Sr. Mgr., Community Connections, WEWS

The E.W. Scripps Company • Cleveland, OH

7d • Onsite

About The Position

WEWS, The E.W. Scripps Company ABC affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio, is seeking a Senior Manager, Community Connections to serve as the station’s primary liaison to the communities it serves. This role builds trusted relationships across Northeast Ohio and turns community insight into journalistic impact, meaningful partnerships, and stronger audience connections.

The Senior Manager leads newsroom community engagement priorities and coordinates forums, town halls, public-service initiatives, educational programs, and other activities. Working with News, Sales, Marketing, station leadership, and community organizations, this person develops engagement strategies, advises leaders on community needs and emerging issues, and ensures audience questions and concerns receive timely, professional responses.

The position is based in Cleveland, Ohio. The listed annual salary range for candidates performing the work in Ohio is $95,000–$105,000.

Requirements

• Generally, 7 or more years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, journalism, nonprofit leadership, communications, public affairs, partnership development, government relations, or a related field.
• Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills.
• Strong community listening skills and ability to recognize emerging issues and opportunities.
• Strategic thinking and judgment, including the ability to translate insight into action.
• Strong facilitation, public speaking, writing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence across News, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and community organizations.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Empathy, cultural awareness, diplomacy, discretion, and integrity.
• Ability to work independently and adapt to change.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CRM/community relationship platforms, and collaboration tools.
• Strong customer-service mindset, conflict-resolution skills, and sound judgment when responding to audience questions, concerns, and sensitive community issues.

Nice To Haves

• BS/BA in a related discipline or equivalent years of experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with community stakeholders to understand emerging issues, priorities, and opportunities.
• Gather, analyze, and communicate community insights to station leadership, newsroom teams, and partners to inform decision-making and coverage.
• Partner with News to identify story opportunities, connect journalists with trusted sources, and support audience engagement across community channels.
• Serve as the station’s primary community liaison and develop trusted relationships with civic, nonprofit, business, educational, and government organizations.
• Represent the station throughout the community and foster partnerships that create long-term value and impact.
• Ensure audience inquiries and communications from community members, partners, and stakeholders are acknowledged, routed, and resolved in a timely and professional manner.
• Lead the planning and execution of forums, town halls, public-service initiatives, educational programs, and other community engagement activities.
• Partner with News, Sales, Marketing, and station leadership to create opportunities that strengthen audience relationships and community impact.
• Oversee event logistics, stakeholder coordination, and effectiveness measurement to ensure engagement activities are inclusive, relevant, and impactful.
• Develop and execute a market-wide community engagement strategy aligned with station and regional priorities.
• Advise station leadership on community needs, emerging issues, and opportunities to strengthen trust and local impact.
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional community engagement efforts, share best practices, track outcomes, and develop team capabilities.

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, and vision benefits, as well as certain other health and wellness benefits.
• Retirement savings plan with company match.
• Disability and accident insurance.
• Hospital indemnity insurance.
• Critical illness insurance.
• Life insurance and AD&D.
• Identity protection.
• Pet discount program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Career path to grow professional experiences.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior