Bismarck Documenters Network Project Manager - Community Engagement

Job Opening: Bismarck Documenters Network Project Manager - Community Engagement

Application deadline: Closes December 15, 2024

Send resume: contact@imfreedomalliance.org

Attach cover letter: Please address your community organizing and networking skills

Attention: Jodi Rave Spotted, Executive Director, Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, Publisher, Buffalo’s Fire online news site

Bismarck Documenters Program Manager

Buffalo’s Fire, an online news site, is looking for an enthusiastic, Bismarck-based program manager to lead our local chapter of the award-winning Documenters program, which trains and pays people to produce information in the public interest. With local media in crisis in North Dakota and across the country, Documenters is reimagining how we access and share information about our communities.

The Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, publisher of Buffalo’s Fire, embraces diversity in experience, background and career stage, welcoming those ready to make a difference – whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned professional who’s “not ready to retire just yet.”

How You’ll Empower Communities

Your role will be to spark connections and build partnerships that grow an engaged audience for the Documenters Network in Bismarck and tribal communities across North Dakota. As Documenters Program Manager, you’ll work hands-on with community participants, guiding them as they build civic engagement skills and encouraging a creative, adaptive approach to program design. You’ll report directly to Buffalo’s Fire’s Executive Director and play a key role in shaping and bringing the program’s strategic vision to life.

If you’re someone with a knack for building lasting community relationships and a passion for mobilizing people to tackle big challenges from the ground up, this role could be your perfect fit!

Who We’re Looking For

We seek a people-oriented team builder with experience in journalism, community organizing, grassroots initiatives, or public interest work. You might be a retired academic with a background in civic engagement, a community developer in Indian Country, or an emerging professional ready to jump into a mission-driven role. If you can build relationships and are passionate about empowering communities to solve big challenges from the ground up, we’d love to hear from you.

Who We Are

Buffalo’s Fire is the independent publishing arm of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, a 501-c-3 nonprofit media organization in Bismarck, N.D. The alliance is at the forefront of a movement to reimagine journalism in Indian Country as a public good. Our reporting informs, engages and equips people to strengthen information systems in communities underserved and overlooked by mainstream media. Buffalo’s Fire is the first Native newspaper member of The Trust Project, an international consortium of newspapers dedicated to amplifying journalism’s role of transparency, accuracy, inclusion and fairness so the public can make informed news choices.

What you’ll do

• Manage Buffalo’s Fire’s Bismarck-based Documenters site and oversee our network of program participants.
• Cultivate a network of local partners in media, community organizing, education, academia and government who consistently use Documenters.org as part of their regular work and share feedback with Buffalo’s Fire.
• Collaborate with our social media team to bring Documenters’ work to a broader audience through micro-journalism and innovative storytelling on social platforms. (Social media experience is helpful but not required; you’ll have the support of our in-house social media specialist.)
• Develop and manage special projects that engage Documenters to promote local knowledge of Bismarck and its civic processes.
• Work with Buffalo’s Fire marketing and editorial staff to tell the Documenters Network story and ensure Documenters’ work reaches the people who can use it.
• Apply an equity framework to programmatic decisions to ensure the Documenters site reflects the most significant need for race, gender and other demographics.
• Our long-term goal is to cover tribal government council meetings on or near reservations across North Dakota. We will begin on the Standing Rock Reservation, which is nearest to Bismarck.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of experience in engagement journalism, community organizing, grassroots political campaigning or a related field
• 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
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• 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)

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Full-time with benefits package including health care insurance
• $55,000+ salary; We will include planned annual raises.
• Professional development stipend, work tools stipend
• 15 days paid vacation, plus 10 days Rejuvenation Fridays!
• Flexible work schedule - some night/weekend hours may be required

ABOUT The Documenters Network

With local media in crisis in Chicago and nationwide, City Bureau has been at the forefront of a movement to reimagine journalism as a public good. Our programs inform, engage and equip people to strengthen local information systems, starting with communities of color on the South and West Sides of Chicago. Since we launched in 2018 we’ve trained more than 100 reporting fellows in community-based reporting; hosted more than 200 free public workshops, trainings and discussions; and trained more than 2000 Documenters who have collectively logged more than 7,000 hours attending public meetings.

City Bureau welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. We offer equal opportunity in employment for all qualified persons and prohibit discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, creed, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, disability unrelated to job requirements, genetic information, military service or other protected status.

• At least 3 years of experience in engagement journalism, community organizing, grassroots political campaigning or a related field
• 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
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• 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)