Sr Mgr, Community Connections, WTMJ
About The Position
WTMJ, the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, owned by The E.W. Scripps Company, is seeking a Senior Manager of Community Connections. This role serves as the station’s primary link to the community, building trusted relationships with civic, nonprofit, business, educational, and government leaders. The position turns community insights into stronger journalism, meaningful partnerships, and public events such as town halls and forums. The Senior Manager leads the newsroom’s daily community engagement, ensuring audience questions, story tips, and concerns receive timely and thoughtful responses. The role develops and executes a market-wide engagement strategy, advises station leadership on community needs and emerging issues, and coordinates cross-functional efforts to strengthen audience relationships and local impact.
Requirements
- Generally, 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, journalism, nonprofit leadership, communications, public affairs, partnership development, government relations, or related fields.
- Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills.
- Strong community listening skills and ability to recognize emerging issues and opportunities.
- Strategic thinking and judgment; 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, developing 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 responsive, professional communication with community members, partners, and stakeholders; acknowledge, route, and resolve audience inquiries 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.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
