Description
CITAP, a research center examining issues of democracy, technology, and society at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is seeking an Executive Director to join us and provide innovative and visionary leadership. The position will report to the Dean of the School of Information and Library Science (SILS).
About SILS and CITAP
SILS seeks to advance the profession and practice of librarianship and information science, to prepare students for careers in the field of information and library science, and to make significant contributions to the study of information.
Located within SILS, the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP) is a research center dedicated to understanding the growing impact of the internet, social media, and other forms of digital information sharing in the context of the people who design, use, and govern them. CITAP conducts original research that illuminates how people, technology, and power intersect. Our topics of study include: how inequalities are coded into new technology systems, networked communities and how people come together online, platform governance, and identity and disinformation. We take a holistic approach grounded in history, society, culture, and politics to the study of technology platforms and information systems.
The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP) is an interdisciplinary center that brings together principal investigators from SILS, the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, and the College of Arts and Science’s Department of Communication to address the roles mediated information plays in globally connected, digitally mediated social systems. CITAP’s research team of faculty, postdoctoral researchers, visiting faculty, and graduate and undergraduate students will research questions of relevance to information quality, with a particular focus on algorithms, misinformation, polarization, propaganda, and political institutions. CITAP will also work closely with the School of Law and the UNC Center for Media Law and Policy. CITAP is committed to making research and data publicly available to inform technological development, journalistic best practices, and policymaking.
About the role
The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP) is seeking a dynamic, motivated Executive Director (ED) to provide innovative and visionary leadership for a research center examining issues of democracy, technology, and society at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The ED will provide strategic leadership to advance CITAP’s goals. To this end, s/he will:
- collaborate with the CITAP Principal Investigators to determine and realize strategic research and outreach priorities
- represent CITAP’s mission and research to a broad set of audiences including academics, media, and the public
- set development goals and interface with existing and potential funders
- Maintain and uphold the day-to-day operations of CITAP, including supervising staff, coordinating faculty and students, fundraising, strategic planning, budget management, communications, and internal and external programming.
This is not a research position, and the ED is not expected to conduct original research.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
- Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent)
- For candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity or comparable background in independent academic or instructional activities, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution
- This experience may be related to the direction/oversight of programs that focus the academic and research resources of a higher education institution towards community or regional issues.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
- Demonstrated leadership skills as well as the ability to think, plan, and execute strategically
- Ability to manage a team or program effectively, establish objectives and priorities, and achieve individual and team goals
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, multi stakeholder projects and plan and manage events
- Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks
- Experience managing budgets
- Understanding of the environment and culture of a competitive public research University
- Outstanding oral and written communication skills, including public speaking
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
- Experience with fundraising and development
- MA/MS, JD, or PhD preferred, in communication, sociology, computer science, information science, political science, information policy, public policy, journalism, or related field desired.
- Understanding of social science research methods, including quantitative, qualitative, interpretive, and computational approaches.
- Ability to travel nationally and internationally from Chapel Hill to represent CITAP as needed at conferences and stakeholder meetings.
- Strong understanding of the social impact of modern digital technology.
- Experience working with universities, academic research, civil society organizations, technology companies, and major foundations.
- Demonstrated record of securing funding through development and grant writing.
- Experience with donor and foundation relations, donor cultivation, and identifying new sources of funding.
- Operational and programmatic experience.
- Experience planning and coordinating events or initiatives, including logistics, promotion, and outreach.
- Conducting internal and external communications, such as social media, newsletters, and web content.
- Experience leading knowledgeable subject matter experts.
- Leadership experience in: fundraising, development, philanthropy, successful grant writing, non-profit, advocacy, government, civil society organizations, policy or project management within technology corporations, or an academic research department, institute, or center.
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