Associate Manager, Innovation & Strategic Initiatives

Boston Globe Media•Boston, MA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Boston Globe Media Partners is hiring an Associate Manager, Innovation & Strategic Initiatives to turn ideas into well-run programs and practical business opportunities across its portfolio, including The Boston Globe, Boston.com, Boston magazine, STAT, and InstaTrac. The role leads employee innovation programs, coordinates selected strategic initiatives, and helps staff put approved AI tools to practical use in partnership with journalists and colleagues in Sales, Marketing, Product, and other departments. The position supervises co-op students and reports to the VP of Innovation & Strategic Initiatives. The successful candidate is a confident, detail-oriented doer who takes ownership, follows up proactively, identifies problems early, and can both execute hands-on work and recommend better approaches. Media and journalism experience is not required but is a plus. The position is based in Boston, near Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, and candidates should be based in the area or willing to relocate. The annual salary range is $75,000–$85,000. Boston Globe Media is an equal opportunity employer committed to a workforce representative of the communities it serves.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience leading projects or programs with multiple stakeholders; equivalent experience in media, product, strategy, or operations is welcome.
A record of delivering work directly, including building plans, tracking details, following up on commitments, and bringing projects to completion.
Strong writing, research, and analytical skills.
Initiative to identify overlooked gaps or risks and propose practical solutions.
Confidence working across a large organization, building relationships, seeking decisions, following up respectfully, and raising concerns promptly.
Comfort using and learning new AI tools and other platforms for brainstorming, planning, and other solutions; coding is not required.
Ability to explain, test, and improve AI tools and workflows with users.
Fluency with collaborative tools such as Google Workspace (Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms), project management platforms such as Monday.com, and communication tools such as Slack.
Interest in journalism, digital media, and changing ways audiences engage with news.
Willingness to adapt, an audience-focused approach, a curious mindset, and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment.
Must be based in the Boston area or willing to move.

Nice To Haves

Experience in media or innovation.
Experience in communications or project management.
Experience in media, product, strategy, or operations as an equivalent background.

Responsibilities

Own project plans and day-to-day coordination for cross-functional strategic initiatives, including Fastest-Growing Companies and Tech Power Players.
Set milestones, clarify owners and decisions, identify risks early, and keep stakeholders and leadership informed through concise updates.
Support new projects from exploration through pilot or launch, including partner coordination, process design, and practical execution.
Assess project results after launch and recommend changes based on participation, audience response, revenue potential, operating effort, or other relevant measures.
Research media, audience, product, and business trends and synthesize findings into clear options and recommendations.
Run the team's weekly standup and project board using Monday.com, prepare strategy meeting agendas, and coordinate the weekly leadership update.
Supervise and develop a co-op student by setting priorities, reviewing work, and helping them contribute to team projects.
Help administer team platforms and vendor relationships, coordinating access, renewals, and handoffs with Finance or IT as appropriate.
Plan and deliver Innovation Week, Hack Day & Idea Pitch, and other employee innovation programs, from program design and communications through submissions, judging, event execution, and follow-up.
Coordinate speakers, judges, presenters, and internal partners; create timelines, run-of-show plans, and communications that facilitate participation.
Document outcomes and next steps for promising ideas and improve the format and follow-through of future programs.
Manage the AI idea intake and project tracker, helping the VP of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives keep priorities, owners, decisions, and next steps clear.
Prototype lightweight workflows using approved AI and collaboration tools, test them with colleagues, troubleshoot common issues, and refine them based on feedback.
Translate complex needs into clear requirements for technical partners.
Summarize what worked, what needs to change, and what should happen next; coordinate with technical colleagues when development or integration is required.