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.