Project Manager, Media Freedom Coalition Secretariat

Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) is now looking for a Project Manager to join the team. This individual will lead on delivering specific activities while having an important influence on how they are designed and delivered.

TRF has unique expertise combining the power of journalism and the law to advance media freedom, foster more inclusive economies, and promote human rights.

For more than 35 years, Thomson Reuters Foundation has promoted the highest standards in journalism by training reporters around the world to cover issues relevant to their local context, accurately and impartially. Today, TRF works to strengthen local and national journalism, improve media ethics, standards and regulation, combat misinformation, and explore and shape the future of the profession. TRF does this through newsroom consultancy, journalism training and mentoring, capacity-building, and via its funding of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford.

TRF provides a Secretariat function to the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC). Established in 2019, the MFC is a partnership of countries working together proactively to advocate for media freedom and the safety of journalists at home and abroad. The recent establishment of the MFC Secretariat represents an exciting new chapter for the Coalition – it will provide dedicated capacity, as well as the ideas and energy, to ensure the MFC reaches its full potential in promoting media freedom. The Secretariat is a small team that provides administrative and management support, facilitates decision-making, manages the MFC’s communications, tracks the MFC’s impact, and takes forward specific programmes in collaboration with governments and other stakeholders.

The activities led by the Project Manager include, but are not limited to, the Diplomatic Networks Initiative, which capitalizes on the wide network of diplomatic missions that MFC members have around the world. MFC members’ missions are able to closely monitor the media freedom situation in the countries where they are based and take a range of collective actions to protect and advance media freedom.

The Project Manager will also engage in other areas of the MFC Secretariat’s work, including event organization, regular consultations with key stakeholders, feeding into decision-making and strategic discussions, monitoring the MFC’s impact, and maintaining strong relationships with a range of government representatives from MFC member countries as well as other MFC stakeholders. In doing this, the Project Manager will work closely with the Head of Secretariat, Project Coordinator, and Communications Manager.

About the Role:

As Project Manager, Media Freedom Coalition Secretariat, you will:

• Lead on delivering specific MFC Secretariat activities, including the Diplomatic Networks Initiative
• Use the fixed term of this contract to establish activities, run them, gather feedback from those involved and make recommendations for improvements
• Coordinate with people from government, civil society, the legal profession, and media
• Manage activity-specific budgets and ensure activities are delivered to agreed timelines
• Build and manage relationships with a range of stakeholders in different countries
• Represent the Secretariat at meetings and events (in-person and virtual)

To be the Project Manager, Media Freedom Coalition Secretariat, you will likely have:

• Excellent organisational skills with a high degree of creative and flexible thinking
• Experience in managing budgets and ensuring activities are delivered in line with budget
• The ability to think strategically so that activities contribute to longer-term objectives
• Excellent communication, presentation and facilitation skills
• An understanding of the journalism and media sector and its challenges would be advantageous
• Fluency in English; other languages would be an advantage.

What’s in it For You:

At the Thomson Reuters Foundation, people are the greatest assets. Here are some of the benefits TRF offers for your personal and professional growth:

• Global Perspective and Impact: Interested in working for a dynamic global organization with a focus on social impact? With hubs all over the world from Bangkok to Madrid to Rio de Janeiro, join a truly international team with a shared goal of helping to build societies around the world that are free, fair and informed.
• A Unique Approach: TRF’s expertise in media and the law is world class; TRF combines the power of both to address the critical issues faced by humanity.
• TRF’s Relevance: With a focus on advancing media freedom, fostering more inclusive economies and promoting human rights, TRF’s work has never been more needed than right now.
• Benefits: TRF offers competitive salary packages and market-leading benefits.
• Learning & Development: TRF is dedicated to the continual professional development of its employees and offer access to both in-house and external training opportunities.

Please note, this is a fixed term contract of 15 months with the possibility of extension, dependent on funding. This is a hybrid role based in Canary Wharf in London and will require some travel. All applicants must have the right to work in UK.

Please note, the deadline for applications is *21 November 2022* at 11.59pm GMT.

To apply, please click here.