We’re seeking a highly organized, solutions oriented engagement specialist and community-builder with strong project management and communication skills to support the Documenters Network as a member of our growing Network Success team. The Documenters Network is a growing, national community of practice supporting place-based, participatory journalism. In cities and regions across the country, local organizations grow and cultivate relationships with engaged community members, civic actors and news producers to increase civic knowledge and participation.

In this role you will work closely with our Documenters Network Director of Network Success and staff at local Documenters sites to grow and sustain a national participatory media network. By supporting Documenters Network site partners and engaging a diverse range of Documenters, you’ll help build a new kind of civic infrastructure alongside a dedicated and collaborative team. The Documenters Network currently supports Documenters sites in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Fresno Minneapolis, Omaha, and Philadelphia, with more sites in development.

This is an intermediate-level position open to candidates who bring transferable skills, interest in network-weaving and a demonstrated commitment to City Bureau’s mission. While City Bureau has a central office available to staff in Chicago, this is a remote-first role open to candidates nationwide.

You should consider applying if:

You see the need for local media that is accountable and responsive to the public
You want to shift resources toward more racially equitable and resilient ways of sharing news and information
You regularly find connections among differing attitudes and experiences—and generative communication is one of your gifts
You are a detail-oriented civic nerd
You see how local civic engagement connects to national movement building

Responsibilities

Provide online and offline support for Documenters programs.

Facilitate and enhance internal communications across the Documenters Network that strengthen local programs
Conduct 1-1 check-ins and monthly network meetings with a discrete set of local program staff to triage and address needs, challenges, successes and opportunities
Schedule meetings, develop agendas and document outcomes
Inform, engage and equip program staff across the Documenters Network via our online communication hub (Basecamp)
Support onboarding for new sites

Support Network-wide resources, events, and community.

Contribute to the development, sourcing, maintenance and sharing of collective resources that sustain a growing network of sites, including case studies, research/reports, news articles, curricula and monthly programmatic data reports that distribute actionable information to program staff.
Support impact tracking and assessment across the Documenters Network, including programmatic data analysis, stakeholder interviews and surveys
Contribute to the planning and facilitation of monthly Documenters Network staff calls
Support planning and execution of the annual Documenters Network summit, special trainings, and events
Help coordinate tech and product support between program staff and the Network Services team

Coordinate and develop community of practice efforts by and for program participants.

Draft and publish online message board posts and facilitate peer-led workshops that connect Documenters to each other, to staff and to civic life in their area
Consult on special projects and events with sites that support network growth, innovation and learning

Qualifications

Understanding of and commitment to City Bureau’s core values, mission and vision
Excellent formal writing skills, with an ability to identify and appeal to diverse stakeholders—Spanish language fluency is a plus
Ability to coordinate complex projects with many diverse stakeholders
Impeccable organizational skills and an ability to move projects forward independently
Strong facilitation and learning design skills
Proven interest in community engagement and network building
Ability to quickly learn about complex issues and prioritize information in a team environment
Must be a team player with a low-ego approach to collaboration with both internal and external colleagues

We expect that the strongest candidates will have the above skills and areas of expertise in varying degrees. If you don’t have every qualification, please consider applying, and use your application to tell us about the skills you bring that would help us build this team.

Compensation and benefits

$57,500; City Bureau uses a fixed compensation structure that includes planned annual raises
Full time with benefits package including health care, dental, vision, life insurance
This is a remote-first role and there is a central office in Chicago that is available for staff use
Employer sponsored 401k plans, with 100% employer match up to 4% of salary
$1,000 annual technology and work tools allowance
$1,000 professional development allowance
15 days paid vacation, not including health days
11 company holidays each year, which may be exchanged for employees who celebrate other holidays
Flexible work schedule—some night/weekend hours may be required
A 4.5 day week. From July through September, City Bureau operates on a 4 day work week.
Some travel to Chicago and partner sites will be required
A culture of intentional professional development and organizational learning; City Bureau staff hold regular share outs to learn from one another and hold regular community check-ins to connect and surface feedback on policies and practices.

City Bureau is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.