Bismarck Documenters Program Manager

About the Company - Buffalo’s Fire, an online news site, is looking for an enthusiastic, Bismarck-based program manager to lead our local chapter of the award-winning Documenters program, which trains and pays people to produce information in the public interest. With local media in crisis in North Dakota and across the country, Documenters is reimagining how we access and share information about our communities. The Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, publisher of Buffalo’s Fire, embraces diversity in experience, background and career stage, welcoming those ready to make a difference – whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned professional who’s “not ready to retire just yet.”

About the Role - Your role will be to spark connections and build partnerships that grow an engaged audience for the Documenters Network in Bismarck and tribal communities across North Dakota. As Documenters Program Manager, you’ll work hands-on with community participants, guiding them as they build civic engagement skills and encouraging a creative, adaptive approach to program design. You’ll report directly to Buffalo’s Fire’s Executive Director and play a key role in shaping and bringing the program’s strategic vision to life. If you’re someone with a knack for building lasting community relationships and a passion for mobilizing people to tackle big challenges from the ground up, this role could be your perfect fit!

Responsibilities

• Manage Buffalo’s Fire’s Bismarck-based Documenters site and oversee our network of program participants.
• Cultivate a network of local partners in media, community organizing, education, academia and government who consistently use Documenters.org as part of their regular work and share feedback with Buffalo’s Fire.
• Collaborate with our social media team to bring Documenters’ work to a broader audience through micro-journalism and innovative storytelling on social platforms. (Social media experience is helpful but not required; you’ll have the support of our in-house social media specialist.)
• Develop and manage special projects that engage Documenters to promote local knowledge of Bismarck and its civic processes.
• Work with Buffalo’s Fire marketing and editorial staff to tell the Documenters Network story and ensure Documenters’ work reaches the people who can use it.
• Apply an equity framework to programmatic decisions to ensure the Documenters site reflects the most significant need for race, gender and other demographics.
• Our long-term goal is to cover tribal government council meetings on or near reservations across North Dakota. We will begin on the Standing Rock Reservation, which is nearest to Bismarck.

Qualifications - Education details

Required Skills

• At least 3 years of experience in engagement journalism, community organizing, grassroots political campaigning or a related field
• Experience managing a team and/or leading projects where people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and abilities feel they can do their best work
• A demonstrated commitment to equipping and organizing people toward collective action
• Impeccable and inclusive project planning and prioritization skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to rally stakeholders and solve problems creatively and collaboratively
• Experience cultivating deep relationships, trust, and solutions with a community (we know this can mean many things and want to hear how it manifests in your work)

Preferred Skills

Pay range and compensation package - $55,000, plus healthcare, plus 15 days vacation, plus 10 Rejuvenation Fridays

Equal Opportunity Statement - Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance and Buffalo's Fire welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. We offer equal opportunity in employment for all qualified persons and prohibit discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, creed, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, disability unrelated to job requirements, genetic information, military service or other protected status.