Program Operations Manager

Position description

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.

Responsibilities for this role include:

•  

  • 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.

Must-Have Skills and Strengths for this role include:

• • 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.

Application instructions

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