LION is Hiring a Membership Education Consultant (Canada)

Request for Qualifications

Status: Independent contractor
Reporting to: Director of Programming, Member Education

Project Type: Short-term contract, with variable working hours, from roughly April–May 2023

Compensation: $7,000 USD (An estimated 35 hours across two months at an effective rate of $200/hour)

About LION Publishers

Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional journalism association for independent news publishers. While most of our 450+ members across the U.S. and Canada run local news businesses, we also have members who serve larger regions and specific identity-based communities across geographies. LION provides teaching, resources and community to independent news entrepreneurs as they build and develop sustainable businesses. One of our core values is being people-centered, and here are some ways we build that culture for our staff. 

Project Summary

We’re looking for a Canadian-based contractor with specific expertise in the operations and financial sides of running independent news businesses in Canada. This person will update and adapt several of our existing courses and resources for our Canadian-based LION members to ensure they are relevant in a Canadian context.

Project Scope of Work

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Update “How to Create a Staffing Plan” NEA course for a Canadian audience
• Deliverable 2: Update “HR Best Practices” NEA course for a Canadian audience
• Deliverable 3: Update “Knowing When You’re Ready to Hire” NEA course for a Canadian audience 
• Deliverable 4: Update “The LION Financial Planning Workbook” NEA course for a Canadian audience
• Deliverable 5: Update “The LION Operational Readiness Handbook” NEA course for a Canadian audience
• Deliverable 6: Update “Financial Planning Workbook Template” NEA resource for a Canadian audience
• Deliverable 7: Update “Essential Documents Checklist” NEA course for a Canadian audience

Milestones

• Within first 30 days
  • Complete half of deliverables so they are ready for final edits
• By the end of 60 days
  • Complete rest of deliverables so they are ready for final edits

LION is an Equal Opportunity Partner

LION believes that a team with diversity of backgrounds and experiences will generate the most innovative ideas and ultimately do the best work in support of our mission. This is why we welcome contractors, vendors, staff and board members who contribute to a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment. We understand diversity as multi-dimensional and intersectional, encompassing race and ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, class, geography, and more.

We know there are great candidates who might not check all the boxes listed below or who possess important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. 

Skills and Qualifications for The Project

• Required:
  • You have direct experience working with or for an independent news publication based in Canada
  • You are committed to providing accurate, relevant and updated information as it relates to running an independent news business
  • You understand how to break down complex concepts and ideas into step-by-step, actionable guidance
  • You are comfortable speaking/recording yourself on camera to teach specific concepts and curriculum
  • You are able to research specific questions you may not know the answers to
  • You can stay highly organized and clearly communicate with the LION team about the status of your deliverables, including any clarifying questions you have about the end product
• Nice to have:
  • You have taught a class or have experience with curriculum or resource development
    

Skills and Expectations for Collaboration with the LION Team

• Work in a way that upholds and reflects our organizational values: Being data-informed, equitable and inclusive, people-centered, systems thinkers, transparent and iterative
• Use digital tools and platforms to stay organized, communicate transparently, and collaborate with team members remotely 
• Collaborate strategically with others, clearly defining processes for decision making
• Give and receive constructive feedback to help the team produce its best work
• Celebrate our wins and learning moments
• Take on an experimental mindset and demonstrate flexibility to iterate on our work, systems, and processes 
• Be willing and able to ask for help when needed, and demonstrate an ability to learn and grow

Application Requirements

Submit your materials using this form by April 30, 2023. 

• Your resume/portfolio
• What experience do you have working with or for an independent news business in Canada?
• Provide a simple explanation of why it’s important to have media liability insurance in Canada.
• How would you measure your success in completing the adaptation of existing courses and materials to a Canadian context?
• What is your preferred way of working with the LION team in terms of frequency of communication, type of communication and your general availability?
• What questions would you ask the LION programming team about these deliverables before committing to this contract? 

If you have questions about this project, reach out to Deborah Brown at [email protected].