Deputy Director, Emergencies

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is currently looking for the Deputy Emergencies Director. The Deputy Emergencies Director (DED) supports both the Emergencies Department and CPJ by assisting the Emergencies Director with overseeing the department’s response to emergencies involving journalist safety, security, and assistance, and supporting the department’s goal of providing up-to-date safety advice and resources to journalists and media workers around the world.

The Deputy Emergencies Director provides operational and strategic input into departmental plans and priorities and works closely with the Emergencies Director to develop strategies, processes, and plans that reflect those priorities and that improve the efficiency and impact of the department, and the entire organization.

In addition to managing the Emergencies Administrative Associate and the Emergencies Associate, the Deputy Emergencies Director also manages the two-person journalist assistance team and oversees the department’s day-to-day journalist assistance work. This includes regular meetings and check-ins, the review and approval of grant requests, overseeing the reporting and tracking of assistance data, and helping, with input from the Emergencies Director, to guide assistance priorities and, where appropriate, mandate review to reflect new safety challenges.

This role includes increasing the number of safety consultations the department provides and evolving the safety guidance offered to journalists; improving the department’s relationships with partnerships and stakeholders globally, including newsrooms, journalist-focused non-profits, and journalist safety organizations; exploring new ways to connect journalists with safety advice; and working with governments and other stakeholders to advocate on behalf of the safety needs of journalists.

The DED, where appropriate, will engage in emergency case-specific or safety-related advocacy with a view to advancing the department’s objectives around assistance or journalist safety.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Managing the Journalist Assistance team (Journalist Assistance Program Coordinator and Journalist Assistance Manager, both remote positions ). Managing the Emergencies Administrative Associate and Emergencies Associate (both NYC-based positions).

Strategy

• Co-manage and co-develop, with the Emergencies Director, department response to fresh and long-standing crises involving journalists globally. This includes emergency response; preventative safety and planning work; and high-level strategy around the department’s and organization’s work.
• Priority setting: Through projects and partnerships, bolstering knowledge of journalist safety initiatives; identifying new ways to improve the reach of our department’s work and journalist safety resources. Helping to map areas of influence, value-add, and impact.

Process and Knowledge Management

• Managing, evaluating, implementing, and, where appropriate, creating department processes to ensure continued streamlining of departmental work. This includes: Managing the process of all journalist safety information and resources, from creation to publication; responsibility for managing appropriate translations of resources; liaising with other internal stakeholders around the department’s work.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Co-leads the department’s work on improving its data collection and M&E.
• Represents the Emergencies Department internationally, including speaking publicly about the work of the Emergencies Department, and meeting with journalists and organizations to better understand their needs.
• Cultivating new and existing partnerships with external stakeholders, with input from the Emergencies Director, to advance the work of the department and increase impact.
• Assists with other logistics and planning as needed.
• In collaboration with the Emergencies Director, manage the department:
  • Recruitment: Select high-caliber candidates.
  • Performance Management: Ensure staff is provided clear goals and regular performance feedback (including performance reviews).
  • Development: Provide staff with appropriate career and professional development opportunities as well as meaningful coaching and mentoring.
  • Engagement: Ensure staff is effectively connected and motivated to perform at their highest levels of achievement and contribute to the creation of a positive organizational culture.
  • Administration: Oversee (review/approve) administrative processes (e.g., time off, expense reports, travel plans, employee data/records, etc.
  • Performs all other duties as assigned.

Education/Qualifications & Work Experience

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years working in journalism/media; international relations; human rights work.
• Minimum of three years in a management position

Additional Qualifications, Characteristics, and Competencies (Key Behaviors):

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Empathetic and understanding manager able to lead direct reports through high-stress periods
• Impeccable organizational skills and keen attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Ability to lead a team and work collaboratively with senior managers to guide the organization.

Benefits

• Health Care Plans (100% employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision plans for employee coverage)
• Health Reimbursement Account (employer-funded HRA of $5,000 annually)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (employer contribution of 4%. Additional employer dollar-for-dollar match of elective employee contribution up to 3%)
• Life Insurance and AD&D Plans (100% employer-sponsored with the option to elect additional voluntary plans)
• Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, and 13 paid holidays)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability (employer-sponsored with the option to elect additional voluntary plans)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pre-Tax Flexible Spending Accounts (medical, dependent care, and commuter expenses)
• Voluntary benefits plans (accident, hospitalization, critical Illness, pet, and legal insurance)
• Flexible Work Schedules

CPJ promotes a flexible working environment that allows for work-life balance, with opportunities for hybrid and flexible work schedules. Their newly opened NYC office, located in Midtown Manhattan, was designed to be a place where you can work effectively and collaboratively, bringing energy, inspiration, commitment, and deep learning to our mission. The CPJ offices are currently working on a hybrid schedule of two days in-office (Wednesday and one other day of the employee’s choosing), with the option of working three days remotely. Candidates residing outside of the local area and the U.S. may be considered, New York and tri-state area preferred.

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references here.