Associate Director of Research, Media & Entertainment Institute

POSITION TITLE: Associate Director of Research, Media & Entertainment Institute 

REPORTS TO: Director, Media & Entertainment Institute 

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Potentially 1-3 FTEs or interns in future 

LOCATION: Anywhere ADL has an office, with preference for Los Angeles 

Grade/Class: Grade F, 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:

ADL is seeking an Associate Director to lead and conduct research for its new Media & Entertainment Institute. The Institute is a dedicated center focused on engaging and educating entertainment, media, and related industries on antisemitism and the Jewish people. The Institute will promote more diverse and nuanced representations of Jewish people in film, television, and other forms of entertainment. The Institute will also lead efforts to analyze bias in news media about Jewish people, antisemitism, and Israel and promote more well-rounded, accurate coverage within journalism. The Associate Director will write reports and articles for public distribution, produce analysis documents for internal use, and participate in the planning and execution of responses to research findings. The Associate Director will also conduct presentations and trainings for industry leaders and groups. 

Primary:

• Lead research efforts to produce external-facing reports about Jewish representation, portrayals, and antisemitism in film, television, and all forms of media.
• Lead research efforts about bias in news media and journalism related to coverage of Jewish people, antisemitism, and Israel
• Support creation and publication of guidelines and best practices that can be adopted by producers, writers, and agencies in Hollywood.
• Partner with other leading media and entertainment advocacy organizations on research, best practices, and programming.
• Gather information from a wide variety of primary and secondary sources, including third party research sources, and others.
• Create written reports and articles, and deliver verbal presentations and trainings for external partners, industry leadership, and the public.
• Ensure that research materials and findings are properly archived for use by current and future ADL employees.
• Stay up-to-date on industry trends as well as films, TV shows, and other content being released.

Secondary:

• Help develop qualitative and quantitative analysis of subject area, potentially with the use of a range of technical tools.
• Support the development of mechanisms to uplift and recognize positive efforts throughout media and entertainment.
• Work in close collaboration with the Los Angeles Office and Brand & Marketing.

Skills:  

• Ability to write with target audience in mind and shape research for maximum impact in the media and entertainment industry
• Ability to switch between quantitative and qualitative analytic lenses
• Ability to thrive in a demanding, fast-paced, multi-tasking environment
• Impact-oriented with experience operating in a startup environment
• High level of professionalism, maturity, and interpersonal and organizational skills
• Excellent analytical, verbal, and writing skills
• Strong work ethic and ability to drive initiatives to achieve results
• Shared values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Energized by ADL’s mission and work

Work Experience:  

• Extensive experience in research or academia required
• The ideal candidate has extensive knowledge about film and television, with knowledge or curiosity about Jewish characters, Jewish themes, and antisemitism in all forms of media and entertainment
• The ideal candidate has knowledge about news media and journalism, with knowledge or curiosity about bias in coverage of Jewish topics, antisemitism, and Israel
• The ideal candidate has experience collaborating with external parties and organizations on joint research initiatives and partnership building

 Education:  

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; graduate degree preferred

Work Environment: 

• ADL is a hybrid environment, though this role may be performed remotely.

Compensation:

• This position has a salary range of $50,000 to $85,000. This salary range is reflective of a position based in Los Angeles, California. 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.