Project Manager, Media Viability Accelerator (MVA)

  • Contractor
  • Internews Network
  • TBD USD / Year
  • Internews Network profile




  • Job applications may no longer being accepted for this opportunity.


Internews Network

ABOUT THE PROJECT

An essential element of functioning civic space is trusted, independent news and information that reaches broad audiences, especially the vulnerable and those most excluded from it. To do that, independent news media outlets need to stay in business. Their financial viability is essential to their role as a cornerstone of democracy.

The Media Viability Accelerator (MVA) is an exciting new initiative aiming to reveal paths towards increased financial viability for independent news media by gathering and using data on their capabilities, performance, and operating environments. The MVA is a USAID-funded initiative in which Internews is guiding a coalition of media development stakeholders towards creating a technology solution that is privacy-respecting and interoperable with relevant external systems. It is one of three initiatives, in support of free and independent media, announced at the Summit for Democracy in December 2021.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Internews seeks a Project Manager to lead the conceptualization and development of the MVA. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project management, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and experience in media business, performance metrics, and IT. This is a highly visible role in collaborating at sector level in pursuit of significant impact. The vision of success includes creating online tools that reveal how independent media – and those who support them – can be more financially viable.

LOGISTICS

This is a remote-based position. All remote candidates will be considered. However, you must have work authorization in your location that does not require sponsorship from Internews. Additionally, there are locations in which Internews is not able to support fully remote work. Preference will be given to candidates based in the GMT 0 to GMT +2 time zones. Please note that work hours will need to be coordinated to align in part with those of colleagues throughout the world.

Wherever possible, we work to try to find solutions for international hiring that work for both the company and the candidate. This means that some of the particulars around the offer for a role will be dependent on several factors, and that the benefits and salary structure that apply to a position will ultimately be based upon the candidate’s location and where the role is hired.

This is a limited duration position with an expected end date in July 2023. Hiring will be contingent upon receipt of funding.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so interested candidates are encouraged to apply soon.

OUR COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING A CULTURE OF BELONGING

We are an organization of dynamic, mission-driven individuals who are passionate about our core values and about supporting positive change in the world. We pride ourselves on our commitment to innovation and flexibility. We believe that diverse teams are strong teams and work to support an ethic of belonging, dignity, and justice for all people. Our current team includes a mix of genders, parents and non-parents, and people of multiple races, nationalities, ages, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We are an EEO employer and encourage candidates of all races, genders, ages, orientations, ethnicities, and national origins to apply, and welcome those with alternative backgrounds and experiences.

DAY-TO-DAY TASKS will include:

  • Create enthusiasm for the MVA among stakeholders through frequent communication;
  • Harness the expertise of colleagues across Internews and within 10-15 partner media development organizations, collaborating intensively with a handful of those, to arrive at a Solution Specification for the MVA within 4-6 months. Elements of this technical document will be used as a basis for building the MVA’s technology solution, and will include:
    • User Needs Analysis based on research to understand the needs of each defined type of MVA user (e.g., media outlets, media development implementers, funders, researchers, industry bodies, and technologists);
    • Data types, scope, and formats to be employed by the MVA;
    • Technologies on which the MVA will be built, and those it must be interoperable with;
    • Product Development, and how a proof-of-concept solution can be created and iterated based on user needs, through approaches such as Design Thinking;
    • Analytical Frameworks that can be created and used to benchmark and analyze media outlet performance without disclosing their location or identity, such as but not limited to the 16 Media Types framework suggested in Internews’ Simplifying Success research;
    • Privacy and Security of data, including the MVA ensuring that no data request can be used to identify an individual media outlet without its permission for specified users.
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) principles being embedded in all aspects of the MVA;
    • Ethics of how data will be collected, stored, and used;
    • Governance of the coalition and how technology and data should be managed;
  • Contribute, compile, and edit material for the Solution Specification;
  • Ensure the suitability of people and resources selected to achieve the MVA’s objectives, making best efforts to ensure they are managed efficiently and effectively, and monitor progress to identify any necessary adjustments;
  • Lead the creation and updating of work plans and budgets, ensuring tasks and deliverables are completed on time and according to budgets;
  • Oversee development of the MVA’s technology solution when the Solution Specification has been finalized;
  • Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS WE’RE LOOKING FOR Required

  • At least five years’ project management experience
  • MBA or a master’s degree in business, computer science, or a related field
  • Outstanding technical writing and editing skills, with acute attention to detail
  • Excellent soft skills and proven ability to work as a team player
  • Demonstrated organizational skills, ability to multi-task, and prioritize workload
  • Self-reliance, resourcefulness, flexibility, and problem-solving attitude
  • Optimism, a sense of humor, and excitement regarding this work

Preferred

Note: Candidates who do not have these preferred qualifications, but who are interested and willing to learn, are encouraged to apply.

  • Experience working with news media
  • Experience in business management
  • Experience working with performance metrics
  • Experience managing or coordinating across a coalition or consortium

How to apply

To apply, please submit CV and optionally a cover letter via our Careers page.


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