Local Program Assistant

Job Summary

CatchLight is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Program Assistant to support the CatchLight Local team in its mission to revitalize the craft of photojournalism in local newsrooms nationwide. This role ensures the seamless delivery of visual services, training programs, and communications to our member newsrooms through exceptional operational support, impact tracking, and relationship coordination.

The Program Assistant will work closely with the CatchLight Local team to provide logistical and operational support, track program impact, assist with database management, and support the delivery of services to member newsrooms across the country. This is an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about visual journalism and local news who wants to contribute to strengthening visual storytelling in communities nationwide.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and operational support to the CatchLight Local team.
• Assist with tracking and documenting program impact, maintaining databases, and assisting with the preparation of reports on visual work and services delivered to member newsrooms.
• Support the coordination of online trainings, in-person workshops, and events for member newsrooms, including logistics, materials preparation, and participant communications.
• Assist with digital asset management workflows.
• Support CRM management in Salesforce to ensure accurate and timely record-keeping.
• Serve as a point of contact for routine inquiries from member newsrooms, fellows, specialists, and partners ensuring timely and professional responses.
• Assist with award submission processes, including gathering materials, coordinating with newsrooms, and tracking deadlines.
• Support internal team operations, including documentation, project tracking, and maintaining shared resources and systems.
• Contribute to team efforts to continuously improve services and processes, and participate in organizational-wide initiatives as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of experience in program coordination, administrative support, or operations, ideally in a journalistic environment.
• Familiarity with visual editing and production workflows, particularly in a local newsroom context, with solid knowledge of visual journalism standards and ethics.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a customer service mindset.
• Proficiency in digital tools including Google Workspace, project management platforms, and willingness to learn digital asset management systems, CRM, and CMS platforms.
• Self-motivated with ability to work independently in a remote team environment while maintaining strong collaboration with colleagues.
• Passion for visual journalism, local news, and supporting creative communities.
• Problem-solving attitude with flexibility to adapt in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Spanish language skills are a plus and valued for working with diverse newsroom partners.

Key Criteria For Consideration

In addition to the above skill sets we are looking for excellence in the following areas. Candidates will be reviewed based on the following:

• Creativity: You are a net positive force of creative capital. Your engagement not only enhances the organizational performance, it enhances the creative capacities of the entire team. You bring ideas to the team.
• Character: You operate at the highest executive function in your personal organization, your communications style, and your integrity. You bring follow through, resourcefulness, and coordination to the team.
• Culture: You add positively to the social focus, the energy and the engagement of those around you. You bring warmth, generosity of spirit, excitement and respect.

Position details:

• Full-time/Exempt
• Remote work eligible, Bay Area candidates preferred
• This position reports to the CatchLight Local Program Manager.

Benefits include:

• Generous paid time off, paid federal holidays
• Professional development stipend
• Health, vision and dental insurance
• 401k with a company match

Spanish language skills are a plus