Director Press Forward South Florida

THE FOUNDATION

The Miami Foundation builds the philanthropic civic and leadership backbone for Greater Miami. Since 1967 the Foundation has invested over $770 million to strengthen our community with partnerships and contributions from more than 1000 fundholders and 35000 donors. The Miami Foundation which currently manages over $570 million in assets mobilizes donors nonprofits leaders and locals to set a bold vision for our communitys future and to invest in a stronger more equitable more resilient Greater Miami.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Press Forward South Florida is a new regional collaborative initiative housed at The Miami Foundation that aims to strengthen South Florida through investments in local media by raising $12 million to invest over the next five years. The goal of Press Forward South Florida is to help catalyze a local news renaissance that will reshape the local news landscape and recenter local journalism as a force for community cohesion civic participation and government accountability. Press Forward aims to catalyze innovative solutions to the challenges facing local news amplify impactful journalism practices and address the systemic inequities in media coverage and journalistic processes to ensure residents have access to relevant credible and trusted information.

Press Forward South Florida will invest in a thriving local news ecosystem by:

• News & Information Ecosystem Assessment Leveraging and annually updating a regional media landscape scan to gauge strengths in existing local media and reveal gaps identified by community members.
• Journalists & Contributors Bringing together journalists and community members to listen to their challenges and needs and incorporating that information into our research and approach.
• Donor Support Inviting donors to be a part of a regional fund that will invest in meeting South Floridas information needs.
• Grantmaking Supporting news outlets and strengthening our local news ecosystem so that South Floridians have the information they need in the format and language they prefer to make decisions about their lives.

Department: Collective Impact

FLSA Status: Exempt

Pay Range: $80000 $110000

Reports to: Vice President of Collective Impact

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and execute the successful launch of Press Forward South Florida in partnership with coalition members.
• Manage external vendor contracts and relationships including with research and communications partners.
• Work with partners to lead the design implementation and adaptation of the Press Forward South Florida strategy including grantmaking and stakeholder convenings that address the findings of the regional landscape scan.
• Maintain active and collaborative relationships with peer funders local media outlets and other stakeholders.
• Partner closely with Press Forward South Florida stakeholders to proactively grow the field of philanthropy for local news in South Florida through funder education stewardship and support.
• Develop a communications reporting and accountability structure to communicate the purpose of Press Forward for multiple audiences and to report on its progress.
• Keep abreast of current events developments and issues in the field to maintain a balanced and objective perspective and approach to grantmaking.
• Develop an enduring Press Forward model for South Florida.
• Create and manage a Press Forward South Florida Advisory Council made up of key donor partners and community stakeholders to guide the initiative and inform decision making.
• Identify new opportunities to strengthen the local news ecosystem analyze their feasibility present recommendations and lead /engagement.
• Participate actively in the national Press Forward Locals and Knight Communities Network working groups including attending regular online meetings and in person gatherings.
• Represent the Foundation at conferences and other public events including as a speaker or panel participant.
• Lead and support the Foundations evolving civic engagement strategy.

This role requires occasional availability outside of office hours for community engagement opportunities as well as transportation across the county for both events and partnership coordination.

Experience Abilities & Skills

• 8 to 10 years experience working in journalism media philanthropy or adjacent fields.
• A bachelors or masters degree in journalism business public policy or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with grant making and fundraising including securing government funding and large gifts from individuals foundations and corporations.
• Deep knowledge of the history evolution and current state of the journalism sector.
• A welldeveloped network of relationships in the South Florida media ecosystem and a profound understanding based on on the ground experience of the challenges facing local news and information.
• Comfort and competency with working through adaptive challenges where solutions are not yet developed
• The ability to strengthen ideas and build momentum by leveraging existing programs/ initiatives resources structures and policies.
• Excellent analytical and communications skills including writing and public speaking.
• The ability to collaboratively lead through networking facilitating and problemsolving.
• Strong values alignment to The Miami Foundation where we prioritize joy bravery wellness equity togetherness leadership and a commitment to the long game.

This list of essential functions is not intended to be exhaustive. The Miami Foundation reserves the right to revise this job description as needed to comply with actual job requirements.

The Miami Foundation is committed to equal opportunity for all without regard to race religion color national origin citizenship sex age veteran status disability genetic information or any other protected characteristic. The Miami Foundation will make reasonable accommodations for known physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified employees and applicants with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.

We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes medical dental and vision insurance a 403(b) retirement plan flex spending and dependent care accounts professional development stipend paid time off cell phone stipend gym reimbursement and the opportunity to establish a Staff DonorAdvised Fund (DAF) which the Foundation will match when you contribute $500.

Please reach out to if you need any accommodation in applying.