Development Operations Associate

Title: Development Operations Associate

Employment Status: Full-time

Reports To: Executive Director

Supervises: None

Compensation: $63,000 starting salary, plus eligibility for monthly bonuses

Job Summary: The Development Operations Associate provides essential operational, research, and administrative support to Public News Service’s membership and development teams. This role focuses on strengthening systems that support new member cultivation and membership renewals, without directly soliciting funds or managing donor relationships independently.

The Development Operations Associate plays a key behind-the-scenes role by conducting prospect research, managing schedules and calendars, maintaining data accuracy across systems, and supporting follow-up and communications workflows. This position is ideal for someone who is detail-oriented, highly organized, and interested in national newsroom operations.

This position is part of the Public News Service bargaining unit, represented by the Minnesota Newspaper & Communications Guild TNG-CWA Local 37002.

Key Responsibilities

• Development & Membership Support

  • Conduct prospect and organizational research as directed by development and membership staff

  • Prepare background materials and research briefs to support cultivation and renewal efforts

  • Assist with tracking member engagement activities (meetings, calls, emails, renewals)

• Database & Systems Management

  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in donor/membership databases, including:

    • Contact information

    • Conversation and interaction notes

    • Task reminders and follow-ups

    • Engagement history

  • Enter and update data related to membership, development, and outreach activities

  • Assist with data cleanup projects, missing data research, and quality control checks

  • Generate internal lists, reports, or summaries as requested

• Calendar, Scheduling & Workflow Support

  • Coordinate calendars and schedules for development and membership staff, including:

    • Conversations, whether zoom, phone, or otherwise

    • Follow-ups

    • Internal reminders

  • Set up meetings or “conversations” with donors, members, and prospects as directed, and respond to inquiries and other correspondence on behalf of development and membership staff

  • Support follow-up workflows by preparing and sending reminders, task lists, or status updates

• Communications & Administrative Support

  • Assist with preparation of non-solicitation communications such as:

    • Meeting confirmations

    • Thank-you or follow-up emails drafted by senior staff

    • Internal coordination messages

  • Help track timelines related to memberships, grants, and donor engagement

  • Support ongoing documentation of development and membership processes

• Collaboration & General Support

  • Work closely with development, membership, and operations staff to ensure smooth coordination

  • Assist with maintaining internal metrics and documentation related to development activities

  • Participate in cross-team projects related to outreach, research, or data management

  • Perform other related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• At least 2 years of experience in administrative support, database management, prospect research, or development operations

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy

• Experience working with databases, CRMs, or similar systems

• Ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and workflows simultaneously

• Comfort working with a fully remote team

• Clear written communication skills

• High level of discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive information

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a membership-based organization or in sales or development operations

• Familiarity with donor research tools, public records, or databases

• Experience supporting development or membership operations without direct solicitation

• Comfort coordinating calendars, schedules, and correspondence across multiple staff members

• Familiarity with public interest journalism or mission-driven organizations

Who We Are

Public News Service (PNS) is a public interest newswire with a national reach, delivering credible, independent reporting through thousands of media outlets. We are committed to supporting strong local journalism and serving diverse communities through accessible, high-quality news.

PNS is deeply committed to fostering a transparently inclusive workplace environment. People of color, women, people with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.