The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, one of the nation's top local newsrooms and part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a driven and creative leader to take on the new role of director of strategic partnerships and development.
In short, this position is focused squarely on developing support for the vital work we do in the newsroom and strengthening our operation for years to come. The aim is to establish, bolster and cultivate connections with readers, donors, other news operations and the community at large and translate that into financial and community support for what we do.
Its charge is to maintain our existing support in this area, but also grow new opportunities. While focused on the Journal Sentinel, it will also maintain and enhance initiatives around our sister newsrooms in Green Bay and Appleton.
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This role will serve as our point person on building the support necessary to continue producing top-notch journalism on stories large and small. This person will work with reporters, photojournalists and editors to identify stories and projects that are ripe for partnerships or financial support, and spearhead efforts to develop whatever is needed to get them done.
One day it could mean identifying grants to pay for testing of water samples for PFAS contamination or to fund travel to Vietnam and Mexico to report on global factors plaguing the state's dairy industry. The next it could mean working with college journalism programs to identify financial support for sponsored internships. The next identifying long-term foundation support for key roles, from reporting on neighborhoods we have too-long neglected to coverage of the Great Lakes. Or simply identifying allies, from prospective individual donors to other newsrooms that can help amplify our reach and our work.
At every step, it means being connected to our work and our community- and listening at every juncture about how we can improve our work and make it indispensable to the people we serve.
The successful candidate will understand the workings and rhythms of a daily newsroom and know how to translate that energy and passion into meetings with community leaders, potential funders and readers. As much as anything, this position is one of a catalyst.
It seeks new ways to tell stories and do journalism. It takes ideas from concept to fruition. It's starting point is: Let's get it done, not Let's see if it is even possible. It is at the center of what we do, helping drive our journalism into new places- galleries and story slams, neighborhoods and schools, gatherings and workshops.
As such, this position is part of our senior leadership team, and works closely with all senior leaders - in particular our opinions and engagement editor, each enhancing the work of the other by sharing ideas, providing backup and sharing insights. This position will also serve as a member of the Journal Sentinel editorial board.
It will primarily focus on the Journal Sentinel but will also look for similar opportunities in our sister newsrooms in Green Bay and Appleton, which already are part of the Microsoft-backed NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) NewsLab.
Responsibilities:
- Represent the newsroom at community events and public forums, always with an eye toward developing connections - be it with a potential reader who needs help finding an answer or the head of a foundation that is a potential source of support.
- Create and maintain a system for identifying potential grants and submitting strong applications, as well as tracking grant expectations and money received and exceeding any grant requirements and expectations.
- Develop a system that assures we have regular communication with our contributors, from consistent acknowledgement of gifts to a year-end report on results.
- Build a strong and active network of allies who understand the critical importance of community journalism and advocate for strengthening local reporting.
- Seek partnerships that enhance our ability to serve readers and the communities we serve.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- At least 3 years of experience as a professional journalist preferred.
- Experience working with nonprofit organizations a plus.
Application Instructions
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:
1. Your resume - one to two pages.
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
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