Program Manager, National Programs

THE LENFEST INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM

Salary: $75,000-$95,000

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.

Specific Responsibilities:

● 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.

Qualifications

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.

How to apply

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.