Hybrid Program Manager – U.S. Journalist Safety

at Black Pen Recruitment

• Job title: Program Manager – U.S. Journalist Safety
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: $75,000 - $85,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, New York City, United States

About the role

• Program Manager overseeing U.S. journalist safety initiatives at PEN America. Supporting journalists and media professionals facing safety challenges in a hostile environment for press freedom.

Responsibilities

• Manage and administer safety training for the journalism sector, including: assessing evolving needs, updating curricula and presentations, cultivating partnerships, scheduling, reviewing contracts, processing invoices, collecting and responding to program feedback, and tracking impact
• Build sustained partnerships with media organizations—including newsrooms, publishers, professional associations, and universities—to strengthen support for staff and freelance media professionals facing safety challenges for their work
• Strengthen partnerships with journalist safety-related coalitions and networks
• Jointly oversee the development and maintenance of safety resources for writers and their allies—including authors, journalists, scholars, and librarians—which will involve drafting, creating, and updating multimedia content in collaboration with colleagues across the organization
• Conduct training for journalists and media professionals, as well as their allies and employers
• Attend and speak at conferences and other public events
• Connect journalists and media professionals at risk for their work to individualized, trauma-informed safety support
• Research funding opportunities and draft proposals to sustain and build the program
• Follow current developments in online abuse, journalist safety, press freedom, and digital rights and conduct relevant research and analysis as needed
• Support the safety team in their work in the literary and academic sectors, as needed
• Provide support on intern recruitment and management, recordkeeping, financial reconciliation, expense reporting, and other team-wide administrative tasks as appropriate
• Passionately support and advance PEN America’s mission to safeguard free expression in the United States and abroad

Requirements

• A minimum of three to five years of relevant experience in journalism or media, communications, education, digital safety, and/or physical safety
• At least one year of experience working on issues of digital and/or physical safety, online harassment, gender-based violence, and/or trauma-informed care
• Experience and facility with public speaking and teaching is required and experience organizing public programs/events is preferred
• Demonstrated ability to network and build strong relationships with partners
• Strong organizational skills and track record for independent problem-solving
• Knowledge of free expression issues, including press freedom, and familiarity with contemporary debates over journalist safety and online abuse
• General knowledge of grant writing and reporting
• A diplomatic disposition and great facility with interpersonal communication
• Personal qualities of integrity, empathy, patience, respect for others, and a willingness to learn
• Ability to travel an estimated 30% of the time, with availability to work some nights and weekends as necessary in relation to travel
• Must be able to provide valid proof of U.S. work authorization
• Commitment to PEN America’s mission, centered on the celebration and defense of free expression for all.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision health insurance
• paid time off
• 10 paid holidays
• pre-tax commuter benefits
• 403b retirement plan