Sr Mgr, Community Connections, WTMJ

TMJ4 News; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

TMJ4 News in Milwaukee, WI seeks a Senior Manager of Community Connections to serve as the station’s main liaison with civic, nonprofit, business, education and government leaders. You will turn community insights into stronger journalism, partnerships that matter, and events people show up for, like town halls and public forums.

You will lead the newsroom’s daily community engagement, ensure audience questions and concerns are answered promptly, and coordinate cross‑functional outreach across

Qualifications

• BS/BA in related discipline or equivalent years of experience preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in community engagement, journalism, nonprofit leadership, communications, public affairs, partnership development, government relations, or related fields.

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

Community listening

Strategic thinking

Public speaking

Cross-functional influence

Project management

Empathy & diplomacy

Independent work

MS Office & CRM

Customer service mindset

Education

BS/BA in related discipline or equivalent years of experience

Tools

CRM platforms

Collaboration tools

Job description

WTMJ, the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, owned by The E.W. Scripps Company, is searching for a Senior Manager of Community Connections. You'll be the station's main link to the community, building trusted relationships with civic, nonprofit, business, education and government leaders. You'll turn community insights into stronger journalism, partnerships that matter and events people show up for, like town halls and public forums. You'll also lead the newsroom's daily community engagement and make sure audience questions, story tips and concerns get a fast, thoughtful response. If you love connecting people and making a real local impact, we want to hear from you.

From the lakefront and the Riverwalk to Brewers games and summer festivals, Milwaukee is a city with big energy and a lot of heart. It has historic neighborhoods, a thriving food and arts scene and easy access to Lake Michigan, so there's always something to explore in the Cream City.

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 fields

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

SCRIPPS’ COMMITMENT TO A CULTURE THAT CREATES CONNECTION:

At Scripps, we are committed to a culture that reflects the audiences and communities we serve.We are intentional about creating anenvironmentwhereemployees, our audiences and other stakeholders feel valued and inspiredto reach their full potential and create connections. To successfully deliver on this commitment, we must understand and reflect the values and perspectives those around us embody. That process begins by looking inward to build and celebrate a respectful workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging and connection. By continuing to cultivate an environment where all employees have a fair chance to succeed, are included, valued, and seen, we will strengthen the connections that drive positive business impact and align with our core purpose.

ABOUT SCRIPPS:

The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating connection. As one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of more than 60 stations in 40+ markets. Scripps reaches households across the U.S. with national news outlet Scripps News and popular entertainment brands ION, ION Plus, ION Mystery, Bounce, Grit and Laff. Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Scripps Sports serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach of up to 100% of TV households. Founded in 1878, Scripps is the steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee and its longtime motto is: "Give light and the people will find their own way."

As an equal employment opportunity employer, The E.W. Scripps Company and its affiliates do not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, color, religion, age, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, citizenship or national origin, and military membership or veteran status, or on any other basis which would be in violation of any applicable federal, state or local law. Furthermore, the company will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship for the company.