Description

About this position
This newly created position is an opportunity to play essential roles in the creation of a reimagined and innovative model for providing civic news and information across a wide rural region - the High Plains Civic Media Network (HPCMN). The model is centered on developing and working with a wide network of individual and organizational contributors to provide a steady stream of content across media platforms that well serves the needs and interests of residents of the High Plains. The Network Manager serves as the key coordinator and manager of the Network as it works to enrich the civic, social and cultural life of individuals and communities across the High Plains region.

Major funding for the multi-year startup of the HPCMN has been provided by Press Forward and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Primary areas of responsibility

• Assisting in identifying and recruiting individuals and organizations from across the region to become paid or volunteer contributors to the HPCMN in a variety of roles (e.g. Community Correspondents, Topical Correspondents, Regional Curators and Community Connectors)
• Developing working relationships and securing agreements/MOUs with individual and organizational contributors; onboarding and training new contributors
• Providing content production assistance as needed by contributors, especially those with limited digital skills and experience
  Reviewing, editing, finalizing and publishing content from contributors
• Producing and publishing content across platforms as needed to supplement and complement the work of network contributors
• Planning and calendaring (budgeting) the flow of content from all sources to audiences across platforms, from current day to many months out
• Using audience data to evaluate the effectiveness of various content topics, formats and platforms in building audience reach and engagement; prioritizing where and how to direct the HPCMN towards greater audience development based on audience data

About High Plains Public Radio (HPPR) and the High Plains Civic Media Network (HPCMN)

High Plains Public Radio serves Western Kansas, the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and far Eastern Colorado with public media services closely tuned to the environment, economy, cultures, history and community life of this High Plains region. These services include two audio programming channels (HPPR MIX offering news and mixed music and HPPR CONNECT with all news, information and talk) and hppr.org focusing on regional news, features and events. To ensure free and convenient access to its services HPPR operates a network of 18 FM stations, along with digital streaming and mobile app. 
HPPR functions as an independent non-profit organization (the Kanza Society, Inc) founded in 1977 as a grass-roots effort to bring public media services to the High Plains region. It began its first broadcast operations in 1980.

The High Plains Civic Media Network is the major strategic initiative of HPPR as a means of: 1) further fulfilling its mission of “supporting and enriching the civic, educational, community and cultural life of residents of the High Plains region”, 2) reaching, engaging and serving a larger and more diverse audience and, 3) building a greater base of local financial support.

Requirements

Needed experience, skills and attributes

• 2+ years’ experience in cross-platform content production, editing and publishing (website, mobile, social, newsletter, broadcast, podcast, etc.)
• Audience-focused content writing and editing in a variety of styles across different platforms
• Cross-platform content planning and scheduling (budgeting)
• Audience development, operations improvement and work prioritization by using data
• Effective working relationship development with others; training and support for others in their work
• Managing through influence; building a collaborative work environment in a virtual setting
• Project management; workflow planning and management; working to schedules and deadlines; troubleshooting and problem solving 
• “Audience first” and “audience service” perspective, orientation and conviction

Work location (mixed "on-site" and hybrid)

HPPR maintains studios in Garden City, KS and Amarillo, TX with Garden City as its operational hub and a preferred location for needed on-site work. Much of the daily work can be done remotely and work arrangements from other locations on the High Plains can be considered.

How to apply

Include a letter of interest in the position and a resume if applying through this site or email directly to Quentin Hope, Executive Director at qhope@hppr.org.

Application deadline: Open until filled; applications are reviewed and considered as received.

Further information: More detailed information about the responsibilities and requirements of this position as well as the design of the High Plains Civic Media Network are available by contacting Quentin Hope, Executive Director at qhope@hppr.org.