Senior Manager, Community Connections - KPAX

Scripps Media, Inc.; Missoula (MT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

KPAX, part of Scripps Media, Inc., seeks a passionate community engagement leader to bridge KPAX with Missoula's civic, nonprofit, business, educational, and government sectors. This role shapes how we listen, collaborate, and report on local needs and opportunities.

You will translate community insight into action that strengthens journalism, deepens trust, and delivers lasting local impact through forums, partnerships, and audience-driven storytelling across our stations.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in related discipline or equivalent years of experience preferred.
• Generally, 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, journalism, nonprofit leadership, communications, public affairs, partnership development, government relations, or related field.
• Valid driver's license, good driving record, and ability to provide proof of insurance with the company required insurance limits.

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, ensuring audience inquiries 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 meaningful 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, while sharing best practices, tracking outcomes, and developing team capabilities.

Skills

Relationship-building

Networking

Public speaking

Strategic thinking

Education

BS/BA or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM platforms

Collaboration tools

Job description

Are you a connector, a listener, and a community champion? KPAX is looking for a passionate and strategic community engagement leader to serve as the station's primary bridge to the people and organizations that define our market. In this role, you'll build trusted relationships across civic, nonprofit, business, educational, and government sectors — translating community insight into action that strengthens our journalism, deepens audience trust, and creates lasting local impact. If you thrive at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and service, this is your opportunity to shape how KPAX shows up for the community it serves.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• 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, ensuring audience inquiries 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 meaningful 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, while sharing best practices, tracking outcomes, and developing team capabilities.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• BS/BA in related discipline or equivalent years of experience preferred
• Generally, 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, journalism, nonprofit leadership, communications, public affairs, partnership development, government relations, or related field
• Valid driver's license, good driving record, and ability to provide proof of insurance with the company required insurance limits

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• 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

OUR TEAM

We have hikers, rock climbers, mountain bikers, kayakers, runners, skiers, gamers, musicians, community leaders, swimmers, and every other mixture of diverse backgrounds, passions, and life experiences. We are a community of welcoming, mission-focused, and lively people who continue to grow as we grow our company and rise to our full potential in every aspect of our business.

WHERE YOU'LL LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY

Missoula, MT where the Clark-Fork River really does run through this vibrant city. Set at the convergence of five mountain ranges, earning Missoula the name of the "hub of five valleys\.