Arizona State University

Director of News + AI Innovation Lab

Arizona State University$110K — $150K *
Media
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with 7 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of experience/training.
  • 10+ years of experience in news organizations, academia, or related digital innovation fields.
  • Experience in launching or building labs, studios or initiatives from inception.
  • Demonstrated ability to build and launch products or tools from concept to execution.
  • Familiarity with ethical technology frameworks, particularly in AI.
  • Strong cross-functional communication skills required.
  • Working knowledge of AI tools in professional environments.

Responsibilities

  • Establish and shape the News + AI Innovation Lab's scope and public presence.
  • Guide implementation of values-driven technology, focusing on responsible AI use.
  • Collaborate with Knight Center colleagues, faculty, and fellows on product development.
  • Lead vision, prioritization, and road mapping for AI initiatives.
  • Manage product iteration, testing, and user feedback.
  • Support long-term planning and partner onboarding processes.

Benefits

  • In-person work environment at ASU's Downtown Phoenix Campus.
  • Engagement with a team involved in cutting-edge research and development.
  • Opportunity to impact the journalism industry through innovative technology solutions.
Full Job Description
Job Profile:
Administrative Operations Specialist 4

Job Family:
Administrative Operations

Time Type:
Full time

Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and seven (7) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Profile Summary:
Provides leadership and support in planning, managing, developing, and evaluating departmental strategy, initiatives and activities.

Job Description:

Salary Range: $110,000 - $150,000 Depending on experience

Position Overview

The Knight Center for the Future of News at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication works to envision and accelerate a stronger future for the news industry. The Center operates as a public-interest research and development hub, combining applied research, experimentation, product development, training and knowledge-sharing.

The Knight Center's work spans three interconnected areas: Journalism x Civics, Business Growth and Emerging Technology Innovation.

The Director of the News + AI Innovation Lab leads the launch and ongoing development of the Center's AI initiative: building tools, programs and partnerships that help the journalism industry navigate the AI era responsibly.

Working with the rest of the Knight Center team, this position owns product vision, prioritization and delivery for initiatives emerging from research and experimentation. We seek someone experienced in launching real products, comfortable with ambiguity and able to operate at the intersection of journalism, research and technology. This is not a teaching position, but it will interface with students and faculty.

Essential Duties
  • Establish and shape the News + AI Innovation Lab, including its scope, partnerships and public presence
  • Guide the implementation of a Principled Innovation approach to values-driven, responsible use of technology, including AI
  • Collaborate closely with the Director of Collaboration and Learning and other Knight Center staff, faculty and fellows - this hands-on product development role leads AI product work but operates as part of a function-led team
  • Lead product vision, prioritization and road mapping across initiatives
  • Manage iteration, testing and user feedback
  • Support implementation, long-term planning and partner onboarding


Desired Qualifications
  • 10+ years of experience working in or with news organizations and academic institutions, or related experience in product development or digital innovation
  • Experience naming, launching or building a lab, studio or initiative from the ground up
  • Demonstrated experience building and launching products or tools from concept to implementation
  • Familiarity with responsible AI or ethical technology frameworks
  • Strong cross-functional communication skills
  • Working knowledge of AI tools and applied technology in professional settings


Working Environment
  • This position requires work in-person at the Cronkite School of ASU's Downtown Phoenix Campus
  • Activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding and manipulating a computer mouse
  • Travel to provide support for operations of the program
  • Required to stand for varying lengths of time
  • Regular activities require ability to quickly change priorities, which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts
  • Communicate professionally to perform essential duties
  • Ability to lift 25 pounds


Driving Requirement:
Driving is not required for this position.

Location:
Campus: Downtown Phoenix

Funding:
No Federal Funding

Instructions to Apply:

Current employees, student workers seeking staff opportunities, and students applying for student worker positions must apply directly through the Workday Jobs Hub.

To be considered, your application must include all of the following attachments:
  • Cover letter
  • Resume or CV


Multiple documents may be uploaded in the attachments section. Alternatively, applicants may combine all required materials into a single PDF for submission. Please ensure uploaded documents are clearly labeled and include your name.

Please ensure your resume includes all employment information in month and year format, for example 6/04 to 8/14, along with job title, job duties, and employer name for each position. Your resume should clearly demonstrate how your experience and background meet the minimum and desired qualifications for this position. Incomplete applications or missing required materials may not be considered.

Important: Do not withdraw your application to make edits. Once an application is withdrawn, it cannot be edited, reactivated, or replaced with a new submission. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact The Office of Human Resources Talent Acquisition before the posting close date.

Graduate Assistant, Intern and part-time positions are counted as half time for experience equivalency, meaning one year equals six months of experience.

Only electronic applications will be accepted for this position. By submitting an application, you confirm that the information provided is accurate and complete.

About Arizona State University

Arizona State University (ASU) is a public research university with its main campus in Tempe, Arizona. It is one of the largest public universities in the United States by enrollment. ASU offers degree programs in more than 800 areas of study, including over 250 undergraduate majors and more than 120 graduate programs. ASU is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities ? Very high research activity". ASU's athletic teams are called the Sun Devils and compete in the Pac-12 Conference. ASU has multiple campuses throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, with four regional campuses and several extension centers.
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