Director, Research and Monitoring

POSITION TITLE: Director, Research and Monitoring
REPORTS TO: Senior Director, Ratings and Assessments Institute (RAI) and Special Initiatives
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: None
LOCATION: Anywhere ADL has offices
Grade/Class: Grade G, Exempt, PSA Eligible

About the Organization

ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913 to protect the Jewish people, ADL works to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment to all. In the face of rising antisemitism and extremism, we protect, advocate, and educate, through a mix of programs and services using the latest innovations and technology, and seek to create a world without hate. More at www.adl.org.

Primary Function

The Director, Research and Monitoring leads ADL’s research and monitoring of antisemitism and extremism across American public life, including in government at the federal, state, and local levels; in media and new media; advocacy organizations and networks; and the institutions and platforms that shape public debate. The role builds the factual foundation for ADL’s assessments, trackers, and public education work.

Working at the intersection of research, judgment, and technology, the Director will design and direct systems for continuous monitoring of antisemitism as it appears in public life, decide what merits tracking and what a finding means, and turn a large public record into rigorous, usable analysis. RAI is a growing unit, and this role will help shape what we build. Specific priorities and products will evolve as the work develops.

All work is conducted on a strictly nonpartisan, issue-based basis consistent with ADL’s status as a 501(c)(3) organization.

Primary: 

• Conduct and oversee original, in-depth research on public figures, government actors, legislation and policy, organizations, and networks relevant to ADL’s mission.
• Maintain rigorous sourcing and documentation standards. Every finding must be traceable to a primary, verifiable source.
• Produce profiles, briefs, chronologies, landscape analyses, and analytic memos calibrated to the audience, and supply the underlying research and structured data for RAI’s assessment products and public-facing tools.
• Exercise judgment about which findings carry genuine public significance, and support rapid response on short deadlines.
• Coordinate closely with colleagues across Public Affairs, Communications, the Center on Extremism, the Center for Antisemitism Research, Legal, Policy, and Regional teams, including to ensure research and publication practices meet ADL’s standards for accuracy, fairness, and defensibility.
• Operate at all times within 501(c)(3) parameters, and exercise discretion regarding work in progress, sources, tools, and internal deliberations.

This job description provides a general overview of the role and its key responsibilities. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, and ADL reserves the right to assign additional tasks as needed.

Skills:

• Significant experience conducting in-depth research on public figures, institutions, legislation or policy, organizations, or networks. Relevant backgrounds include research, policy, advocacy, government, campaigns, investigative journalism, legal, or comparable fields.
• Fluency with public-record research sources and methods, including official and legislative records, publicly available disclosure and nonprofit filings, media and broadcast archives, research databases, and online and social platforms.
• Exceptional written communication. Able to compress a large evidentiary record into a clear, tight, well-sourced document a colleague or partner can act on immediately.
• Sound analytic and editorial judgment. Able to distinguish a finding that is merely new or true from one that meaningfully advances public understanding or warrants organizational attention.
• Strong understanding of antisemitism and anti-Zionism, including how they manifest in public discourse, policy debates, and institutional settings.
• Meticulous accuracy. ADL’s published research is closely scrutinized; the standard is zero avoidable errors.

Preferred:

• Experience standing up, managing, or improving ongoing research, monitoring, or tracking function, including technology-enabled or automated tools. Software engineering experience is not required.
• Working knowledge of the contemporary American civic and political landscape, including government institutions, advocacy networks, media, and online information environments.
• Experience delivering complex research projects on ambitious deadlines and working across functions with communications, legal, policy, or technical colleagues.

Attributes:

• Energized by ADL’s mission and work.
• Decisive and results-oriented; a problem-solver, not a problem-identifier.
• Systems-minded and able to turn ad hoc research needs into repeatable, durable processes.
• Curious, thorough, and persistent, with a strong instinct for where the record is incomplete.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and comfort operating in dynamic, evolving environments.
• Discreet and disciplined, with steady judgment under pressure.
• Collaborative team player committed to contributing to a culture where everyone thrives.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.

Work Environment:

• ADL is a hybrid environment; this role will require 3 days in the office.

Compensation:

• This position has a salary range of $110,000 to $130,000. This salary range is reflective of a position based in New York, New York. 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 aims to create a working environment where every employee can thrive professionally.  Our mission-driven work is best accomplished in an environment that supports belonging. ADL values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages people of all races, religions, nationalities, genders, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, 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 the People & Culture department 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.