Director of Coalition Building

Grant-Funded, Full-Time (12 Months)
Remote (U.S.-Based)

Position Summary

The Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education is seeking an accomplished strategist, facilitator, organizer, and coalition builder to help lead the next phase of a national effort to advance equitable journalism policy as our Director of Coalition Building.

Working alongside executive leaders from some of the nation’s leading journalism organizations, the Director of Coalition Building will help guide a national coalition through an ambitious policy advocacy planning process designed to build the strategic framework, governance, trust, partnerships, and what is needed to move from vision to coordinated action.

The Director of Coalition Building will serve as the Institute’s lead staff member supporting the coalition, stewarding relationships, facilitating strategic planning, and guiding partners from shared purpose to coordinated action. Your success will be seen in how you help coalition members build trust, governance, and strategic alignment to launch a meaningful, long-term effort to advance equitable journalism policy. This work aligns with the grant’s Phase I objectives of establishing coalition governance, assessing partner capacity, coordinating stakeholder engagement, producing a Phase II (12-month) implementation roadmap, and preparing the coalition for sustained action.

This is a rare opportunity to shape how journalism organizations collaborate, organize, and advocate for a more equitable future for local news. The successful candidate will lead Phase I of a Press Forward-supported initiative, overseeing the strategic planning process that will define the coalition’s governance structure, operating model, strategic priorities, and implementation roadmap for Phases II and III. If you are passionate about working together to create lasting change, this role offers a meaningful platform to do so.

This grant-funded position is housed within the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, which serves as the coordinating organization and co-chairs the Coalition for Equitable Journalism Policy with the Racial Equity in Journalism Fund. The coalition includes the Asian American Journalists Association, Indigenous Journalists Association, Latino Media Collaborative, Media 2070, the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and other partners working together to ensure that emerging journalism policy and public investment reflect the needs of all communities.

Primary Responsibilities

The Director of Coalition Building will lead and oversee the Institute’s work supporting the Coalition for Equitable Journalism Policy by:

Strategic Planning & Coalition Development

• Design, organize, and facilitate the coalition’s overall strategic planning process to ensure it produces a shared values framework, a policy agenda, an implementation roadmap, and clear priorities for the next 12 months. Governance structure and principles for working together will also be developed.
• Lead the planning, design, facilitation, and follow-through of the coalition’s national strategic planning convening. 
• Support coalition partners’ efforts to prepare for and contribute to joint policy agenda-setting and work planning.
• Guide coalition partners in developing a shared vision, governance structure, decision-making framework, and implementation roadmap for Phases II and III.
• Help transition the coalition from an informal steering committee to a durable, shared-governance model that supports long-term collaboration.

Coalition Leadership & Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary Maynard Institute staff lead supporting the Coalition for Equitable Journalism Policy.
• Steward the Institute’s role as coordinating organization and backbone support for the coalition.
• Build trusted relationships with coalition members, executive directors, funders, consultants, policymakers, and strategic partners.
• Foster collaboration, navigate differing perspectives, and help partners move from discussion to coordinated action.
• Ensure coalition communications remain clear, transparent, and aligned.

Coalition Infrastructure & Capacity Building

• Assess partner strengths, organizational capacities, networks, and resource needs.
• Help define partner roles, responsibilities, and workstreams.
• Track policy and advocacy activities of coalition partners for coordination and reporting.
• Develop coordination systems that support equitable participation and effective collaboration.
• Identify opportunities for additional partnerships and coalition growth.

Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Development

• Coordinate listening sessions with journalists, publishers, and community media leaders to inform coalition priorities.
• Help identify policy priorities, legislative champions, and strategic partners.
• Support the development of communications, engagement, and organizing strategies that strengthen the coalition’s impact.
• Produce, with coalition partners, a Phase II implementation roadmap that outlines policy priorities, coalition engagement strategies, communication approaches, staffing recommendations, and future resource needs.
• Track and report on coalition members’ ongoing policy activities, priorities, and emerging opportunities.

Project Leadership

• Coordinate consultants, facilitators, workgroups, budgets, timelines, communications, grant deliverables, and reporting.
• Collaborate with partners—including Rebuild Local News, Free Press, and the Latino Media Collaborative—on coalition initiatives, such as the October 2026 Policy Summit.
• Keep the coalition focused on long-term objectives while ensuring day-to-day work continues.

Belonging at the Maynard Institute

At the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, we believe stronger organizations are built by people who bring different lived experiences, perspectives, and pathways to leadership. We encourage candidates to apply even if their experience does not match every qualification listed. Research shows that marginalized communities – such as women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color – are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet every single requirement. If your background has prepared you to help build trust, strengthen coalitions, and advance equitable journalism policy, we want to hear from you.

The Institute is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. It is committed to creating an inclusive workplace free from discrimination and harassment, consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Qualifications

We are seeking a highly respected coalition leader with the experience and judgment to guide a complex, multi-organizational initiative involving executive leadership, philanthropy, advocacy organizations, and diverse stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in coalition building, strategic partnerships, community organizing, nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, advocacy, public affairs, movement building, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success serving as the backbone leader, senior facilitator, or strategic lead for a national coalition, alliance, network, or other multi-organizational initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and facilitate consensus among senior executives and organizational leaders who do not report directly to you.
• Extensive experience designing and facilitating strategic planning processes, executive retreats, governance discussions, and multi-stakeholder convenings.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with the ability to establish trust across organizations with differing missions, cultures, and priorities.
• Outstanding facilitation, negotiation, and consensus-building skills.
• Strong project management experience coordinating consultants, budgets, timelines, and complex deliverables.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and collaborative leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior successful experience managing a political or advocacy campaign initiative.
• Experience working with affinity organizations, membership associations, or national nonprofit networks.
• Familiarity with journalism, local news, democracy, civic engagement, media ecosystems, or public policy.
• Working knowledge of state and federal public policy processes.
• Experience working with philanthropic organizations or multi-funder initiatives.

The Successful Candidate

The successful candidate leads through influence rather than authority and has a demonstrated ability to build trust among leaders with differing perspectives and priorities. They create clarity amid complexity, help organizations move from vision to implementation, and are equally comfortable facilitating a room of executive directors, advising organizational leaders one-on-one, and managing the operational details that keep complex collaborations moving forward.

They bring humility, diplomacy, emotional intelligence, and strategic judgment to every interaction, understanding that lasting coalitions are built through trust, transparency, thoughtful facilitation, and shared ownership.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt, remote position with the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. Because the position is grant-funded, the annual salary is fixed at $125,000. The position also includes health insurance and the Institute’s standard employee benefits.

This position is funded for a full 12 months upon hiring. Continuation beyond the initial grant period is contingent upon securing additional funding.