Operations and Marketing Assistant
The Institute for Independent Journalists is seeking a part-time operations and marketing assistant to support internal technology, customer service, social media, and marketing needs for our community of freelance journalists. We're looking for a tech-savvy, detail oriented communicator who is as excited about improving work processes and efficiency as championing the IIJ's mission of financial and emotional sustainability for journalists of color. If you're eager to support a joyous, inclusive organization that is shaping the future of journalism, please apply! Send info@theiij.com a resume and cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why the role interests you.
The successful candidate will join a small, collaborative team of other part-time contractors who are passionate about serving the freelance community by solving problems, distilling best practices into accessible and engaging content, and continually growing and learning with a positive attitude.
Responsibilities include: Setting up Zoom webinars, online events, and email campaigns. Providing technical support for IIJ’s membership portal, website, and other platforms as needed. Responding to customer service needs in a timely and professional manner. Supporting IIJ communications and marketing campaigns by editing video and audio; creating graphics and posting social media content; creating transcripts; and updating the website. Analyzing membership and newsletter data to identify trends, emerging needs, and opportunities to attract new audiences, better serve customer segments, and deepen engagement. Creating reports, data visualizations, and dashboards to help establish best practices for audience cultivation and engagement.
We are seeking an independent-minded self-starter who thoughtfully manages their time and communications. The IIJ is a fully remote workplace with staff in different time zones. While our work culture embraces flexible schedules, this role requires 1-2 hours daily availability during East Coast office hours. (9 am - 5 pm) Pay ranges from $20 to $23 / hour, based on experience.
Desired skills: Data journalism skills such as collection, cleaning, automation and visualization are strongly preferred Fluency with technology and software platforms including Google workspace, Gmail, Zapier, Slack, and Zoom, as well as newsletter and website software. Experience with Neon, Salesforce, or other comparable Customer Record Management systems is strongly preferred. Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills, critical thinking, personal integrity, and enthusiasm for building collaborative relationships in a diverse work environment. Excellent interviewing, writing, editing, communication and project management skills. Commitment to accuracy, attention to detail, time management, and continuous improvement.
About the IIJ
The Institute for Independent Journalists is an education, professional development, and mutual support organization for independent journalists, focusing on Black, Indigenous and people of color. Our mission is to ensure financial and emotional sustainability for independent journalists of color, by: Connecting freelancers for learning, collaboration and mutual support. Creating tools, services and shared wisdom for economic self-sufficiency and mental health, regardless of who controls newsrooms. Advocating for fair and equitable treatment of freelancers and best practices for ethical use of independent labor, throughout the media.
Founded in 2022, the IIJ serves about 3,000 independent journalists annually through an online conference, monthly webinars, online courses, networking and mentorship opportunities, and select in-person events, including an annual business-of-freelancing workshop.
Journalists who participate in our programming say: “Hands down the best journo conference I've attended including four in-person and two other online. Just such a sense of safety, inclusion, and not at all intimidating.”
“It's honestly mind-blowing how much more relevant this freelancing advice was from every other freelancing resource I've looked into because it's by and for BIPOC folks.”
“I learned more about freelancing in the IIJ workshop than I did in an Ivy League journalism program.”