Community Engagement Lead

Description

JOB SUMMARY (Two/Three Lines):

• The Community Engagement Lead builds and sustains LVPM's relationship with the Lehigh Valley community through content, participation, and outreach. 

• This role manages a network of volunteer community correspondents, edits and shapes community-created content to meet editorial standards, and oversees the education team, which connects residents to LVPM's journalism and storytelling through programs, workshops, and school and community partnerships. 

• The Community Engagement Lead is the primary steward of LVPM's community database and a key connector between the content team and the communities it serves, reporting directly to the VP of Content.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Tasks):

• Recruit, onboard, train, and manage a network of volunteer community correspondents, establishing clear expectations, workflows, and editorial standards for contributed content.

• Edit and manage community-created content across formats ensuring accuracy, fairness, and alignment with LVPM's editorial standards before publication.

• Maintain and grow LVPM's community database, tracking relationships with community organizations, civic leaders, educators, cultural institutions, and individual contributors.

• Support bilingual outreach and content in coordination with bilingual staff, with a focus on the Lehigh Valley's Spanish-speaking communities.

• Serve as a primary outreach contact for community organizations, coordinating story leads, content partnerships, and participation opportunities.

• Oversee the education team, providing direction, support, and accountability for LVPM's community education programs and school and organizational partnerships.

• Ensure education programs are connected to and supported by LVPM's editorial work and community engagement goals.

• Plan and coordinate content-based community events including listening sessions, community conversations, and engagement activations, working closely with Events, Development and Content leadership.

• Collaborate with the Director of Content on coverage planning to ensure community voices and perspectives are integrated into the daily editorial workflow.

• Identify underrepresented communities and coverage gaps and develop relationships and strategies to address them.

• All other duties as assigned.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (Results Ownership):

• A functioning, active volunteer correspondent network producing credible community content on a regular cadence.

• Editorial quality and accuracy of all community-created content published across LVPM platforms.

• Growth and accuracy of LVPM's community database, including organizations, contacts, and engagement history.

• Successful coordination and execution of community education programs and content-based events.

• Measurable growth in community participation, including correspondent submissions, event attendance, and audience engagement from underrepresented communities.

• Strong performance and development of direct reports.

Requirements

KEY COMPETENCY COMPONENTS (Behaviors Exhibited):

• SKILLS: (Ability to use knowledge effectively and competently in execution)

o Strong editing skills across formats, with the ability to shape community-contributed content while maintaining the contributor's voice and perspective.

o Demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships with diverse community stakeholders including organizations, volunteers, and individual contributors.

o Experience managing a CRM, contact database, or outreach tracking system.

o Experience helping to plan and execute community-facing programs and events with multiple moving parts and stakeholders.

o Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent LVPM in public-facing settings.

• KNOWLEDGE: (Facts acquired by a person through experience or education)

o Deep understanding of community journalism, participatory media, and the role of local news in civic life.

o Familiarity with the Lehigh Valley's communities, demographics, institutions, and civic landscape.

o Understanding of editorial standards and how they apply to community-generated content.

o Knowledge of media literacy principles and community education approaches.

• EXPERIENCE: (Work experience, degree attainment, professional certifications)

o At least three (3) years of experience in community journalism, engagement journalism, audience development, or a closely related field.

o Experience managing volunteers, contributors, or community programs.

o Experience coordinating events or public-facing programs with community partners.

o Bilingual in English and Spanish required.

o Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, community organizing, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.

• TRAITS: (Distinguishing qualities of a person)

o Relationship-driven

o Organized

o Community-centered

• CHARACTERISTICS: (The special trait that makes a person unique)

o Sees the community as a collaborator in journalism, not just an audience for it.

o Earns trust quickly with people from different backgrounds and brings genuine curiosity to every community relationship.

o Holds contributors to high standards while making the process of participation feel welcoming and accessible.

OTHER WORK REQUIREMENTS: 

· Some evenings and weekends are required, particularly for community events, listening sessions, and tentpole programming.

· As you will/may be driving a company vehicle or your own vehicle on a regular basis, a valid driver's license and a good driving record as determined by a driver's license background check is required for this position.

· All team members must successfully pass a background check (7 years), FBI fingerprint clearance and PA child clearance.