Associate Director of National Outreach & Special Projects

APPLICATION MATERIALS:

Please submit a cover letter and resume. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

JOB PURPOSE:

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Associate Director of National Outreach and Special Projects will lead the Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University’s (the Center) public-facing programs and partnerships, including professional conferences, training workshops and summer residential institutes. This position will be responsible for implementing a pioneering program of national, longitudinal reparations research involving a consortium of HBCU journalism schools. The Associate Director of National Outreach and Special Projects will also serve as a key member of the Center’s staff and will ensure that programs offered by the Center fulfill its mission: To bolster the field of journalism in service of our multiracial democracy by supporting the teaching and practice of historically informed investigative reporting at Howard University and across the constellation of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The Center supports courses, visiting professorships, fellowships, stipends for students and professors, archival work and resources, student investigative projects, workshops and symposiums, among other programs at Howard University and across a constellation of HBCUS.

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY:

Responsible for providing limited supervision for one or more functions within a department.

Formally plans, assigns, directs, and coordinates the work of these functions.

Typically, responsible for performing some non-supervisory duties in addition to supervisory responsibilities.

May perform staff evaluations and make recommendations regarding pay and/or performance.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

Internal contacts include executives, administrators, faculty, students, and staff of the university at large.  External contacts include alumni, consultants, representatives from other colleges and universities, visitors and the general public.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Plan and coordinate small to large-scale outreach events, such as national conferences and symposia, and work with partner institutions, organizations, and faculty initiatives and programs
• Implement complex, national, multifaceted investigative reporting projects involving academic and community engagement over a sustained period
• Coordinate long-term project plans, identify resources and risks and ensure accountability for implementation
• Establish the structure of partnerships to foster effective collaboration between the Center and external institutions (e.g. HBCUs, PWIS, media organizations and progressional journalism associations)
• Oversee the development of public assets for the Center – including web-based programs and publications
• Foster an inclusive and productive team culture
• Perform other duties as assigned

CORE COMPETENCIES:   

• Master’s degree (preferred) in journalism/communications, public policy, social science or humanities
• 5-7 years of experience in the journalism field and knowledge of investigative reporting best practices
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise (i.e. African-American studies, social movements, reparations) with experience in non-profit, higher education or community-based program management may substitute for journalism experience
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in program management and strategic thinking in an academic, non-profit, or media environment
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement large-scale, complex projects and to implement short and long-range plans to meet program needs
• Ability to interact at the senior levels of an organization and to work collaboratively across functions, levels, and departments toward shared objectives
• Capacity to work collaboratively across multiple institutions and organizations towards long term goals
• Experience navigating policy requirements at an academic institution
• Ability to lead and coordinate complex annual planning processes and ensure successful implementation
• Ability to both create and work within established frameworks, policies, and practices
• Strong strategic thinking and project management skills
• Ability to interact at the most senior levels of an organization and to work collaboratively across functions, levels, and departments towards shared objectives
• Ability to provide and receive direct and constructive feedback
• Passion for and familiarity with HBCU student populations and culture  

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Experience interacting with and building relationship with stakeholders within minority communities
• Experience navigating and maintaining relationships within the journalism field
• Experience in executing learning programs on digital platforms