Project Manager for Voting Access Project, Roy Howard Community Journalism Center

Usmfoundation; Hattiesburg (MS); On-site; USD 18,000 - 23,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Southern Mississippi is seeking a part-time Project Manager for the Voting Access Project within the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center in Hattiesburg, MS. You will coordinate planning, be responsible for timelines, documentation, outreach, and publication support, working with reporters, university partners, consultants, and data providers.

Responsibilities include grant reporting, tracking milestones, and contributing to project evaluation while maintaining accurate

Qualifications

• One(1) year of experience with project and time management, managing multiple assignments, deadlines, and project components simultaneously.
• One (1) year of experience working independently while collaborating with reporters, professional staff, university partners, consultants, and community stakeholders, including organizing information, maintaining accurate project documentation, and tracking progress across multiple workstreams.
• One (1) year of experience working with spreadsheets, datasets, shared documents, and digital collaboration tools.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates project activities, timelines, deliverables, publication schedules, key milestones, and partner responsibilities to support the timely completion of project goals.
• Coordinates routine communication and project activities with partner universities, collaborators, consultants, and other project contributors, including meetings, interviews, partner check-ins, scheduling, and related logistics.
• Maintains centralized project documentation and tracking systems, including public records requests, reporting progress, shared files, meeting materials, datasets, project resources, and other required documentation.
• Coordinates project data workflows by organizing acquired polling-location data and related documentation and working with the project reporter, third-party data provider, and methodology consultant to identify trends, changes, anomalies, and potential reporting opportunities.
• Plans and coordinates community town halls and related outreach activities, including logistics, partner communication, programming, promotion, participant engagement, and other project-specific community engagement activities.
• Coordinates with editorial, data, and digital contributors on project publication and presentation activities, including story packaging, visual elements, digital components, and dissemination of major project findings.

Skills

Project coordination

Time management

Documentation

Communication

Tools

Spreadsheet tools

Digital collaboration tools

Job description

Project Manager for Voting Access Project, Roy Howard Community Journalism Center

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Project Manager for Voting Access Project, Roy Howard Community Journalism Center.

Location Hattiesburg
118 College Drive
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 39406-0001
United States

Division Journalism, Public Relations, and Advertising

Position Type Staff

Employment Status Part Time

Grant Funded Yes

Salary Range 15.00 - 15.00

Pay Grade Generic Grade

Posting Close Date October 20, 2026

Job Summary

TheProject Manager for Voting Access Project coordinates the planning,implementation, and day-to-day activities of the Voting Access Project withinthe Roy Howard Community Journalism Center (RHCJC). This position managesproject timelines, deliverables, partner coordination, documentation, dataworkflows, community engagement activities, and publication support. TheProject Manager-Voting Access Project works with reporters, universitypartners, consultants, data providers, and other project contributors tocoordinate activities and monitor progress toward established project goals.This position also supports grant reporting and project evaluation by trackingmilestones, activities, deliverables, and project outcomes.

PrimaryJob Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinates project activities, timelines, deliverables, publication schedules, key milestones, and partner responsibilities to support the timely completion of project goals.
• Coordinates routine communication and project activities with partner universities, collaborators, consultants, and other project contributors, including meetings, interviews, partner check-ins, scheduling, and related logistics.
• Maintains centralized project documentation and tracking systems, including public records requests, reporting progress, shared files, meeting materials, datasets, project resources, and other required documentation.
• Coordinates project data workflows by organizing acquired polling-location data and related documentation and working with the project reporter, third-party data provider, and methodology consultant to identify trends, changes, anomalies, and potential reporting opportunities. Assists with preparing state- and county-level data resources to support reporting, fact-checking, digital presentation, and other project needs.
• Plans and coordinates community town halls and related outreach activities, including logistics, partner communication, programming, promotion, participant engagement, and other project-specific community engagement activities.
  
• Coordinates with editorial, data, and digital contributors on project publication and presentation activities, including story packaging, visual elements, digital components, and dissemination of major project findings.
  
• Supports grant reporting and project evaluation by tracking activities, milestones, deliverables, community engagement, and project outcomes. Monitors project progress, identifies potential delays, gaps, or coordination needs, and communicates necessary follow-up to Roy Howard Community Journalism Center leadership.
  
• Participates in project and editorial planning activities and represents the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center professionally during meetings, community events, partner activities, and other project-related assignments.
  
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  

Minimum Qualifications

One(1) year of experience with project and time management, managing multipleassignments, deadlines, and project components simultaneously. One (1) year ofexperience working independently while collaborating with reporters,professional staff, university partners, consultants, and communitystakeholders, including organizing information, maintaining accurate projectdocumentation, and tracking progress across multiple workstreams. One (1) yearof experience working with spreadsheets, datasets, shared documents, anddigital collaboration tools.

Knowledge,Skills, and Abilities (KSA)

• Knowledge of project coordination, planning, documentation, and tracking practices.
• Knowledge of spreadsheet applications, data organization, and digital collaboration tools.
• Ability to organize and maintain accurate project records, datasets, tracking systems, and supporting documentation.
• Ability to identify patterns, inconsistencies, and trends within project data.
• Ability to establish priorities, manage multiple assignments and project components, and meet established deadlines.
• Ability to coordinate meetings, project activities, community events, and related logistical requirements.
• Ability to communicate project information, updates, action items, and next steps clearly and accurately.
• Ability to identify project delays, gaps, and coordination needs and communicate concerns appropriately.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with reporters, professional staff, university partners, consultants, community members, and other project contributors.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and responsibly handle project data, records, and information.
• Ability to learn and utilize project management, data, reporting, and digital tools necessary to perform assigned responsibilities.
• Skill in written, verbal, and interpersonal communication.
• Skill in problem-solving, organization, and time management.

Preferred Qualifications

One(1) year of experience in project coordination, research, journalism,communications, public policy, political science, data analysis, communityengagement, or a related field. One (1) year of experience working withspreadsheets, databases, data organization, or research datasets; coordinatingmeetings, events, research projects, or collaborative initiatives; and workingon projects involving multiple organizations, departments, or externalpartners. One (1) year of experience with public records, research methods,data-informed reporting, election-related issues, journalism, civicinformation, elections, voting access, public policy, or community-centeredresearch.

About The University of Southern Mississippi

Since our founding in 1910, The University of SouthernMississippi has remained dedicated to preparingstudents for success. We deliver programs to more than 13,000 studentsin Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across theMississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. Weare a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, earning distinction as one ofthe nation's leading research institutions.
Southern Miss is known for pioneering work inpolymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, and bringinglanguage to children with communication disorders. We are also a nationalleader in a broad range of disciplines, including cybersecurity, hydrography,nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development, among others.
We produce graduates ready to enterfields that are leading the way in emerging technologies through programs suchas computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We’re developing the next generation ofbusiness leaders, while also responding to critical workforce shortages byproducing skilled professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition ofexcellence in the arts, we are one of only 36 public institutions in the nationaccredited in four major areas of the arts. Home to the Golden Eagles, ourstudent-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports. With a culture marked by passion andpersistence, Southern Miss is delivering graduates who are ready for life. For more information, visit www.usm.edu .

The University of Southern Mississippi is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. EOE/VETS/DISABILITY.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Southern Mississippi is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its service, programs, and activities.
If reasonable accomodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other beneifts and privileges of employment, please contact:

The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity & Labor Regulatory Compliance

[e-mail]

McLemore Hall (MCL) 310 | 118 College Drive #5111 | Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Phone: [phone] | Fax: [phone] | TTY/TDD: 1.800.582.2233

Employment Notices

Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. Learn more about employer requirements and your right to work below.

If you have questions, please email the Human Resources department at [e-mail].

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

The University of Southern Mississippi is committed to the safety and security of the USM community. The annual federal required compliancedocument which contains policy statements and crime statistics for theUniversity is available on the UPD website at http://www.usm.edu/police/. You may also request a copy by contacting the University PoliceDepartment at Bond Hall, 1st Floor West, Hattiesburg, MS 39406 [phone]. The policy statements address the University's policies, procedures and programs concerning safety and security, for example, policies for responding to emergency situations and sexual offenses. Three years' of statistics are included for certain types of crimes that were reported to have occurred on campus, in or on off-campus buildingsor property owned or controlled by the University and on publicproperty within or immediately adjacent to the campus.