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Managing Director, Program Strategy & Innovation

Department:  Program Strategy & Innovation
Division: Programs
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Reports To: Chief Program Officer
Status: Full Time, Regular, Exempt, Non-union
Salary: $95,000
 
THE ROLE
Programs animate StoryCorps mission. Fundamentally, StoryCorps engages in two activities:  the facilitation of interviews and the editing and dissemination of edited content, which is derived from the interviews.  As individuals participate in interviews and/or are exposed to the edited content on radio, through social media and/or print, they exercise the potent skill of listening.  It is through listening that individuals connect.  The stories reveal that we share the experience of living.  As a result, we recognize our shared humanity and feel more connected to and compassionate about others.   At StoryCorps, we believe that our programs catalyze listening which is key to building a just and more compassionate world. 
The Program Strategy and Innovation team creates and implements programs that promote a culture of listening. In partnership with public media, through social channels and with the insights and support of community partners, we engage the public, extending opportunities for individuals to participate in StoryCorps’ programs.  We train partners which include schools, libraries, and community organizations in our methods, deploying digital resources that build the capacity of communities to interview, record and archive on their own.  We are passionately and strategically focused on reaching and amplifying the voices of marginalized populations, committing to program initiatives that meet the societally-disfavored groups where they are. Public radio is a powerful ally in this effort, as stations around the country broadcast edited content, providing a means through which isolation and insularity are broken.  
Program Strategy & Innovation is comprised of the following departments:
The Community Partnerships department manages the National Facilitators and oversees StoryCorps’ Initiatives. StoryCorps’ National Facilitators are the “Corps” in StoryCorps: facilitators bear witness to the sacred moment between participants in what we refer to as the “signature” interview experience. Community Partnerships also oversee StoryCorps’ initiatives, time-limited efforts to raise awareness of and engagement with StoryCorps among populations whose voices are among populations who are historically unheard in the media. These populations include media., including (but not limited to) African Americans, Latinx, Veterans and families impacted by the events of 9/11.  Through Initiatives, we ensure that the StoryCorps archive reflects diverse voices from communities throughout the country. This team conducts outreach and facilitates interviews in NYC and executes on-site recording days with Custom Services clients.
The Learning and Engagement (L&E) department conducts presentations and training sessions that support the adoption of StoryCorps methods and approaches by partner organizations.  Partner organizations include hospitals, libraries and schools.  Learning and Engagement operates as grant funded programs and provides fee-for-service consulting service both of which adheres to the strategic priorities of the Program Division. As such, the L&E team advises and coaches organizations that express interest in StoryCorps’ model of interviewing, recording, archiving and generally, listening.  L&E staff also creates new courses for and maintains StoryCorps’ learning platform, StoryCorps DIY, created to provide guidance and direction for organizations that are interested in creating their own interview collection programs.
Position Overview
The Managing Director, Program Strategy and Innovation (MD/PSI), is responsible for efficient and effective execution of Programs at StoryCorps. This position supports the growth and evolution of StoryCorps’ Programs, ensuring that programs are optimally designed, implemented and generate intended and favorable outcomes.  Serving alongside the Managing Director, Program Operations, the MD/PSI conceives and evolves StoryCorps’ programs, innovating and growing projects that eventually become programs in education, health, government, corporate as well as community and grassroots activities.  At the same time, this position contributes to the financial well being of StoryCorps, working collaboratively with development to make sure that its programs are executed within budget and in accordance with funder expectations.  The Managing Director is StoryCorps’ Master Trainer, who is able to deconstruct the StoryCorps approach and make it accessible to partners and in settings such as conferences and professional gatherings that may include key sectors, media organizations and nonprofit leadership. The person in this position possesses a unique combination of creativity, strategy and business acumen as well as heart.  
WHAT YOU’LL DO
The Managing Director, Program Strategy and Innovation operates with considerable discretion and autonomy, under the leadership of the Chief Program Officer.  Specific duties and responsibilities include the following:
  • Lead the development, implementation and evolution of the National Team, Interview Collection projects, Initiatives and Learning and Engagement, ensuring mission fidelity, program integrity, alignment with StoryCorps’ strategic plan and goals, and financial viability and sustainability of projects and programs.  
  • Catalyze long-term growth and sustainability for programs by developing a revenue strategy that offers fee-based services, generates ancillary revenue for StoryCorps, and secures and sustains new and existing revenue streams, in close collaboration with the Managing Director, Program Operations, as well as StoryCorps’ Development division, Corporate Partnerships and Custom Services;
  • Conceive of and ensure the successful outreach and implementation of collaborations by the Director of Community Partnerships, National team, Initiative Managers and Learning and Engagement staff, such that a diverse range of participants and partners are maintained and the voices of the marginalized populations are amplified;
  • Supervise the Directors of Community Partnerships and Learning and Engagement and 11 indirect reports;
  • Serve as a thought-leader with the Managing Director, Program Operations to ensure that the needed financial, human resources, legal, digital and development requests are prioritized and shepherded to F&A.
  • Perform other duties to support the Community Partnerships and Learning & Engagement departments and the Program Division as assigned.
ABOUT YOU
Required:
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in planning and management of programs, including budgets, development activities and human resources;
  • Minimum 10 years supervising and recruiting staff (including both remote and in-office personnel)
  • Demonstrated competence in conveying how to embed or enhance a culture of listening into communities, and the importance of amplifying the voices of people who are marginalized, to potential funders and other key stakeholders 
  • Comfort and ability to move seamlessly between varied political, social, and organizational environments -- e.g., from nonprofits and foundations to corporations/ Fortune 500 companies, to policy-makers and government officials, to progressive & conservative media outlets and think tanks, etc.
  • Creative & analytical thinking, drive for results, and a demonstrated track record of creating and implementing new initiatives
  • Evidenced commitment to interdepartmental, interdisciplinary team approach to work; strong conflict resolution and collaboration skills;
  • Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
  • Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to multitask
  • Stature, gravitas, and confidence to gain credibility and respect of senior leadership and staff at all levels internally, as well as external partners and stakeholders
  • Ability to be flexible and adaptable in order to contribute to program solving activities within a growing, changing organization
  • Cultural competence/humility and the ability to thrive in a diverse work environment
Preferred:
  • Experience teaching in a classroom environment
  • Master’s degree in Education, Public Administration, Social Work or Business
  • Ability to communicate clearly in a language other than English
  • Experience in media and engagement strategies
  • Fluent in Spanish
  • Additional skills that would be ideal for the perfect candidate but can also be learned skills. 
ABOUT STORYCORPS
StoryCorps’ mission is to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. Since our founding in 2003, StoryCorps has provided half a million of people of all backgrounds and beliefs with powerful opportunities to record interviews about their lives, and leave a legacy for future generations in our archive at the Library of Congress. We bring these interviews to life in stories produced for broadcast on public media (including our weekly Friday morning broadcast on NPR’s “Morning Edition"), our podcast, and/or our animations. Together, these stories reach an audience of tens of millions. StoryCorps maintains a relentless focus on diversity, and seeks to highlight voices often underrepresented in mainstream media. While our stories honor and celebrate the diversity of humankind, they also remind us of the many values and experiences we share in common, building bridges of greater understanding.
Our work has been widely recognized with several George Foster Peabody Awards, a MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, the 2015 TED Prize, and a 2016 Emmy award for our animation “Traffic Stop.”
This work couldn’t be accomplished without the unwavering commitment of the exceptional individuals who make up our organization. Our people are brilliant, hard-working, creative, and incredibly passionate about the vision we share: To touch the lives of every person in this country and to create a culture of listening in the United States.
COVID NOTICE:
All offers of employment requiring on-site/in-person work will be contingent on the candidate being Fully Vaccinated (at least two-weeks after last dose) prior to starting their new role. As of December 27, 2021 by order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene all employees working in-office are required to provide proof of the COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace. Reasonable accommodations can be discussed with HR personnel for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons. Proof of vaccination status is required at the time of extending the offer
StoryCorps seeks to hire staff who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. All positions at StoryCorps are filled without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. All are encouraged to apply.