Senior Media Advisor

ABOUT IRI

The International Republican Institute (IRI) advances democracy and freedom. We link people with their governments support politicians to be responsive to citizens and motivate those citizens to engage in the political process.

At IRI every employee plays a crucial role in advancing our mission across the globe. Were looking for passionate individuals who embody our Core Values and are eager to contribute to our dynamic team. Our values include:

• Respect: We lead with trust empathy and dignity; empowering colleagues and partners.
• Teamwork: We collaborate acrossteams;solve problemstogether;are humble and ready to learn.
• Ownership: We take initiative; champion solutions; deliver results for IRIs mission.
• Excellence through Execution: We balance thoughtfulness with timeliness; learn from results; prioritize progress over perfection.
• Transparency: We share information openly; give direct feedback; build trust through honest communication.
• Freedom: Weare empowered to make decisions trynew approaches and adapt as needed.

ABOUT THE ROLE: SENIOR MEDIA ADVISOR

The Senior Media Advisor serves as Key Personnel on a global project and provides specialized strategic and technical advisory services across all program objectives. The global project will strengthen the resilience of independent media outlets to foreign state propaganda and coercive influence by expanding access to credible content building the business sustainability of independent outlets and delivering targeted technical assistance and training across multiple regions and languages.

The Senior Media Advisor provides subject matter expertise on media resilience editorial independence content distribution and media sustainability to help ensure that program interventions align with project objectives and respond to evolving media ecosystem this capacity the Senior Media Advisor advises on program design and implementation across all objectives; develops recommendations for independent content partnerships and wire service relationships; provides technical guidance on a media resilience portal and associated content delivery system; supports media outlet recruitment and engagement strategies; and advises on technical assistance related to business sustainability revenue diversification monitoring learning and adaptive management.

The Senior Media Advisor also provides technical input to IRIs coordination with the donor project partners content providers consultants and participating media organizations and represents the technical quality of the program to donors partners and the broader media development community.

This position is located in Washington Senior Media Advisor is expected to work in-office at least three days per week.

This position is contingent upon award of funding.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership & Program Design

• Provide strategic and technical advisory services across all global objectives advising the project team on program design implementation approaches sequencing of activities and course corrections over the life of the program.
• Serve as the programs principal subject matter expert on media resilience editorial independence content distribution and media business sustainability ensuring technical soundness and appropriateness to each media market served.
• Advise on the development and refinement of program tools methodologies curricula and technical assistance packages ensuring they reflect current evidence and good practice in independent media development.
• Assess evolving threats to independent media including foreign state propaganda information manipulation and coercive influence and recommend adjustments to program interventions in response.
• Provide technical review of program deliverables including work plans assessments training materials and donor reports to ensure alignment with project objectives and donor expectations.

Content Partnerships & Distribution

• Develop recommendations for independent content partnerships including identification vetting and prioritization of prospective content providers and syndication partners.
• Advise on the structure terms and technical parameters of wire service relationships and other content-sharing arrangements including licensing considerations attribution standards editorial safeguards and language coverage.
• Advise on editorial standards verification practices and content quality criteria applied to material made available to participating media outlets.
• Recommend approaches to content localization translation and adaptation that preserve editorial integrity while meeting the needs of outlets across regions and languages.

Platform & Technology Advisory

• Provide technical guidance on the design functionality and continued development of a media resilience portal and its associated content delivery system from the perspective of end-user media outlets.
• Advise on platform features user workflows content tagging and search access controls and reporting functions to ensure the Portal is usable secure and responsive to the operational realities of independent outlets.
• Advise on the appropriate use oversight and limitations of automated and AI-assisted platform processes including criteria applied to automated determinations and the standards governing human review of disputed or questionable determinations.
• Coordinate with technical service providers and developers to translate media-sector requirements into platform specifications and to review proposed changes prior to deployment.

Media Outlet Recruitment & Engagement

• Support the development of media outlet recruitment vetting and engagement strategies including eligibility criteria outreach approaches and prioritization across target regions and languages.
• Advise on onboarding approaches and engagement pathways that drive meaningful uptake of program resources and services by participating outlets.
• Draw on sector relationships and networks to identify prospective participating outlets partners trainers and consultants and to build the programs credibility within the independent media community.

Business Sustainability & Technical Assistance

• Advise on the design and delivery of technical assistance related to media business sustainability including revenue diversification audience development digital monetization cost management and organizational resilience.
• Recommend approaches for tailoring technical assistance to outlets of differing size market conditions operating environments and levels of organizational maturity.
• Provide technical guidance on the selection scoping and oversight of consultants trainers and service providers delivering technical assistance under the program.

Monitoring Learning & Adaptive Management

• Advise on the programs monitoring evaluation and learning framework including indicators data collection approaches and learning questions relevant to media resilience and sustainability.
• Support adaptive management by interpreting monitoring data participant feedback and ecosystem developments and recommending adjustments to program approaches and resource allocation.
• Contribute to learning products technical briefs and program documentation that capture results and good practice for donors partners and the wider field.

Coordination Representation & External Engagement

• Provide technical input to IRIs coordination with the donor and partners including participation in donor meetings technical consultations and reviews as requested.
• Coordinate technically with project partners content providers consultants and participating media organizations to ensure coherent non-duplicative delivery across program components.
• Represent IRI and the global project in relevant conferences working groups and convenings within the media development and counter-propaganda communities.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues across IRI including Regional Divisions and technical practices and share expertise tools and resources Institute-wide.
• Contribute to business development efforts as appropriate including technical input to concept notes and proposals related to independent media and information integrity.
• Other duties as assigned.

Note: This post is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities duties or skills required in this role. Further details of the role will be shared during the recruitment process.

WHAT WERE LOOKING FOR

We seek a passionate experienced and technically fluent individual with:

• Undergraduate degree in journalism communications media studies international relations political science or a related field. Graduate degree preferred.
• Minimum ten years of relevant professional experience in independent media journalism or international media development including significant experience in a senior advisory editorial leadership or technical leadership role.
• Demonstrated expertise in media resilience editorial independence content distribution and media business sustainability with a track record of advising independent media outlets or media support organizations.
• Substantive knowledge of foreign state propaganda information manipulation and coercive influence directed at independent media and of practical countermeasures available to media outlets.
• Experience with content syndication wire services or content-sharing partnerships including familiarity with licensing attribution and editorial standards.
• Working knowledge of digital content delivery platforms and media technology sufficient to provide informed technical guidance on platform design functionality and user experience; familiarity with the appropriate use and limitations of AI-assisted tools in editorial and platform contexts preferred.
• Demonstrated experience advising on media business models revenue diversification and audience development.
• Familiarity with monitoring evaluation and learning practices and with adaptive management of international development programs.
• Proven knowledge of U.S. Government donor requirements regulations and reporting for international programs.
• Strong written and oral communications and presentation skills in English as demonstrated by prior publications trainings or participation in relevant panels and conferences. Proficiency in an additional language relevant to the programs target regions preferred.
• Strong ability to initiate foster and maintain relationships with contacts and stakeholders in a diverse and multicultural environment with sensitivity respect discretion tact and professionalism.
• Experience identifying complex problems and developing creative solutions; ability to exercise sound judgment on sensitive editorial security and partner matters.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team to coordinate and lead the efforts of other professionals to effectively meet Institutional needs.
• Ability to work well under pressure and adapt to shifting priorities across multiple time zones.
• Experienced user of Microsoft Office.
• Experience living working or traveling internationally; willingness to travel internationally including to remote and sometimes challenging environments.

IRI TOTAL COMPENSATION

The anticipated compensation range for this position is $150000 to $175000 USD.

The salary for this position is determined based on a wide variety of factors including but not limited to an individuals professional experience qualifications education and other business needs along with internal equity considerations. Employees are not typically hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are made based on the aforementioned considerations.

WE OFFER

An empathetic and dedicated work environment with generous benefits that demonstrates IRIs commitment to all dimensions of employee wellness including:

• Health and Wellness Support: Significant coverage of health dental and vision insurance costs. Meaningful assistance programs through an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) and Rula (access to mental health experts).
• Long-term Financial Health: Retirement plan with generous employer contribution (vested after 12 months).
• Hybrid Work: Employees typically work in-office three days per week and telework two days per week.
• Time Off: Company-paid holidays parental leave generous vacation sick and personal leave days.
• Family Support: Dependent Care FSA
• Learning and Development Opportunities: Annual allowance for professional development courses and seminars along with access to world-class e-learning via eCornell.
• Compensation Equity: Regular competitive review of internal and external equity to ensure fairness in pay for employees working in similar jobs requiring comparable knowledge skills and experience.

Benefits professional development and flexibility offerings may vary based on employment classification and location.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS RESUME COVER LETTER REFERENCES

In your application please include a copy of your most up-to-date resume along with a cover letter that outlines your background and explains why you are interested in this opportunity. Additionally please include the contact details of at least 2-3 professional references. If you are selected for an interview we will contact your references before the final interview.

Required Experience:

Senior IC