Content Operations Lead at Lehigh Valley Public Media in Bethlehem, PA

Description

JOB SUMMARY (Two/Three Lines):

The Content Operations Lead is LVPM's daily editorial engine -- the person who keeps the team organized, the calendar moving, and the work publishing on time and to standard. This role owns the day-to-day editorial workflow, manages a team of multimedia journalists directly, green-lights story pitches, and takes final responsibility for newsletter production. The Lead works in close coordination with the VP of Content, who sets editorial strategy and direction, and with the Community Engagement Lead and Visuals and Production Lead to keep content moving across all platforms. This is an execution-first role for someone who thrives on operational clarity, holds high standards without friction, and gets energy from making a team run well.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Tasks):

Editorial Workflow and Operations

• Own the daily and weekly editorial workflow -- assignments, deadlines, the content calendar, and platform distribution -- so the team is producing consistently at pace and standard.
• Run daily and weekly editorial planning, coordinating with all direct reports and cross-team leads to keep coverage on track.
• Green-light content pitches from the content team, providing quick, clear editorial direction.
• Maintain the shared content calendar and ensure all themes and platforms are covered.
• Track team output against the coverage plan and flag capacity or workflow issues early.

Editing and Editorial Quality

• Serve as the primary editor for multimedia journalists, editing copy across digital, newsletter, audio, and social platforms for accuracy, clarity, fairness, and quality.
• Set and hold editorial standards consistently across the team's published work.
• Provide fast, constructive editorial feedback that improves journalists' work without slowing down production.
• Ensure all content meets LVPM's standards before publication, with no pattern of corrections or standards escalations.

Newsletter Production

• Own the editorial production of LVPM's newsletters -- packaging, sequencing, voice, and on-time delivery every send.
• Maintain the newsletter production schedule and checklist, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
• Coordinate content contributions from the content team and integrate community content from the Community Engagement Lead.
• Work with the other stakeholders to track growth metrics and adjust newsletter content to support targets.

Team Management

• Directly supervise a team of multimedia journalists, managing daily workflow, assignments, performance, and editorial accountability.
• Provide consistent editorial coaching that develops journalists' skills and raises output quality over time.
• Support onboarding new team members, establishing clear workflow expectations from day one.
• Coordinate with the Community Engagement Lead and Visuals and Production Lead on shared workflow and cross-team production needs.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Daily and weekly editorial workflow is organized and running; the team is producing consistently at pace and standard.
• Story pitches are green lit quickly, and assignments are clear, with no gaps in beat coverage.
• Editorial quality across all published content meets LVPM's standards; no pattern of major corrections or escalations.
• Newsletters are edited, packaged, and delivered on time every send.
• All content tentpole programs such as Community Conversation, Living in the Lehigh Valley, Common Threads and Political Pulse, are executed on schedule and editorial standards.
• Team members are developing their skills and producing stronger work over time.

KEY COMPETENCY COMPONENTS

SKILLS

• Fast, precise editor across formats -- digital, newsletter, audio, and social -- who improves content quality without creating bottlenecks.
• Operational leader who can hold a complex multi-theme, multi-platform calendar without losing track of the details.
• Clear, direct communicator who gives journalists actionable feedback quickly.
• Newsletter production experience, including familiarity with email platforms and digital publishing workflows.
• Comfortable managing up, down, and across -- coordinates well with the VP of Content, peers, and direct reports simultaneously.

KNOWLEDGE

• Deep grounding in journalism ethics, editorial standards, accuracy, and fairness.
• Strong understanding of multi-platform content distribution across digital, newsletter, audio, and live formats.
• Familiarity with community-centered journalism and how local news serves civic life.
• Knowledge of the Lehigh Valley's communities, institutions, and civic landscape, or a demonstrated ability to develop it quickly.

EXPERIENCE

• At least five (5) years of professional journalism experience, with a clear record of both reporting and editing.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating a team of journalists -- assigning stories, editing work, and managing workflow and deadlines.
• Experience producing or editing newsletters for a news organization or media brand.
• Experience working in a digital-first or integrated multi-platform newsroom.
• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.

TRAITS

• Organized
• Decisive
• Dependable

CHARACTERISTICS

• Gets energy from making a team run well -- not from being the most visible journalist in the room.
• Holds high standards without creating friction; journalists know exactly what's expected and feel supported in meeting it.
• Earns credibility through consistency and follow-through.

OTHER WORK REQUIREMENTS:

• May be asked to work longer hours and occasional weekends with short notice.
• As you will/may be driving a company vehicle or your own vehicle for company business, a valid driver’s license and a good driving record as determined by a driver’s license background check is required for this position.
• All team members must successfully pass a background check (7 years), FBI fingerprint clearance and PA child clearance.