The Pulitzer Center champions the power of stories to make complex issues relevant and inspire action. We have a bold vision: to be the venue for the world’s most innovative and consequential reporting, with journalism as the key element for mobilizing society through audience engagement strategies. Founded in 2006, the Center is an essential source of support for enterprise reporting in the United States and across the globe. The thousands of journalists and educators who are part of our networks span more than 80 countries. Our work reaches tens of millions of people each year through our news-media partners and an audience-centered strategy of global and regional engagement. We believe that people and communities who actively engage with systemic challenges will find solutions together. By supporting journalists as they conduct in-depth investigations, produce compelling stories, and engage diverse audiences, we create a ripple effect of world-changing impact.
About the role
The Pulitzer Center seeks an experienced program leader to manage and advance our university-facing programs. As University Programs Manager, you’ll oversee a portfolio of initiatives that connect students, faculty, and university partners to Pulitzer Center journalism, civic engagement, and cross-sector dialogue ensuring high-quality delivery across multiple programs at once.
This is a hands-on relationship and program management role. You’ll serve as the primary point of contact for journalism schools and Campus Consortium partners, lead the full lifecycle of our Reporting Fellows program, and guide national convenings that bring students, faculty, and journalists together. You’ll also supervise the University Programs Coordinator and support their growth across program areas.
If you’re energized by building partnerships, developing the next generation of journalists, and balancing strategic judgment with day-to-day program execution, this role offers meaningful impact and room to shape how university programming evolves.
Responsibilities
University Partnerships & Program Management
- Manage day-to-day relationships with Campus Consortium partners across membership tiers, serving as the primary point of contact for journalism schools and programs
- Ensure strong communication, responsiveness, and alignment with partnership goals and deliverables across programs
- Coordinate partner recruitment, onboarding, and renewal processes in collaboration with the Director
- Conduct regular check-ins with partners to assess satisfaction, gather feedback, and identify opportunities for deeper engagement
- Manage and implement campus-based programming with partners, including curricular integration, student engagement, and faculty collaboration
- Track and analyze partner participation, outcomes, and engagement metrics to inform strategic planning and reporting
- Manage Campus Consortium communications in coordination with the Communications team, including newsletter, listserv, and partner-facing platforms
- Support the development and refinement of partnership models and program offerings that respond to evolving needs in journalism education and civic engagement
- Represent the Pulitzer Center at journalism education conferences, faculty convenings, and other external engagements as appropriate
Reporting Fellows & Student Programs
- Oversee the implementation and continuous improvement of Reporting Fellows and related student-facing programs
- Manage the full lifecycle of fellowship programs, including recruitment, application processes, selection coordination, onboarding, and ongoing support
- Lead selection processes in collaboration with faculty mentors, the Editorial Team, and the Director
- Facilitate mentorship relationships between Fellows, faculty advisors, and Pulitzer Center staff
- Monitor Fellow progress, provide guidance and problem-solving support, and ensure alignment with program goals and journalistic standards
- Coordinate with the Editorial Team on Fellow story development, editing, and publication processes
- Manage student professional development opportunities including skill-building workshops, networking events, and connections to the journalism field
- Support alumni engagement and maintain ongoing relationships with program participants
- Track program outcomes including publications, participation, and long-term impact
Convenings & Field-Building
- Lead planning and execution of key university program convenings, including the annual Reporting Fellows gathering and other Campus Consortium engagements
- Design and implement programming that fosters learning, collaboration, and exchange across institutions and disciplines
- Support the evolution of convening models toward more scalable and programmatically integrated approaches
- Oversee virtual and in-person opportunities that connect students, faculty, and journalists
- Develop evaluation processes and synthesize feedback to improve program quality
Cross-Team Collaboration & Strategic Support
- Collaborate with the Communications team on partner communications and content development featuring student and faculty work
- Work with the Editorial Team to strengthen alignment between Pulitzer Center journalism and university programs
- Coordinate with the Development team on donor-related activities tied to university programs and fellowships
- Support the Director in grant reporting, proposal development, and program planning
- Contribute to data collection and analysis demonstrating program reach, quality, and impact
- Participate in organizational initiatives and represent university programs in cross-departmental meetings
Team Leadership
- Directly supervise the University Programs Coordinator, providing mentorship, strategic guidance, and accountability
- Support the Coordinator’s development across program areas and set priorities that align with team and organizational goals
Participation in Pulitzer Center Culture & Values
- Contribute to task forces, training sessions, committees, special projects, and organizational events that support the Pulitzer Center’s mission and culture
- Participate in organizational planning processes and strategic initiatives
- Support implementation of organizational DEI goals and mission alignment priorities
- Mentor and support colleagues as appropriate
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of progressive experience in program management, partnership management, higher education or journalism education, or a related field
- Demonstrated success managing partner or stakeholder relationships and delivering high-quality programs
- Experience managing the full lifecycle of fellowship, student, or cohort-based programs
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to tailor messaging for varied audiences
- Experience supervising or mentoring staff or direct reports
- Experience planning and executing convenings, events, or gatherings—virtual and in-person
- Data-driven approach with experience tracking participation and outcomes to inform strategy and reporting
- Commitment to equity and inclusion and experience engaging diverse partners and participants
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment with strong self-direction and accountability
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in journalism education, higher education partnerships, or civic engagement programming
- Familiarity with fellowship program administration and student mentorship models
- Background in or familiarity with monitoring and evaluation frameworks
- Experience working across distributed or cross-functional teams
- Established network in journalism education, academic, or nonprofit sectors
- Familiarity with event production and logistics
Success Metrics
Your impact will be measured by:
- Partnership Strength: Health, retention, and growth of Campus Consortium partnerships across membership tiers
- Fellow Outcomes: Quality of the Reporting Fellows experience and Fellow publications, participation, and long-term impact
- Program Quality: Consistent, high-quality delivery of programs and convenings with documented outcomes
- Partner Satisfaction: Responsiveness to partner needs and depth of engagement over time
- Evaluation Rigor: Implementation of effective evaluation processes that improve program quality over time
- Team Leadership: Effectiveness and growth of the University Programs Coordinator and quality of team collaboration
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Quality of partnership with Editorial, Communications, and Development teams
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: $64,000 - $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience
- Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, generous PTO, and professional development support
- Remote work arrangement with flexibility for work-life balance
Compensation for US-based employees: Salary range listed above is for US-based employees. Our benefit package includes paid time off (holiday, vacation, parental, and sick), health care coverage (including medical/dental/vision), health savings accounts, 403(b) retirement plan, transit benefit, parental leave, and Life & ADD/LTD/STD Insurance.
Location & Work Arrangement
This position is fully remote and open to candidates located anywhere in the United States, with a preference for candidates in Eastern or Central time zones to facilitate collaboration with team members, organizational leadership, and university partners.
Travel Requirements: This role requires approximately 15–20% domestic travel annually for:
- University partner site visits and campus-based programming
- National and regional conferences, faculty convenings, and journalism education gatherings
- The annual Reporting Fellows convening and other Campus Consortium engagements
- Team meetings and organizational gatherings
The ideal candidate will be comfortable with regular virtual collaboration, occasional multi-day travel commitments, and flexible scheduling to accommodate partners across time zones.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Pulitzer Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences.
Questions?
To learn more about our work, visit pulitzercenter.org.
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