The International Press Institute (IPI) is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented, and strategically minded project manager to join a growing team delivering media innovation and sustainability programmes worldwide. This role combines network building, training design, partner management, media advisory, project management, and communications.
IPI is growing its investment in media innovation as part of its broader mission to protect press freedom and support independent journalism. This includes the expansion of its funding and training for local, startup, and established media and the Media Innovation Festival, presenting an opportunity to help newsrooms in Europe navigate disruption and build sustainable futures.
The Innovation Projects Manager joins a four-member media innovation and sustainability team, reporting to the Head of Innovation and Media Business. The role leads implementation of IPI’s innovation activities within the EU-funded Media Innovation Europe programme, while also supporting broader global innovation and sustainability work.
The right candidate will
Be digitally fluent and genuinely excited by IPI’s mission to support press freedom and independent journalism, with a clear understanding of the links between media innovation and press freedom.
Bring at least three years of experience in news organisation leadership, innovation facilitation, product development, or audience research and engagement.
Understand the media environment and recognise the risks and opportunities for new and transitioning media.
Be comfortable managing the immediate-term tasks connected to bigger picture goals in a fast-moving environment, with hands-on experience in donor reporting, budget management, and event coordination.
Be able to manage multiple tasks, working with partners in different locations around the world, facing big challenges, and operating in different time zones.
Write and edit with clarity and adaptability across formats and channels. Strong English skills are a must. Additional language skills are a plus.
Be a strategic thinker with fresh ideas about how to engage different audiences in our work in support of sustainable journalism.
Main Tasks
- Lead delivery of IPI’s Media Innovation Europe portfolio, including its incubator, accelerator, and training programmes, supporting new and transitioning media along their journey to innovate, build resilience and grow.
- Manage project implementation, including setting targets, tracking tasks, donor reporting, budget oversight, and expense management, while contributing to fundraising strategy and outreach to grow the programme.
- Manage reporting requirements for donor-funded projects, ensuring timely preparation of all relevant documentation
- Lead coordination of the Media Innovation Europe consortium, including monthly meetings, monitoring cohort-wide deliverables, and maintaining project documentation for midterm and final narrative and financial reports.
- Moderate and grow IPI’s media innovation community of practice through its Local News and Innovation Network.
- Maintain and collaboratively develop curriculum across project cohorts, including regular updates to the e-learning platform and ongoing relationship management with subject-matter experts.
- Manage the application and selection process for flagship activities, working with a jury to ensure a strong, diverse cohort of media organisations for each program.
- Coordinate IPI’s annual media innovation event and contribute to a broader events and media program to share and amplify innovation work.
- Support communications officer by coordinating content schedules (newsletters, social media, multimedia, and blog posts), overseeing promotion of activities, coordinating case studies and newsroom visits, and copy-editing all public-facing content.
- Represent IPI’s innovation work publicly, including speaking at conferences and generally monitoring emerging trends and opportunities in the media innovation space and actively promote IPI’s work within the broader media change ecosystem.
- Work with both emerging and transitioning media organisations to identify industry trends, needs and opportunities for growth and innovation in the sector.
Location and Term
This position is based in Vienna, Austria, consistently ranked among the world’s most liveable cities. Hybrid working arrangements are available. The role is open to all nationalities. Non-EU/EEA candidates offered the position will be supported in obtaining an Austrian work permit.
The start date for this position is June 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Remuneration
Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. IPI salaries are not subject to income tax in Austria. Employees are entitled to participate in Austria’s national health and social insurance programmes.
Annual leave is 25 days, plus Austrian public holidays.
How to apply
Send your application by email to [email protected] with the subject line: “Innovation Projects Manager”
Please include:
- Cover letter (maximum one page) outlining your interest in the role, the skills and strengths you would bring, how you could make a difference, and your top three priorities for media innovation in 2026.
- Current CV, including the names and contact details of at least two professional references.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews on a rolling basis.
About IPI
IPI was founded in 1950 by 34 editors from 15 countries who believed in the power of the free flow of information to promote peace. Today, it is a global network of editors, journalists and media executives from over 100 countries who share a common dedication to quality, independent journalism. Our members include award-winning journalists, Nobel laureates and editors at some of the most prestigious media outlets around the world. Together we work to promote the conditions that allow journalism to fulfil its public function, the most important of which is the media’s ability to operate free from interference and without fear of retaliation. Our mission is to defend media freedom and support independent journalism wherever they are threatened.