Program Officer, Local News

Overview

The John

D. and Catherine T. Mac Arthur Foundation is one of the nation's largest independent foundations that supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. The Foundation invests in solving pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, promoting local justice reform, revitalizing local news, expanding AI usage, and strengthening the well‑being of Native communities.

This role is part of the Foundation’s Local News Big Bet grant portfolio, which catalyzes thriving local news ecosystems through equity, engagement, infrastructure, and visibility.

• Manage a caseload of active grants: reviewing proposals, writing grant briefs, reviewing periodic reports, maintaining accurate records, and thoughtfully engaging with grantees.
• Conduct due diligence, prepare grant recommendations for internal and board consideration, and communicate decisions to potential and current grantees.
• Monitor grant performance and implementation of grant strategies.
• Maintain and nurture relationships with grantees.

• Maintain active relationships with peer funders, Press Forward partners, journalism support and backbone organizations, and field leaders.
• Identify prospective grant recipients that strengthen local news ecosystems, prioritizing historically underserved communities.
• Support grantee capacity building through convenings, peer learning, and connections to shared services.

• Apply ecosystem development frameworks and archetype analysis to inform portfolio decisions.
• Monitor developments in local news business models, technology adoption, policy landscape, and field infrastructure.
• Write extensively for internal purposes, including strategy memos and grant recommendations.
• Collaborate with learning and evaluation colleagues and help prepare for the 2028 Strategy Review.

• Build and sustain relationships with the Local News team, Foundation colleagues, and leaders in relevant fields.
• Represent the Foundation at conferences and other public events, including speaking or panel participation.
• Anticipate potential issues and propose solutions.

• Serve on internal Foundation committees, as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Six to ten years of experience and expertise in the journalism sector, specifically in local news.
• Mature understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the journalism industry.
• Ability to meet deadlines, work independently, and consistently produce high‑quality work.
• Experience with or connections to the Local News priority geographies (Chicagoland, U.S.
  
  -Mexico Borderlands, Appalachia, Southeast).
• Excellent analytical and communication skills, including writing and public speaking.
• Self‑confident, collegial, and diplomatic, and appreciative of the role of a grantmaking institution.
• Computer literate, comfortable with new applications, and effective in interpersonal relations, organization, and multi‑tasking.

• Willingness to travel frequently (once or twice a month).

The position is hybrid and based in Chicago, Illinois. Annual salary for this role will start at $120,700, offered with a comprehensive benefits package.

The work environment is an office setting. Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable a person with disabilities to perform this job, including during the interview process.

The John

D. and Catherine T. Mac Arthur Foundation is an equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.