TORONTO, Sept. 30, 2021 – The National Newspaper Awards is seeking a new Program Director to replace Sharon Hockin, who is stepping down at the end of the organization’s current fiscal year, next June. We are starting the search for her replacement now, with the intention that the next Program Director will work alongside Hockin as well as the organization’s outgoing and incoming Executive Directors, Paul Woods and Bev Wake, for a period of transition and knowledge transfer starting in January.
This is a part-time role with variable work requirements throughout the year. The Program Director must be fully available during the month of January when contest entries are received, reviewed and approved and the judging process begins. For the rest of the year the role is part-time, with only a modest time commitment required during summer months. In addition to January, the busiest periods are the six to eight weeks before winners are announced in early May, and early autumn.
We are seeking a highly organized, creative and personable individual with extensive experience in administration at a senior level. The role is ideally suited to someone who prefers a part-time role and/or is able to balance other professional commitments with the NNA operation and timetable. Functionality in both English and French would be an asset but is not required. A good understanding of journalism would be ideal. For administrative and logistical reasons, candidates based in the Toronto area will be given strongest consideration, but we will consider applications from any permanent resident of Canada.
The National Newspaper Awards program is committed to improving the diversity and inclusiveness of its operation, and working towards ensuring that future entrants and winners reflect Canada’s diverse nature. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, abilities and perspectives.
Role Description
The Program Director of the National Newspaper Awards has lead responsibility for administrative and financial operations of Canada’s most prestigious and important journalism awards program.
Reporting to the Chair of the Board of Governors, and indirectly to the Executive Director, the Program Director serves as the organization’s “chief administrative officer,” with overall responsibility for ensuring all administrative and financial matters are handled properly and effectively.
The Program Director is required to maintain complete confidentiality on all aspects of the organization’s operation, and to make all reasonable efforts to maintain goodwill among all stakeholders, including individual entrants, organizations that enter the contest, sponsors, service providers, members of the Board of Governors and other individuals and organizations that interact in any way with the NNA organization.
Duties, responsibilities and accountabilities include but are not limited to:
This is the 72nd year of the awards program, which was established in 1949 to encourage excellence and reward achievement in daily newspaper work in Canada. The competition is now open to daily newspapers, news agencies and online news sites approved for entry by the Board of Governors.
Individuals interested in being considered for this position should apply before October 21 to:
Sharon Hockin, Program Director