Public Interest News Foundation - Programmes Manager

Six-month renewable contract

- EITHER full-time at the equivalent of £40,000 per annum plus benefits;

- OR around twenty days per month on a consultancy rate of £200 per day

The Public Interest News Foundation is looking for a Programmes Manager to support our mission for public interest journalism to survive and thrive.

About PINF

The Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) promotes citizenship by supporting public interest news publishers. We want to see a vibrant and diverse public interest news sector, with high-quality journalism that speaks to and for every community in the UK.

Public interest news informs the public about matters that are relevant to them as citizens, and enables them to participate in democratic processes. Public interest news is important to democracy and community cohesion, but it is facing an economic crisis, as old business models collapse in the face of digital disruption.

PINF is the first charity in the UK with a mandate to promote public interest news. We are working with publishers to find new editorial strategies, revenue models and forms of community engagement that can build a sustainable and trusted sector.

We started work in March 2020. In our first year, we launched a grant-making programme; a leadership programme; and a research programme. With start-up funding in place, we are now able to build our team.

About the Programmes Manager

We are appointing a Programmes Manager to lead on the development and delivery of PINF’s programmes.

As Programmes Manager, you will have lead responsibility for PINF’s:

- Grant-making programme, through which we provide targeted grants to publishers of high-quality public interest news, including local news; investigative reporting; and publications by and for under-represented communities;

- Leadership programme, through which we provide training and knowledge-sharing opportunities for the publishers of high-quality public interest news; and

- Research programme, through which we are building the public’s knowledge and understanding of public interest news, by mapping the sector and evaluating the impact of our programmes.

You will work closely with our Executive Director and Trustees, and you will oversee the work of consultants and freelancers. Joining PINF at this pivotal moment will give you the opportunity to help shape the organisation as we expand, and recruit further roles.

At this stage, we are offering a six-month appointment, on either an employment or a consultancy basis. With further funding, we hope to turn this into a permanent appointment - so this might be the start of a long-term role.

What we are looking for

We are passionate about public interest news, and we are looking for a Programmes Manager who shares this passion.

A background in this sector is not essential, but you will be great at:

- Designing and managing projects and programmes that have a positive impact on people’s lives;

- Using your interpersonal skills to build strong working relationships with people inside and outside your organisation;

- Writing programme plans and reports that are clear and compelling;

- Responding positively and resourcefully to unforeseen events;

You will also have:

- The right to work in the UK; and

- A degree-level qualification (i.e. a Level 6 qualification) in a relevant subject.

Your responsibilities will include:

- Drawing on our experience and the views of stakeholders to finalise the design of our programmes;

- Facilitating the leadership programme, primarily through videoconferencing but with the potential for in-person meetings in due course;

- Managing the contribution of contractors, including academics, leadership consultants and others;

- Contributing to the successful marketing of PINF’s programmes to target audiences;

- Ensuring that our programmes and projects are delivered on time and to a high standard;

- Contributing to the monitoring and evaluation of our programmes and projects and preparing reports for funders, trustees and others as required;

- Supporting the work of committees, such as the grant-making selection panel, by setting meeting dates, preparing agendas and papers, and drafting minutes;

- Keeping accurate and comprehensive records of your work, in line with PINF’s obligations as a company and a charity.

At this early stage in PINF’s development, we are building a small team of highly motivated individuals who are happy to work remotely, with a high degree of responsibility and autonomy. Over time, we hope to expand this team to include more support staff, but for now, the Programmes Manager will be responsible for their own administration – for example, arranging meetings, updating their activities in the shared calendar, liaising with the Business Manager to process invoices, and so on.

The Programmes Manager will be accountable to the Executive Director, with oversight and support from the board of trustees.

We intend to appoint the Programmes Manager on a six-month employment contract, which may be made permanent, subject to funding and performance. As an employee, the Programmes Manager will be entitled to paid leave and pension contributions.

Alternatively, we will consider applications from candidates who would prefer to work on a consultancy basis, for around twenty days per month at a day rate of £200. As a consultant, the Programmes Manager will not be entitled to paid leave or pension contributions.

We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive organisation. We offer flexible working arrangements to support staff from different backgrounds, and we particularly encourage applications from people whose backgrounds are under-represented in the news media.