Gaming and New Technologies Researcher

POSITION TITLE: Gaming and New Technologies Researcher

REPORTS TO: Director, Strategy and Operations, CTS

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: None

LOCATION: Anywhere ADL has an office

Grade/Class: Grade E, Exempt, PSA-Eligible

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:

ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

As a member of the Center for Technology and Society (CTS) team and a member of ADL’s cross-organizational tech policy group, you will continue to build on ADL’s leadership in advocating for respectful and inclusive online gaming spaces for all people. You will also explore and build strategies related to the future of online digital spaces and the way ADL can best make a difference in those emerging spaces. As full-time staff at ADL focused on gaming, you will manage gaming company relationships and key research outputs such as the CTS annual survey of hate and harassment in online games while working to expand CTS’ portfolio of gaming research and advocacy. Outside of gaming, you will also track trends in new and emerging digital social spaces. You will identify opportunities to advance ADL’s mission as those spaces grow and develop, researching the potential harms in those spaces, building relationships with the companies who are creating them and producing materials related to these spaces as needed.

Primary

• Act as lead author on major ADL reports and initiatives around online gaming, such as the survey of hate and harassment in online multiplayer games or other work.
• Manage external researchers engaged in games related research on behalf of ADL
• Analyze gaming industry trends, company policies, processes and statements, writing short form public pieces as well as background and briefing materials for ADL staff and outside stakeholders
• Analyze external research reports from civil society and academic researchers, statements from gaming companies, and external advocacy campaigns; prepare summaries and debriefs
• Contribute to strategy about how ADL can best impact new and emerging online digital spaces, and lead the operationalizing of those strategies
• Build and maintain relationships with gaming and new technology companies, including participating in advocacy meetings as ADL’s representative
• Coordinate incident reporting escalation to gaming and new technology platforms

Secondary

• Appear, speak publicly, and organize events at both major gaming and new tech industry and community events, raising awareness of the work ADL is doing on gaming within the industry and community
• Support legislative efforts and lobbying, including preparing testimony and managing relationships with legislative staffers

Skills:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the game industry and community, especially as relates to online games as social spaces, including subjects such as content moderation, hate speech, toxicity/abuse, safety, reporting metrics, transparency, etc.
• Experience managing and executing complex multi-stakeholder projects
• Commitment to civil rights advocacy, including fighting antisemitism, racism, misogyny, and other forms of hate and oppression
• Strong written/verbal skills
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Strong public speaking skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally across a variety of teams and types of expertise.
• Deep knowledge of new and emerging digital social spaces such as social VR and AR
• Knowledge of the legislative landscape relative to online spaces

Work Experience:

• The ideal candidate has 3+ years of related work experience in tech advocacy/policy, game research, game design, or games journalism.

Education: 

• BA degree in relevant field/and or equivalent work experience (e.g., game studies, sociology, anthropology, political science, science and technology studies, communication, media studies, information studies)
• MA in social science or tech policy or equivalent work experience in civil society, industry, or journalism is a big plus.

Work Environment: 

• ADL COVID-19 Protocol (updated periodically): ADL is adhering to public health guidance regarding COVID-19. ADL will require that all employees are vaccinated with exceptions for medical and religious accommodations. ADL is requiring proof of vaccination. ADL is a hybrid environment; this role may require 3 days in the office.

Compensation: 

• This position has a salary range of $43,000 to $75,000.  Please note that actual salaries are commensurate with experience and reflect the budget for a given position, and since ADL has a location-based compensation structure, there may be a different range for candidates in other locations. For an overview of our total rewards package, please visit https://www.adl.org/about/careers.

ADL values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of underrepresented ethnic groups, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. ADL is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment, hiring, promotions and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment shall be maintained in a manner which does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or military status, or in violation of any applicable Federal, state or local laws.    

ADL will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation to support the interview process, please contact Talent & Knowledge at talentacquisition@adl.org.

ADL will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable State, Local, and Federal laws. 

The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job, nor is it to be interpreted as a contract for employment.

Please submit a cover letter and resume