Manager, Inclusive Workplace Programs

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Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

The Manager of Inclusive Workplace Programs is a critical execution role responsible for translating NPR's overarching DEI strategy into practical, high-impact workplace initiatives. This role bridges the gap between high-level strategy and everyday action by developing, facilitating, and managing programs, learning experiences, and practical tools that support staff, supervisors, and organizational leaders.

A central focus of this position is serving as the primary operational partner and advisor for NPR’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), assisting them with governance, budgetary compliance, and annual charters. By providing tactical coaching and structured frameworks, the Manager of Inclusive Workplace Programs empowers our staff communities and helps operationalize psychological safety and inclusive practices across all divisions.

In a rapidly shifting cultural and operational environment, this role requires high emotional intelligence and the agility to adapt workplace programs to new realities. The Manager of Inclusive Workplace Programs will help NPR navigate these evolving landscapes thoughtfully and constructively, ensuring that our programmatic support remains inclusive, legally compliant, balanced, and deeply accessible to all staff members across the organization.

• →Program Implementation & Execution: Design, launch, and manage measurable, organization-wide DEI programs and initiatives that directly support NPR's strategic goals.
• →Learning Facilitation: Partner with the People Team’s Learning and Development to provide recommendations that strengthen the inclusion, equity, accessibility, and cultural competency of broader organizational trainings. 
• →Resource & Toolkit Development: Create practical, actionable guides, checklists, and toolkits that empower people managers to easily embed inclusive leadership practices into daily team workflows.
• →ERG Operational Advisory: Serve as the central point of contact and operational advisor for ERG leaders, guiding them through charter development, strategic goal-setting, and budget reconciliation.
• →Manager and Team Enablement: Collaborate alongside People Partners to advise departmental leadership on localized belonging efforts, providing impartial observations and tactical remedies to enhance unit-level inclusivity.
• →Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with People Partners, Talent Acquisition, and Internal Communications to integrate inclusive practices into recruitment, retention, and organization-wide messaging.
• →Impact Tracking & Metrics: Establish and monitor quantitative and qualitative KPIs for DEI programs and ERGs, using surveys, participation rates, and feedback loops to measure overall program health.
• →Reporting & Insights: Compile clear, comprehensive progress reports for leadership and stakeholders, highlighting successes and recommending tactical adjustments.

• Proven DEI Implementation Experience: 5+ years of professional experience directly coordinating, managing, or executing workplace DEI initiatives.
• ERG Operational Knowledge: Demonstrated history of advising, organizing, or leading Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), affinity networks, or comparable community-led workplace groups.
• Effective Program Facilitation: Proven ability to facilitate interactive workshops, moderate sensitive dialogue, and lead presentations confidently across both virtual and in-person settings.
• Collaborative Stakeholder Management: Experience working cross-functionally with diverse stakeholder groups, including managers, staff representatives, and executive sponsors, to drive project outcomes.
• Actionable Project Planning: Demonstrated track record of taking high-level strategic objectives and translating them into structured, step-by-step project plans with measurable milestones.
• Practical Problem Solving: Experience identifying structural program barriers and utilizing collaborative problem-solving skills to recommend and implement solutions.

• Inclusion Certifications: Formal certification or training in DEI methodology, inclusive leadership coaching, or professional workshop facilitation.
• Media or Public Service Experience: Previous professional experience operating within a media organization, creative industry, or mission-driven public service environment.

• Bachelor's degree in Organizational Development, Social Sciences, Communications, or a related field, OR equivalent work experience.

• NPR Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. Some aspects of this role require duties better performed at an NPR facility. The employee will be required to be in the office at the Washington, D.C. location at least 10 days a year. The employee must also reside in the D.C. Metropolitan Area.

• Strategic Translation: Ability to translate complex organizational goals into simple, actionable steps and project-management structures.
• Inclusive Coaching: Strong skill in providing constructive coaching and guiding managers on how to cultivate psychological safety within their teams.
• Empathy & Candor: Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven capacity to build strong, trusted relationships across diverse groups while ensuring accountability.
• Data Literacy: Comfort collecting, synthesizing, and interpreting qualitative feedback (surveys, focus groups) and quantitative metrics to continually iterate and improve programs.
• Organizational Navigation: Strong capability to manage administrative processes, budget tracking, and governance guidelines within structured systems.

• This is a full-time, exempt position.

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