you do?

A: Start with this “brief but spectacular” video made for PBS and featuring David Bornstein, one of SJN’s co-founders. Check out the SJN website, new research on how audiences respond to solutions journalism, our most recent survey of our newsroom partners and this study on how solutions journalism can lead to increased revenue. 

Q: Where do I submit my cover letter?

A: The SJN application does not include a cover letter. Instead, we ask a series of questions that we hope will provide the opportunity for you to share your thoughts. All applicants respond to the same questions, which removes the guesswork of a cover letter and enables you to focus on the things we’re most interested in knowing about your qualifications for this role. (note: after the application questions, you will see a final box that says "ADDITIONAL INFORMATION" and the preview text says "add a cover letter or anything else you want to share”. Please do not upload a cover letter here.

Q: What happens after I submit my application?

A: Once the application period closes, a team of SJN staffers will review all of the applications and contact candidates who move to the next stage of the process, which will include 1-2 rounds of interviews and, possibly, an additional (brief) assignment.