Director of Civic Partnerships and Engagement

About The Beacon

The Beacon is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to public-service journalism in Kansas and Missouri. We focus on in-depth reporting on issues such as health, education, local government, labor, and housing. Our mission is to cultivate engaged and informed communities through accessible reporting and active community engagement on crucial local subjects, anchored by a sustainable nonprofit revenue model.

Position Summary

The Director of Civic Partnerships and Engagement will lead The Beacon's efforts to deepen community relationships, expand civic partnerships, and oversee initiatives that promote active public participation in local governance. This role includes launching and directing the Kansas City Documenters program, managing the Community Engagement Manager/Reporter, and collaborating across departments to integrate community insights into our journalism. The person in this position will work remotely but must reside in the Kansas City metro.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Program Development

• Develop and implement a comprehensive civic engagement strategy aligned with The Beacon's mission and the objectives of the Kauffman Foundation grant.
• Launch and oversee the Kansas City Documenters program in partnership with City Bureau, including recruitment, onboarding, training, and coordination of community members documenting public meetings.
• Supervise and mentor the Community Engagement Manager/Reporter, supporting outreach, community storytelling, and civic literacy efforts.
• Collaborate closely with editorial and product teams to integrate community feedback into newsroom coverage and platform design, strengthening the impact and relevance of our journalism.
• Oversee civic reporting from the Documenters program by:
• Own and manage the editorial workflow for Documenters’ submissions, ensuring content is reviewed, fact-checked, approved, and published on deadline.
• Provide clear, constructive feedback to Documenters to support skill-building and content quality.
• Coordinate with a designated editor on The Beacon’s team (not the Executive Editor) to ensure final edits and publication are completed.
• Track and ensure the completion of various Documenters' assignments, including summarizing and distributing selected content across platforms.
• Produce a weekly newsletter to highlight Documenters’ work, surface civic insights, and increase public engagement with local government.
• Collaborate with Beacon reporters to inform and strengthen coverage on civic power, public processes, and local accountability.
• Lead or support special projects that elevate civic knowledge, such as public records campaigns, explainers, or community-led data storytelling.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with grassroots organizations, civic institutions, and community leaders to foster collaboration and mutual trust.
• Organize and facilitate community listening sessions, workshops, and public forums to gather insight and foster dialogue around civic issues.
• Develop and manage micro-grant or partnership programs that support hyper-local news contributors and community media, broadening civic information access and equity.

Program Evaluation & Sustainability

• Establish metrics and evaluation tools to assess the effectiveness of civic engagement initiatives and inform continuous improvement.
• Prepare reports and presentations for stakeholders, including funders and community partners, to demonstrate impact and secure ongoing support.
• Identify and pursue additional funding opportunities and revenue streams to sustain and expand civic engagement programs beyond the initial grant period in partnership with the Beacon CEO.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, public administration, community development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in community engagement, civic partnerships, or related areas, with a demonstrated ability to lead programs and manage teams.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage diverse audiences and stakeholders effectively.
• Experience in program development and evaluation, including setting goals, measuring outcomes, and reporting on impact.
• Proficiency in project management, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously and meet deadlines.

Preferred

• Familiarity with the Documenters program or similar civic journalism initiatives.
• Experience in nonprofit fundraising and grant management, including writing proposals and managing budgets.
• Knowledge of the Kansas City civic landscape, including key organizations, institutions, and community dynamics.
• Multilingual abilities, particularly in languages prevalent in the Kansas City area, to engage with diverse communities effectively.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $60,000–$80,000, commensurate with experience.
• Health Coverage: 100% of employee health, vision, and dental premiums covered; a portion of dependent premiums covered.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Includes ten holidays, three personal days and progressive PTO accrual starting at three weeks per year, increasing with tenure.
• Parental Leave: Paid parental leave policy in effect.
• Cell Phone Reimbursement: Up to $50 per month.
• Life Insurance: $50,000 employer-paid policy; supplemental insurance available.
• Disability Insurance: 100% employer-paid long and short-term disability.