Digital Engagement Lead

Who We Are

NC Local, a statewide newsroom, operates as a hub of development for new initiatives, journalism and services that shed light on issues shaping North Carolina. NC Local works with a diverse network of news, information and other organizations to maximize reach of information and meet community needs for more journalism, actionable information and community connection. We operate as a community connector, taking new approaches to meeting their evolving information needs.

NC Local meets community members where they are—online and in-person. Our digital engagement will take many forms: social media, texting, email, video…and some that haven’t yet been invented. 

This role will think creatively about digital engagement both for NC Local products and collaborative efforts. The work will be varied and prioritized by the potential to reach more North Carolinians. This role can be expected to test and experiment and iterate on the approach based on what we learn. We seek someone who can manage multiple streams of digital engagement, from hosting SMS text channels to creating social media stories to analyzing analytics for our channels.

In addition to designing and executing our present digital strategy, the Digital Engagement Lead will stay ahead of trends and think proactively about how NC Local can reach more North Carolinians through digital platforms and channels. This is a digital-centric role, but the ideal candidate will have an understanding that no matter the platform or product, storytelling is at the heart of our work. 

What you’ll do:

• Identify digital opportunities in North Carolina communities and devise digital strategies to meet needs of existing and new audiences. 
• Collaborate with other NC Local team members and partner staff to test, iterate and refine digital strategy, documenting key takeaways for partner organizations
• Promote and foster audience engagement for NC Local Hub and other NC Local products including daily execution of NC Local’s social media strategy
• Translate big issues into digestible formats native to social media platforms
• Collaborate with NC Local team members to amplify news and information from NC Local Hub as well as partner organizations
• Monitor performance and trends. Track analytics and provide reports to inform evolving digital strategy
• Partner with other news organizations, community organizations and online influencers to expand NC Local reach
• Experiment with creative and innovative ways to provide news and information across platforms
• Collaborate with the CEO and our Director of Strategic Partnerships to translate our work into visual presentations for funder proposals, marketing and other materials.

Who you are and what you bring: 

The ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate digital experience and skills across several platforms, though we do not expect the same level of strength across all categories. We’re looking for candidates with much of the following: 

• Highly skilled in successful email newsletter creation
• Interested in varied work and comfortable with managing multiple projects and working with different constituencies at the same time
• An understanding that digital strategy works hand-in-hand with our other efforts and a willingness to expand digital work to reach and serve people across the state regardless of age and other demographics
• Strong interest in connecting with diverse and underserved communities across NC
• Shortform audio and video expertise and an ability to translate traditional journalism products to compelling content on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, LinkedIn, BlueSky, and other platforms
• Curiosity, generosity and coachability
• Strong writing, editing, copyediting and graphic design skills
• A creative and collaborative thinker who can help team members translate brainstorming into strong digital engagement and presence
• An ability to connect the dots between news and editorial functions, audience needs and business goals
• Analytical skills or the willingness and ability to learn analysis of digital metrics
• Experience translating brand identity and voice through digital media
• An experimental mindset and an appreciation for new and creative ways to provide news and information
• A collaborative spirit and genuine desire to be part of a small but mighty team

Compensation and Benefits:

NC Local offers competitive salaries and benefits that focus on the well-being of its employees. This role’s salary range begins at $70,000 with compensation dependent on experience and skills. NC Local offers generous health, dental and vision insurance, as well as other benefits, including paid holidays, vacation and personal time off.  NC Local is a remote-first organization, and the Digital Engagement Lead may work anywhere in North Carolina.

To Apply:

Submit a resume along with a letter of interest as your cover letter and tell us why you're interested in this role and how your experience matches our needs. Priority deadline for applications is Aug. 15.