Website Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
This content was reproduced from the employer’s website on September 8, 2022. Please visit their website below for the most up-to-date information about this position.
ABOUT JOINT CENTER
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank, provides compelling and actionable policy solutions to eradicate persistent and evolving barriers to the full freedom of Black people in America. We are the trusted forum for leading experts and scholars to participate in major public policy debates and promote ideas that advance Black communities. We use evidence-based research, analysis, convenings, and strategic communications to support Black communities and a network of allies. Currently, the Joint Center focuses on the future of work in Black communities, the impact of economic policies on Black communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, technology policy and Black communities, and congressional staff diversity.
For more information about the Joint Center: https://jointcenter.org/
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Director, Platform Regulation and Content Moderation, will be an inspirational leader dedicated to leading the Joint Center’s emerging Platform Regulation and Content Moderation program. The Director will be responsible for building the Joint Center’s expertise and influence on key policy issues related to digital platforms affecting Black communities (e.g., disinformation, ad targeting, online anti-Blackness, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act) through research, building, and convening the Joint Center’s network of experts and engaging in public education.
The Director will grow the Joint Center’s program on Platform Regulation and Content Moderation policy program to provide leadership in national policy conversations. The Director will manage the completion of research, engage with the media, educate policymakers, cultivate donors, and provide input on Joint Center messaging related to platform regulation and content moderation.
The Joint Center has a small growing team and operates much like a start-up. The ideal candidate for this position should be entrepreneurial, creative, flexible, and comfortable working in a quickly changing environment. The person will be a critical thinker, a solid communicator, and able to work on a team effectively. The Joint Center is focused on the goal of driving policy change in service to Black communities, and the ideal candidate for this role should be passionate about these issues.
The ideal candidate is also comfortable working internally with a small team, reporting to the Vice President of Policy, and working collaboratively with peers across the organization, including colleagues on the Workforce Policy, Economic Policy, Communications, and Development teams. The Director will interact with various stakeholders, including federal and state policymakers, advocates, national thought leaders, and philanthropists.
Additionally, the Director will embody the Joint Center’s cultural principles, including a deep commitment to Black communities in the United States with an unapologetic focus on and prioritization of the needs and preferences of Black people and disseminating accurate data, research, and solutions that reflect Black interests.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop, implement, and manage the production and distribution of various written products–such as reports, issue briefs, columns, and op-eds–translating complex issues, policies, and analyses into digestible information for different audiences
- Follow developments at relevant agencies, relevant congressional committees, DC technology policy think tanks, advocacy organizations, and private sector (e.g., oversight boards, content moderation departments, civil rights departments) and participate in the platform regulation and content moderation policy debate through op-eds, speaking engagements, meetings, and policy analysis
- Represent the Joint Center in coalitions, with the media, at conferences, and other opportunities for public education on issues of platform regulation and content moderation policy affecting Black communities
- Build, manage, and grow a team of internal and external experts to support and grow the impact of the Joint Center’s Platform Regulation and Content Moderation Program
- Work with the Vice President of Development to engage in donor research, relationship management, and solicitation activities to ensure the sustainability and growth of the Platform Regulation and Content Moderation program
- Serve as a leader, ensuring that the Joint Center’s work has maximum impact on the service of Black communities
- Convene experts in various activities on digital platforms (e.g., voter deception, health misinformation, ad targeting and delivery, hate crimes, content moderation, the Metaverse, Web3) to develop research questions on the impact of these activities on Black communities
- Commission and manage external experts in producing commentaries, briefs, and reports related to platform regulation and content moderation policy topics
- Engage in outreach to identify, deepen relationships, and collaborate with community stakeholders, key policymakers, philanthropy, and other national partner organizations
- Demonstrate the versatility and vision to support the Joint Center’s growth into new areas.
- Perform other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
- Commitment to the Joint Center’s values and cultural principles, including commitments to the Joint Center’s mission, producing rigorous and excellent work that has the most significant positive impact on Black communities, constant feedback and growth, collaboration and respect, and being proactive (reflective, visionary, innovative, calm, strategic, purposeful, organized, and punctual).
- Graduate or Advanced Degree Required
- 7+ years of experience in research or policy on relevant topics, including tech policy, voter deception, health misinformation, ad targeting and delivery, hate crimes, content moderation, Section 230, and/or platform regulation
- Experience working in a think tank, other policy organization, government, public interest technology, or a relevant private sector position (e.g., tech oversight boards, content moderation department, civil rights department)
- Awareness of issues facing Black communities online, including but not limited to voter deception, health misinformation, discriminatory targeting and delivery of content, hate crime planning
- Experience with, and understanding of, platform regulation and content moderation issues facing Black communities
- Previous experience in supervising and growing a team, fundraising, and managing funder relationships
- Proven ability to communicate evidence-based policy guidance to key stakeholders, including policymakers, advocates, and the media
- Relevant experience conducting policy analysis and developing technology policy solutions
- Demonstrated ability to achieve high-performance goals and meet deadlines
- Demonstrated ability to build and engage a community of experts on various issues and manage internal policy analysts and research assistants as the program grows.
- Expert-level written and verbal communication skills
- Established proactive approaches to problem-solving with strong decision-making capability
- Highly resourceful team-player
- A forward-looking thinker who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions
