CHARLOTTE DOCUMENTERS PROGRAM MANAGER
The Charlotte Journalism Collaborative is hiring a Charlotte-based program manager to lead the
local development of the award-winning Documenters program by City Bureau, which trains and
pays people to produce information in the public interest. With local media in crisis in Charlotte
and across the country, Documenters is reimagining how we access and share information
about our communities. The Documenters model has been successfully implemented across
urban metros, mid-sized cities, and rural communities at 20+ sites nationwide. For our
program, Documenters will cover city and county level public meetings in Charlotte and
Mecklenburg County. We're also planning a first-in-the-network focus on Immigration Court
Hearings.
We're looking for an effective team manager with experience in journalism, community
organizing, grassroots political campaigning or other fields that involve mobilizing people and
information for the public good. Your role will be to cultivate partnerships that build an engaged
audience around Documenters work in Charlotte, to work closely with program participants to
help them learn and become more civically engaged and to take a creative, iterative approach
to program design. You will report to Charlotte Journalism Collaborative's Director who will set
strategy for the program and work closely with you to execute it. If you have a track record of
cultivating deep community relationships and a passion for organizing people to address big
problems from the ground up, this role is for you.
Since 2019, the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative has been dedicated to providing a platform
and structured community journalism partnership that supports the future of Charlotte in its
work, serves as a trusted source of information and news, and addresses the problems that are
the most important to our city's residents. With six local newsrooms and three nonprofit
community institutions, our work creates a more informed and engaged Charlotte.
Housed in the James L. Knight School of Communication at Queens University of Charlotte, the
Charlotte Journalism Collaborative is part of a learning environment where the classroom meets
the real world. By bridging community engagement and new media innovation, the Knight
School's programs are unique among its peer institutions.This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position reporting to the Director of the Charlotte Journalism
Collaborative.
This position is exempt from provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not eligible to
earn overtime pay or compensatory time off for additional hours worked. This position is not eligible
for visa sponsorship.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage the Charlotte Documenters' site and oversee our network of program
participants
Coordinate assignment logistics, own the workflow, and be in clear and
consistent communication with Documenters on assignment with relevant
updates
Review, fact check, and copy edit submitted notes for grammatical and factual
errors and share constructive feedback directly with Documenters in a
standardized system
Roll out and conduct trainings for current and prospective program participants
Cultivate a network of local partners in media, community organizing, education,
academia and government who are consistently using the work of Charlotte
Documenters.
Develop and manage special projects that engage Documenters to promote local
knowledge of Charlotte and its civic processes
Work with Charlotte Journalism Collaborative's leadership and members to tell the story
of the Charlotte Documenters program and make sure Documenters' work reaches the
people who can use it, facilitating reporting based on Documenters' notes among our
collaborative reporting partners
Write and publish regular newsletters based on Documenters' meeting notes
Maintain accurate records of program activity, partner engagement, participant
feedback, and program performance, supporting the development of updates and
reports for stakeholders, funders and for internal use
Apply an equity framework to programmatic decisions to ensure the Charlotte
Documenters site reflects the greatest need as it applies to race, gender and other
demographics.
REQUIREMENTS
At least 3 years experience in engagement journalism, community organizing, grassroots
political campaigning or a related field
Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public policy, nonprofit management,
or related discipline or a combination of education and relevant experience will be
considered Experience managing a team and/or leading projects where people with diverse
backgrounds, perspectives and abilities feel they can do their best work
A demonstrated commitment to equipping and organizing people toward collective
action
Impeccable and inclusive project planning and prioritization skills
Proficiency in various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite and Google
Suite
Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to engage in
journalistic writing
Work effectively independently and as a member of a team
Ability to rally stakeholders and solve problems creatively and collaboratively
Experience cultivating deep relationships, trust and solutions with a community (we
know this can mean many things and want to hear how it manifests in your work)
Don't meet every qualification listed? We encourage you to apply anyway! Research shows that
marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color - are less
likely to apply for roles unless they meet every single requirement. A t the Charlotte Journalism
Collaborative, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible
environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging. If you're passionate about our mission
but your experience doesn't perfectly ali gn with every qualification in the job description, we
still encourage you to submit an application. You might be the perfect fit for this role!
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
$60,000 Annually
Queens offers comprehensive benefits to eligible employees, including: medical, dental
and vision insurance, domestic partner benefits, a 403b retirement plan, with two
options (pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) contributions) with a match, vacation and
generous paid holidays, tuition remission and tuition exchange, Queens-paid life
insurance, supplemental life insurance, dependent life insurance, accidental leave when
eligible, reduced cost meals at Morrison Dining Hall, employee assistance program
(EAP), free access to the Levine Center, wellness programs. In addition, employees may
choose benefits such as pet insurance, critical care insurance and legal assistance.
Professional development opportunities
Flexible work schedule - some night/weekend hours may be required
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Applications due by July 20
Applicants will be notified if they have proceeded to the next stage-an online or in-
person interview-within 2 weeks
ABOUT CITY BUREAU
City Bureau is a journalism lab reimagining local media. Its programs inform, engage and equip
people to strengthen information systems in communities underserved by existing media. Since
2016, Documenters have trained more than 4,000 people, covered more than 8,000 public
meetings, hosted more than 600 free public workshops, trainings and discussions, and are
actively tracking 860 government bodies.
ABOUT QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE
Located in the heart of the nation's second fastest growing metropolitan area, Queens University of
Charlotte leverages the city's diverse and thriving environment as an extended classroom. Nationally
recognized for undergraduate programs in international and interdisciplinary education, Queens
blends the best of liberal arts learning with professional preparation and community
engagement. Focused on supporting success for diverse learners, faculty build close and
collaborative relationships with students and help them build intentional and individualized roadmaps
for flourishing at Queens and beyond. At the graduate program level, the University offers innovative
educational experiences that help learners advance professionally and retool for new opportunities.
Our environs afford faculty myriad opportunities to advance their own professional growth and
teaching and research interests by collaborating with vibrant industry, non-profit, and community
organization sectors.
Because of our history of innovation and our legacy of strong leadership, Queens is positioned to
be among the new forerunners of American higher education. This is a defining moment for
Queens. While other institutions are focused on sustaining and surviving, we are thinking much
bigger.
Institutions that understand what is needed and are willing to reimagine what is possible can position
themselves to thrive and strengthen their market position after the pandemic with innovative
approaches that are deeply connected to the world and its greatest challenges.
By 2030, Queens aspires to become the leading, private, national university of Charlotte with
deep, meaningful, and reciprocal connections to the needs of our local community and economy;
inventive and multidisciplinary academic programs that are connected to the world's most pressing
challenges and biggest areas of opportunity; a fully connected, integrated, and innovative set of
experiences that support holistic wellness and wellbeing; a culture of continuous improvement and
investment that enables faculty and staff to flourish and achieve their full potential; and a
comprehensive approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion that begins on campus and radiates
throughout the community.
Queens University of Charlotte aims to be a leading comprehensive university, distinguished by its
commitment to transforming the lives of its students and enhancing the intellectual and cultural fabric
of its community. Queens is a campus where diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values.
The mission of Queens is to provide transformative educational experiences that nurture intellectual
curiosity, promote global understanding, encourage ethical living, and prepare individuals for
purposeful and fulfilling lives. To this end, the University recruits talented faculty, staff, and students
from across the United States and around the world. Queens encourages applications from women,
people of color, people with disabilities, and members of other protected classes and historically
minoritized communities. The University also invites applications from individuals who are prepared
to provide a rich and varied educational experience to our increasingly diverse student body and to
collaborate with colleagues to make Queens an equitable and inclusive place to live, learn, and
work.
Queens works to provide an accessible living, learning, and working environment for current and
prospective faculty, staff, and students and visitors to our campus. If there are accommodations, we
can provide to make your application process more accessible, please contact the Director of
Human Resources (hr@queens.edu, 704-337-2297). The position duties and responsibilities listed
above should be able to be completed with or without reasonable accommodations. HR works in
partnership with employees to manage the workplace accommodations process.