Volunteer & Editorial Program Manager

Ballotpedia seeks a 100% remote, full-time Volunteer and Editorial Program Manager to join its Editorial Department.

Reporting to the Editor-in-Chief, and collaborating with staff within the department and across the organization, you will coordinate and manage the regular operations of Ballotpedia’s growing volunteer program, including its community researchers and volunteer fellowship programs, which are integral to our mission to providing accurate and unbiased information on American politics and elections to voters across the country. In this role you will oversee volunteer recruitment, training/orientation, volunteer task delegation and supervision, and metrics reporting on the programs’ progress and success.

This role will also provide administrative and logistical support to the Editorial Department through coordination of various department-wide projects, including audits, metrics tracking, and the development and distribution of routine reports.

Responsibilities

As a Volunteer and Editorial Program Manager you will:

Volunteer & Fellowship Programs Management (60% of the time)

• Maintain and grow Ballotpedia’s volunteer base through outreach to individuals, organizations and groups, colleges/universities, and other entities, as needed
• Work closely with the Editor-in-Chief to periodically assess needs for volunteer expertise and level of volunteer staffing
• Develop, maintain and optimize processes to review applications, vet, and interview potential volunteers
• Regularly assess interests/skills of volunteers and match with appropriate activities
• Manage comprehensive orientation process for new volunteers that includes distributing information about volunteering at Ballotpedia (internal documentation and website) and criteria for involvement, as well as updating training documentation and manuals
• Ensure that volunteer positions are sufficiently filled to meet the program’s needs and volunteers enjoy a positive experience
• Maintain database of current and prospective volunteers
• Provide accurate and timely volunteer program-related data for requested internal and external reports
• Engage with existing volunteers on a regular basis providing feedback and additional guidance as needed
• Maintain ongoing communications with volunteers through email newsletters
• Collaborate cross-functionally with staff within the department and across the organization to build and execute project plans to ensure the programs run smoothly and meet the needs of Ballotpedia
• Work closely with the Communications Department to promote the programs

Department Administrative Support (40% of the time)

• Provide logistical, administrative support for the Editorial Department as directed by the Editor-in-Chief including coordination of various department-wide projects, schedules (including on-calls schedules) and audits
• Regularly collect, update and aggregate information related to key department metrics across various tracking mechanisms, including Google Sheets and dashboards
• Develop and distribute routine reports
• Other duties as assigned by the Editor-in-Chief

Qualifications

An ideal Editorial and Volunteer Program Manager will have:

• A demonstrated passion for Ballotpedia’s mission
• A minimum of two years prior experience managing volunteers or a volunteer program, or related programmatic work, for a small to mid-size organization (remote work experience a plus)
• Superb organizational skills, a keen eye for detail, and discretion. They enjoy organizing their own lives and the world around them. They maintain orderly habits and perceive external disorder as an opportunity to innovate and improve
• Excellent verbal and written communication and customer service skills, with ability to obtain the needed results with poise, class, tact, and efficiency in getting what is needed to get the job done
• Strong project management skills, with ability to multitask, set priorities, and follow-through
• A desire to work collaboratively with Ballotpedia staff from within the department and across the organization and contribute to a positive and open team environment
• The ability to learn quickly and adjust to changes easily. They thrive in a world of constant iteration and feed into the cycle instead of slowing it down
• The ability to move among different project types and topic areas, often on the same day—from crunching numbers in a spreadsheet to communicating with external contacts or helping coworkers unexpectedly
• Ability to gather, analyze, and make recommendations/decisions based on data
• Experience managing and updating complex spreadsheets or working with databases is a plus
• Familiarity with Google Apps and a variety of tracking platforms is a plus (such as Google Analytics, etc…)

Environment

The Editorial and Volunteer Program Manager will work remotely from their home location. All Ballotpedia staff work remotely. To join Ballotpedia, you must have a computer with internet access. Ballotpedia uses Google Suite (Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, and more), Slack, and Asana to accomplish our goals. Working familiarity and/or experience with these or similar platforms is highly desirable.

Ballotpedia has a flexible work environment, BP Flex, in which every employee enjoys unlimited vacation and flexibility in scheduling. Each employee will be oriented to the principles of Ballotpedia’s flexible environment during new employee training.

Compensation

The starting pay range for the Editorial and Volunteer Program Manager is $55,000-$62,500 and will be commensurate with experience.

In addition to salary, Ballotpedia offers performance bonuses and a $8,000 annual benefits stipend, which can be used to pay for a full benefits package, including health, vision, and dental insurance; retirement accounts; and more. If benefits are not elected, the $8,000 stipend is treated as regular income and added to salary.

To apply, visit the job opportunity page and click on ‘Apply for this job’ to fill out the form.

Please attach the following in PDF format:

• Résumé
• Cover letter detailing your interest in Ballotpedia’s mission and this position

Please ensure that either your résumé or cover letter includes your current address. Applications without addresses will not be accepted.

Please note that if you are hired for this position, Ballotpedia participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ballotpedia is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS.