Manager, Inclusive Workplace Programs

NPR•Columbia, WA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager of Inclusive Workplace Programs is a critical execution role responsible for translating NPR's overarching DEI strategy into practical, high-impact workplace initiatives. This role bridges the gap between high-level strategy and everyday action by developing, facilitating, and managing programs, learning experiences, and practical tools that support staff, supervisors, and organizational leaders. A central focus of this position is serving as the primary operational partner and advisor for NPR’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), assisting them with governance, budgetary compliance, and annual charters. By providing tactical coaching and structured frameworks, the Manager of Inclusive Workplace Programs empowers our staff communities and helps operationalize psychological safety and inclusive practices across all divisions. In a rapidly shifting cultural and operational environment, this role requires high emotional intelligence and the agility to adapt workplace programs to new realities. The Manager of Inclusive Workplace Programs will help NPR navigate these evolving landscapes thoughtfully and constructively, ensuring that our programmatic support remains inclusive, legally compliant, balanced, and deeply accessible to all staff members across the organization.

Requirements

5+ years of professional experience directly coordinating, managing, or executing workplace DEI initiatives.
Demonstrated history of advising, organizing, or leading Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), affinity networks, or comparable community-led workplace groups.
Proven ability to facilitate interactive workshops, moderate sensitive dialogue, and lead presentations confidently across both virtual and in-person settings.
Experience working cross-functionally with diverse stakeholder groups, including managers, staff representatives, and executive sponsors, to drive project outcomes.
Demonstrated track record of taking high-level strategic objectives and translating them into structured, step-by-step project plans with measurable milestones.
Experience identifying structural program barriers and utilizing collaborative problem-solving skills to recommend and implement solutions.
Ability to translate complex organizational goals into simple, actionable steps and project-management structures.
Strong skill in providing constructive coaching and guiding managers on how to cultivate psychological safety within their teams.
Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven capacity to build strong, trusted relationships across diverse groups while ensuring accountability.
Comfort collecting, synthesizing, and interpreting qualitative feedback (surveys, focus groups) and quantitative metrics to continually iterate and improve programs.
Strong capability to manage administrative processes, budget tracking, and governance guidelines within structured systems.
Bachelor's degree in Organizational Development, Social Sciences, Communications, or a related field, OR equivalent work experience.

Nice To Haves

Formal certification or training in DEI methodology, inclusive leadership coaching, or professional workshop facilitation.
Previous professional experience operating within a media organization, creative industry, or mission-driven public service environment.

Responsibilities

Design, launch, and manage measurable, organization-wide DEI programs and initiatives that directly support NPR's strategic goals.
Partner with the People Team’s Learning and Development to provide recommendations that strengthen the inclusion, equity, accessibility, and cultural competency of broader organizational trainings.
Create practical, actionable guides, checklists, and toolkits that empower people managers to easily embed inclusive leadership practices into daily team workflows.
Serve as the central point of contact and operational advisor for ERG leaders, guiding them through charter development, strategic goal-setting, and budget reconciliation.
Collaborate alongside People Partners to advise departmental leadership on localized belonging efforts, providing impartial observations and tactical remedies to enhance unit-level inclusivity.
Partner closely with People Partners, Talent Acquisition, and Internal Communications to integrate inclusive practices into recruitment, retention, and organization-wide messaging.
Establish and monitor quantitative and qualitative KPIs for DEI programs and ERGs, using surveys, participation rates, and feedback loops to measure overall program health.
Compile clear, comprehensive progress reports for leadership and stakeholders, highlighting successes and recommending tactical adjustments.