Program Manager, Civic News Academy

Job Description

Civic News Company, parent company of the nonprofit newsrooms Chalkbeat, focused on telling the story of education in America; Votebeat, dedicated to in-depth reporting on elections and voting; and Healthbeat, covering public health and health policy both nationally and locally, is seeking a highly organized, strategic, and proactive Program Manager, Civic News Company to lead the operational buildout of CNA. This person will drive the program from concept to execution, working closely with Civic News Company leadership, editors, and external advisors to develop CNA’s structure, programming, and impact model. 

This role reports directly to the Editor-in-Chief, Civic News Company.

About Civic News Academy (CNA)

Civic News Academy (CNA) is a groundbreaking initiative designed to help journalists build public trust by refining how they report, engage, and frame their coverage. Through immersive experiences, training programs, and editorial alignment, CNA will equip journalists with the tools and philosophy to move beyond superficial narratives toward deeper understanding. CNA is incubated within Civic News Company, home to Chalkbeat, Votebeat, and Healthbeat, with the vision of scaling across the industry.

At its core, CNA is not just about changing journalistic behavior—it is about producing journalism that prioritizes curiosity and understanding as the engine to fuel civic renewal and public participation. Objectivity – finding out what sources and the people we cover actually believe and are trying to accomplish – without abandoning our values, will create the kind of reporting that strengthens democracy by increasing public trust, engagement, and understanding of key civic issues. We won’t make assumptions, nor will we be captured by special interests.

The key responsibilities for this role include:

• Program Development & Execution

  • Lead the planning and execution of CNA’s foundational work, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and funder expectations.

  • Organize and facilitate the design committee to audit current journalistic practices and shape CNA’s curriculum.

  • Develop a structured programming framework (e.g., seminars, workshops, coaching) that fosters deep, lasting changes in journalistic behavior and directly impacts civic engagement and public trust.

  • Establish editorial alignment strategies to ensure CNA’s approach integrates seamlessly with newsroom operations and drives measurable civic outcomes.

• Project & Stakeholder Management

  • Serve as the central point of contact for CNA, managing coordination between internal teams, external advisors, and funders.

  • Work closely with Civic News Company editors-in-chief and senior leadership to ensure programmatic relevance and feasibility.

  • Manage timelines, deliverables, and milestones to keep CNA on track toward its goals.

• Business & Fundraising Support

  • Assist leadership in developing CNA’s business model and sustainability plan (e.g., standalone entity vs. internal program).

  • Work with the development team to engage additional funders by providing materials, metrics, and program updates.

  • Define success metrics and measurement tools to track CNA’s impact on journalism practice and its role in strengthening civic life.

Job Requirements

What background and skills do you have? (We know not all strong candidates will have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!):

• Demonstrated experience managing complex programs from launch to execution, ideally within journalism, media, education, or the nonprofit sector.

• Deep familiarity with journalism, including an understanding of newsroom culture and the challenges involved in building public trust.

• A strategic mindset paired with operational know-how, with the ability to translate big ideas into clear, actionable plans that drive civic impact.

• Strong communication and facilitation skills, with a talent for coordinating multiple stakeholders, leading thoughtful discussions, and synthesizing input into focused strategies.

• Highly organized and forward-thinking, with a track record of anticipating obstacles, solving problems efficiently, and keeping projects on track.

Bonus points if you’ve got:

• Experience working in or with newsrooms, media training programs, or journalism nonprofits.

• Proven background in program development, curriculum design, or editorial strategy.

• Prior experience managing grants, funder relationships, or nonprofit initiatives.

This full-time, remote-eligible position may be based anywhere in the continental United States. Civic News Company already has a presence: Chicago, Colorado, Indianapolis, Newark, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Occasional travel may be required for team meetings, trainings, or partner events.

The salary range is $100,000-120,000; final salary will be determined based on level of experience and geographic location, with a generous benefits package, including:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance

• 20 days of PTO and a paid one-week recess

• 401(k) matching program

• Paid parental leave

Civic News Company recognizes a staff bargaining unit, Civic News Company, affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East, a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for news and online media, motion pictures, and television. This position is not  included in the Civic News Company bargaining unit.

About Civic News Company

At Civic News Company, our mission is helping people understand how America works so they can make it work better. Committed to equal employment opportunities, Civic News Company welcomes applicants and employees from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our shared vision.

Civic News Company participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Civic News Company is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before Civic News Company can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Civic News Company can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

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