Program Manager, U.S. Journalist Safety

PEN America, a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of literature and human rights, seeks a dynamic and results-oriented program manager of U.S. journalist safety to lead our work supporting journalists and media professionals, as well as their allies and employers, amidst an increasingly hostile environment for press freedom in the U.S. This is a full-time, union-eligible position based at PEN America’s New York City headquarters; applicants based in Washington, D.C. will also be considered. The position reports to the Director of Digital Safety and Free Expression in the Free Expression Programs department. This position has an initial 12-month term subject to extension contingent on funding.

The program manager will drive forward our work to support journalists and media professionals, as well as their allies and employers, in the face of online abuse, threats, and other intimidation tactics in the U.S. by managing and growing our journalist safety training program, including leading trainings and giving presentations; expanding our engagement with impacted audiences in the media sector; strengthening existing partnerships and forging new ones; following current developments in safety, press freedom, and digital rights; and coordinating with colleagues focused on policy and advocacy. The program manager will have opportunities for public speaking, travel, and relationship building in the media and digital rights sectors.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about journalist safety and press freedom, deeply committed to making online spaces safer and more equitable, possess an understanding of intersectionality, and be attuned to safety challenges in an era of rapidly evolving technology and growing hostility to the press. The position requires: an energized, highly organized, and collaborative work style; the ability to navigate complex questions about identity, harassment, and free expression; and the drive to strengthen PEN America’s impact in the media sector.

All positions are subject to a five-month trial period and assessment. In alignment with PEN America’s current policy, all applicants should be available to report to the office at least three days per week.

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
  

All PEN America staff are considered to be stakeholders in the development of our shared organization. As such, staff play a role in varied activities within the workplace as part of their job responsibilities. These may include committees or task forces to work on office issues, diversity and inclusion, strategy projects, training or other initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 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. Willingness to defend the right to engage in speech that may be offensive and discomfiting and that reflects a wide range of political opinions and ideologies. PEN America promotes open and respectful dialogue across difference, and we work to allow a diversity of perspectives to flourish.
• Commitment to PEN America’s advocacy and support for writers, artists and their allies around the world, without regard to the ideology or actions of their country's government

Salary and Benefits: PEN America offers competitive compensation and full benefits. The salary range for this position is $75k-85k, commensurate with experience. Candidates whose expectations are outside this range are welcome to apply, as PEN America is open to considering talented individuals at varying stages of their careers. PEN America's benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision health insurance, paid time off, 10 paid holidays, pre-tax commuter benefits and a 403b retirement plan.

TO APPLY:

Please submit a complete application (including a cover letter, resume, and unedited writing sample) via BambooHR. Only complete applications will be reviewed, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

PEN America is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and is committed to having a workforce that reflects the population that it serves at all levels within the organization.

No phone calls, please.

ABOUT PEN AMERICA:

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.