Senior Manager, Safety and Protection

PEN America, a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of literature and human rights, seeks an experienced and enterprising senior manager of Safety and Protection to drive forward our work providing direct, holistic safety support to writers and their allies—including authors, journalists, scholars, and librarians—who are at risk for their work in the U.S. This is a full-time 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, Digital Safety and Free Expression in the Free Expression Programs department.

The senior manager will lead our work to provide direct, holistic safety support to writers and their allies facing online abuse, threats, and other digital and physical risks in the U.S. by: designing, building, and implementing an in-house case management system; providing individualized, trauma-informed safety consultations and referrals; cultivating existing partnerships and forging new ones; strengthening safety-related coalitions and networks; following current developments in safety, free expression, and digital rights; and coordinating on safety issues with colleagues across the team and wider organization.

The ideal candidate will have the vision, safety expertise, and project management skills to shape our protection work in the U.S. They will be passionate about both safety and free expression, possess an understanding of intersectionality, and be attuned to shifting risks in an era of rapidly evolving technology and growing hostility to free expression.

All positions are subject to a six-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. This policy is subject to change.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage the design, build, and implementation of an in-house system to provide safety consultations and referrals to at-risk writers and their allies in the U.S. including authors, journalists, scholars, and librarians
• Lead the provision of individualized, trauma-informed safety consultations and referrals for at-risk writers and their allies in close collaboration with colleagues, consultants, and external partners
• Represent the team in and strengthen the efficacy and efficiency of multi-stakeholder safety-related coalitions and networks that protect frontline democracy defenders, such as the Journalist Assistance Network and Democracy Protection Network
• Drive outreach and build sustained partnerships with relevant organizations— including professional associations, media organizations, publishers, libraries, bookstores, and universities—to strengthen support for at-risk writers and their allies
• Serve as an expert by advising the team and wider organization on safety and protection issues
• Support the development and maintenance of multimedia safety resources for writers and their allies—including for the organization’s website and social media channels
• Represent the team and speak at conferences and other public events as needed
• Cultivate and research funding opportunities, draft proposals, and draft grant reports to sustain the program, including overseeing monitoring and evaluation by tracking metrics
• Follow current developments in digital and physical safety, psychosocial wellbeing, online abuse, and freedom of expression and conduct relevant research and analysis
• 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 five to eight years of relevant experience in digital security, physical security, human rights, and/or journalism/media
• At least two years of experience working with individuals at risk, including on digital and/or physical safety, online harassment, gender-based violence, and/or trauma-informed care
• Proven experience providing empathetic, responsible, trauma-informed care to at-risk individuals and organizations, while maintaining confidentiality and trust
• Strong knowledge of the evolving safety risks faced by writers and their allies, as well as effective risk mitigation strategies
• Demonstrated ability to network and cultivate relationships with partners
• Strong project management skills, including setting priorities, meeting deadlines, and measuring impact
• Knowledge of free expression issues, especially regarding creative, academic, and press freedom
• General knowledge of grant writing and reporting preferred
• Track record for independent problem-solving, innovation, creativity, and effectiveness
• A diplomatic disposition and strong facility with interpersonal communication and relationship-building
• Personal qualities of integrity, patience, respect for others, and a willingness to learn
• 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 $85k-95k, 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.