The Journalism and Media team is responsible for working to strengthen American democracy by informing, engaging, and activating Americans through deep investments in independent journalism and media. The team supports three areas of work: Professional Nonprofit Reporting, Nonfiction Multimedia Storytelling, and Participatory Civic Media.

The Journalism and Media program is seeking a Program Officer who can work across the three areas of the program to implement grantmaking strategies and maintain relationships with grantees. The position will require the person to handle a diverse portfolio of work, in all three areas of the JAM Program (Professional Nonprofit Reporting, Nonfiction Multimedia Storytelling, and Participatory Civic Media), not leaning into one area more than another.

The Journalism and Media program executes a high volume of grants each year and the Program Officer will be called upon to deliver under pressure, meet deadlines, and consistently produce high-quality work; build effective internal and external relationships; anticipate potential issues and propose solutions; and offer assistance and service to the Director and team members. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of the current media environment, an appreciation of how nonprofit organizations operate, and previous experience in philanthropy.

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review and evaluate grant proposals, conduct background research and due diligence, and prepare grant recommendations

• Identify prospective grant recipients and work with prospective grantees to develop proposals that advance grantmaking strategies

• Manage a caseload of active grants, monitor the performance of grants and review periodic reports, and maintain constructive contact with grantees

• Participate in the design, implementation, refinement and adaptation of grantmaking strategies and in planning future program strategies

• Assist in the design of new initiatives

• Organize meetings of prospective grantees, program advisors, and others in relevant fields

• Keep abreast of current events, developments and issues in the field to maintain a balanced and objective perspective and approach to grantmaking

• Write extensively for internal purposes

• Conduct research projects

• Build and sustain relationships with colleagues across the Foundation, peer funders, and with leaders, actors and organizations in relevant fields, including the public and commercial sectors

• Represent the Foundation at conferences and other public events, including as speaker or panel participant

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve on internal Foundation committees as appropriate

• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Six to ten years experience working in media or adjacent fields

• Previous grantmaking experience and/or nonprofit experience is desirable

• Solid grounding in the history, evolution, and current state of the journalism, media, technology, and civic sector; a strong grasp of relevant empirical research and theoretical literature; and working knowledge of relevant government policies and programs

• Profound understanding, based on professional experience, of the challenges facing the production, distribution, and consumption of public interest media, and the state of press freedom around the world

• Able to make effective connections among research, policy and practice and to work productively with government, corporate, community-based organizations, and academic institutions

• Excellent analytical and communications skills, including writing and public speaking

• Self-confident, collegial, and diplomatic, with an appreciation of the role of a grantmaking institution

• Computer literate, with a high level of comfort with new applications

• Other essential skills include: effectiveness in interpersonal relations with a proven ability to work as part of a team; the ability to organize and convey problems and issues clearly and succinctly; ease with and openness to people who hold diverse views; a talent for managing multiple tasks with significant initiative

The Program Officer must be willing to travel frequently.

The position is hybrid (requiring you to be in-office 2 days/week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Annual salary for this role will start at $120,700. We offer a generous total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and a comprehensive benefits package to support your life, health, and well-being.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

The work environment is an office setting. Intermittent physical activities will include bending, reaching, sitting, and moving around the office during working hours. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a person with physical disabilities to perform the job.