Podcast Overview

 National Park After Dark: Hosted by two friends who share a passion for the wilderness and a fascination with what can go wrong there, each week hosts Danielle and Cassie explore the darker side of our National Parks and visit these treasured places in a whole new way – because behind the iconic arches and towering trees lie layered histories, grisly encounters, extraordinary stories of survival, tragic ends and so much more. But it isn’t always chills and thrills. By sharing inspiring tales and their desire for protecting our planet’s wild places, they hope the show will inspire listeners to lace up their own hiking boots and take a walk into the wild to create meaningful adventures of their own.

 National Park After Dark has been featured in The New York Times, is the recipient of Outdoor Media’s People’s Choice Award for Best Podcast of 2024, and is consistently ranked #1 in the Wilderness All Time chart on Goodpods.

 First airing in January of 2021, National Park After Dark has accrued over 200 episodes and banked over 42 million downloads. Weekly episodes cover stories based in National Parks and public lands in the US and beyond. Story themes include but are not limited to historic events, human-wildlife encounters, stories of survival, natural disasters and more while simultaneously emphasizing the importance of respectful park visitation, indigenous acknowledgement and conservation efforts. Some episodes are also dedicated to host-led interviews with NPS personnel, authors, biologists, filmmakers, leaders in outdoor sports and more. 

 Position Overview

 We’re seeking a creative and analytical researcher and writer to assist in crafting compelling narratives for weekly episodes of National Park After Dark. This position reports directly to founders and hosts Danielle and Cassie and you will regularly interact with them and other members of the National Park After Dark ecosystem, including but not limited to: editors, contract-based contributors, vendors, sponsors and guests.

 The expected workload is 2-3 episodes per month. Though not always consecutive, time dedication is typically 10 hours per episode. 

 Responsibilities 

 Collaborate with the podcast team to develop and structure weekly episode narratives, offering insight on story framing and tone.

• Assist in identifying and organizing story threads from research materials.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions to generate ideas and approaches for storytelling.
• Conduct thorough research to identify timely and relevant stories within the outdoor space from survival accounts, historical perspectives, human-wildlife interactions and more 
• Research podcast guests, provide detailed notes of such, and write thoughtful interview questions
• Provide feedback on story pacing, structure, and clarity during the editing process.
• Communicate effectively via email and video conferencing in a remote work environment.
• Verify facts, subjects and sources to ensure accuracy and credibility
• Develop deep expertise and source lists 
• Provide detailed notes, summaries, and background context for each story pitch
• Meet deadlines and manage time efficiently.
• Maintain an organized system for tracking sources, updates, and research materials
• Attend weekly meetings remotely as needed

 Compensation

 Episode Fee: $1,000

 Advancement Opportunities

 This role is for an initial six month term, however, if we establish a successful working relationship, we are open to discussing a permanent position. 

 Essential Job Functions

• Past experience writing for audio 
• Working knowledge of Google Suite
• Strong communication and research skills
• Reviewing and researching available archival materials
• Basic understanding of recording, editing, and transcription software. This role does not require editing work, but does require an understanding of how the tools operate.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Experience with file storage, and best practices: Google Drive, WeTransfer, Dropbox 
• Clear, proactive communicator
• Demonstrated writing skills. We will be asking for samples.
• One or more years of researching, reporting, professional journalism or applicable experience
• Excellent research, writing, and fact-checking skills
• Proven ability to identify and originate stories, report accurately and quickly, and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated knowledge and capacity to use public documents, internet research, documentaries, books and other reporting methods to provide material to inform stories
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively
• Comfort engaging with diverse perspectives and sensitive topics
• A commitment to ethical, respectful and inclusive storytelling

Who You Are

 Passionate about storytelling, particularly focusing on themes centered around the outdoors

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify compelling narrative elements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively in a remote setting.
• Detail-oriented and organized, with a knack for meeting deadlines.

Working Conditions

• Remote work – employee controls working environment
• Labor is akin to that of an “office environment”, with frequent, computer, mouse and keyboard use

 To Apply 

 Send your resume, a brief cover letter explaining your passion for the outdoors, and two examples of your work (articles, research summaries, or similar materials) to assistant@npadpodcast.com with “RESEARCH ROLE APPLICANT” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, people of color, and those with disabilities. National Park After Dark follows Equal Opportunity Employment Commission guidelines. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation.