Director, New Initiatives
- Employer
- International Center for Journalists
- Location
- District of Columbia, United States
- Salary
- Salary Commensurate with experience
- Closing date
- Jun 24, 2022
View more
- Position Type
- Fundraising, Alumni Affairs, Capital Campaigns, Direct Marketing, Fundraising Administration, Grant Seeking, Prospect Research, Other Fundraising, Programs, Grant Making
- Fields
- Other Fields
- Employment Type
- Full Time
Title: Director, New Initiatives
Department: Partnerships and Culture
Reports to: Vice President, Partnerships and
Culture
Employment Type: Full-time
Starting Salary: $75,000
Located: Washington DC. Flexible hybrid-remote
policy.
Fact-based journalism is under unprecedented attack at a time when
a free, independent news media has never been more important.
The International Center for
Journalists (ICFJ) works to ensure that the cornerstone of
healthy democracies - reliable, trustworthy news – stays
strong for generations to come. We give journalists the support and
tools they need to do their jobs better. Through our work, journalists are
enhancing news coverage and connecting more deeply with their
audiences. ICFJ’s network is truly international - in the past five
years alone, we have worked with 132,000 journalists from 173
countries. Our programs have impact: Stories produced by our
participants have led to the fall of corrupt governments, promoted
better laws and made communities safer and healthier.
The Director, New Initiatives is a critical position within ICFJ
and plays a key role in leading the proposal development process
and advancing new areas of business. To succeed in this role, the
ideal candidate will have experience in preparing and
submitting competitive proposals for U.S. government
and private foundations and be an impeccable
writer and an out-of-the-box
thinker who understands journalism and the media
landscape. The role requires innovation,
creativity, leadership and the
ability to turn ideas into impactful global programs. The director
will be responsible for creating systems
that ensure that new ideas and innovation
cascade through the organization. The
director is someone who works well in a fast-paced, deadline driven
environment and will be able to work independently and efficiently
while handling multiple priorities.
The director will act as a full and active member of the New
Initiatives team to ensure that ICFJ maintains the highest standard
of quality and efficiency in all its projects. ICFJ runs more than
80 programs each year for journalists in the form of training,
mentoring, fellowships or financial support. This programming falls
under five areas critical for journalism today: Media innovation,
investigative journalism, critical-issues reporting, financial
sustainability, and research and resources. ICFJ prides itself on
being a mission-driven organization with a global impact. We
take employee growth and experience
seriously and try hard to make sure that every staff member has the
opportunity to grow and rise through the ranks.
Responsibilities:
Manage the proposal development process (75%)
- Develop new and innovative programs that align with ICFJ’s strategic priorities and appeal to a variety of funders.
- Write proposals, concept papers, and prepare supplemental proposal material as needed
- Manage the proposal development team in preparing and submitting competitive proposals in a timely manner.
- Lead the coordination with other departments as well as external project partners in the proposal process.
- Develop a system to surface and generate innovative ideas and communicate those ideas to senior leadership.
- Oversee New Initiatives assistant to track and analyze proposal information on database.
- Work closely with the finance department on proposal budgets.
Identify and cultivate new prospective opportunities and funders (15%)
- Support the VP of Partnerships and Culture in outreach with strategic partners and prospective funders.
- Work with the VP of Partnerships and Culture and the President to identify new programming opportunities to advance ICFJ’s strategic mission.
- Manage relationships with program partners and funders.
Support program growth in key regional areas, such as Central/Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle East (10%)
- Provide strategic thinking on new growth areas and funding priorities.
- Provide technical support and consult on development and implementation of programs based on regional expertise.
Skills:
- Leadership and decision-making
- Ability to turn creative ideas into actionable proposals
- Strong writing and editing skills
- Strong project management skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with 6-8 years of experience working in journalism and/or non-profit organization
- Experience in preparing proposals for U.S. government and private foundations
- Must be able to work independently and efficiently while handling multiple priorities
- Excellent writing and research skills
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Proactive and able to identify and take initiative on projects
- Confident in managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Strong critical thinking skills
- Ability to engage with partners, journalists and staffers from diverse backgrounds
- Excellent command of Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets; preferred proficiency in Salesforce
It’s a plus if you:
- Are bilingual
- Worked internationally
- Have a strong understanding of or experience working in one of the following regions: Asia, Africa, Middle East or Central/Eastern Europe
Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter with salary
requirement, and three references with contact information and
complete the application found by clicking on this
link: https://www.tfaforms.com/4982796
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required
to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and
to complete the required employment eligibility verification form
upon hire.
ICFJ is a non-profit classified as a 501 (c) (3) and as such
receives funding from public and private grant funds and donations.
Our funders are listed at the bottom of our annual report here:
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