Media Viability & Social Impact Project Manager

Department:                                     Global Programs

Job Family:                                       Program Support

Job Sub-Family:                               Program Oversight & Support

Location:                                            United States

Workplace Designation:                  Fully Remote

Term:                                                  12 months

Funding:                                             100% Direct

Status:                                                Exempt

Supervisor:                                        Vice President for Programs

GENERAL FUNCTION

Under the supervision of the Vice President for Programs, the Media Viability and Social Impact Project Manager will directly manage an initiative to foster enhanced fundability for independent community-focused information initiatives in South Asia by creating pathways for them to become investment ready. This dynamic role is part insights analyst and thought leader on media investment practice, including developing new social impact metrics and media fundability criteria that elevate the voices of underserved communities. The role includes advising colleagues and partners on media business issues, and documenting learnings that promote scalability, replicability, and fundability while strengthening the overall information ecosystem.

This position is also part project manager, responsible for planning and organizing resources and processes to achieve program objectives, including oversight of activity coordination, travel and events, and technical and financial assistance to local partner organizations to help them become viable and investment ready. The role will develop systems and track deliverables, lead reporting, oversee a small remote team, and engage business management and monitoring and evaluation staff as needed. This position directly supervises a Senior Program Officer.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES include the following, with other duties upon request

·        Design, lead, and supervise, in conjunction with the Vice President for Programs, the work of team members on the successful implementation of one or more projects and recommend adjustments where necessary to improve performance.

·        Serve as an internal and external thought leader on media investment practice, including developing new social impact metrics, media fundability criteria, and advising colleagues and partners on media business and viability, especially within the non-traditional sector and/or among marginalized communities.

·        Maintain relationships and check-ins with funders and other implementers, including outreach to donor-level partners on a regular basis.

·        Provide financial oversight and work closely with the Business Operations Manager to monitor budget compliance.

·        Lead the planning and implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities for the project and make sure they are designed in a methodologically sound and feasible way, accurately implemented, and that the results are analyzed and reported appropriately.

·        Advise on the design, development, and administration of resources and tools to evaluate and track project indicators, such as pre- and post-activity surveys, focus group questionnaires, uniform qualitative data collection, internal tracking systems, impact stories, etc.

·        Advise project staff on best practices to ensure activities and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) efforts are integrated into all activities with a special emphasis on women and traditionally marginalized populations.

·        Foster outreach, visibility, and dissemination of program experience.

·        Work closely with the Business Development Team across the organization to significantly contribute to donor outreach as well as proposals, reports, and program documentation, as needed.

·        Work closely with Internews’ other programmatic units to build cross-team strategies that advance Internews’ mandates and goals.

·        In all duties, uphold Internews’ Core Values and demonstrate commitment to fostering a culture of Belonging, Dignity, and Justice.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Media Viability and Social Impact Project Manager directly supervises one Senior Program Officer. The Project Manager carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include training employees; managing, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required

• Relevant university degree or equivalent lived/professional experience. 
• At least seven years’ relevant experience, preferably working in or with media on business strategy or with donor programs and projects in the media development sector.
• Experience working in South Asia.
• Knowledge of or aptitude for grasping common organizational methods such as social network analysis, Outcome Harvesting, organizational capacity assessments, and digital analytics.
• Experience implementing programs in diverse information environments; experience developing and implementing security protocols, including use of technologies to foster secure practices.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills and experience adapting oral and written research outputs to present in non-technical language to diverse audiences, including colleagues, journalists, consultants, and donors.'
• Experience organizing events, including international travel arrangements, vendor negotiations, event logistics, etc
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including leadership skills, diplomacy, tact, and ability to give and receive feedback.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with others and problem-solve in a multicultural, remote work environment. 
• Demonstrated grant reporting experience and text-editing proficiency.
• Proven ability to set priorities and manage time effectively.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Proven ability to work both independently and as an effective team member.
• Language fluency in written and spoken English.
• Proficiency in MS Office.

• Flexibility to adjust working hours as needed to accommodate periodic shifts in workload and colleagues in different time zones.  

   

  Preferred

  • Experience delivering training and building capacity of colleagues and local partners.
  • Experience with private donors and/or investors.
  • Fluency in one or more South Asian language.
  • Prior experience managing and/or mentoring staff remotely.
  • Familiarity with and experience in implementing projects to strengthen organizational capacity and inclusion of marginalized communities.
     

  PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:

  The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met or may be encountered by an employee performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  Specific vision abilities required by this job include normal color perception and close vision for use of computer terminal and reading printed and electronic materials. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to the risk of radiation from regular exposure to computer VDTs.

  Expected office hours are generally Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.