Director of News + AI Innovation Lab

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

Department Statement:

About the Knight Center for the Future of News

The Knight Center for the Future of News at Arizona State University 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 AI Studio.

Across initiatives, the Center follows a shared execution model — Research, Test, Apply, Share and Train (RTAST) — ensuring ideas are grounded in evidence, tested with real partners, translated into usable outputs and supported through adoption and training.

The Center values adaptability, cross-functional collaboration and measurable impact. Team members are expected to work fluidly across labs and contribute to a culture that prioritizes clarity, experimentation and results.

Learn more at: https://cronkite.asu.edu/knightcenter

About the Cronkite School

The Cronkite School is widely recognized as the nation's premier mass communication school, ranked No. 1 by the Broadcast Education Association for three consecutive years. Rooted in the time-honored values that characterize its namesake—accuracy, responsibility, integrity—the school fosters excellence and ethics among students as they master the professional skills required to succeed in the digital media world of today and tomorrow.

Based on ASU's Downtown Phoenix campus in the heart of the nation's fifth-largest city, the School is known for its hands-on, "teaching hospital" approach to learning led by a faculty composed of Pulitzer Prize-winning professional journalists, strategic communications leaders and world-class media scholars. More than 2,500 undergraduate, master's and doctoral students regularly lead the country in national competitions as they prepare for careers in journalism, PR, marketing, strategic media and related communication fields. Learn more at cronkite.asu.edu.

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.

ASU Statement:

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions inclusive excellence, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

Notice of Availability of the ASU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report:

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.

Relocation Assistance – For information about schools, housing child resources, neighborhoods, hospitals, community events, and taxes, visit https://cfo.asu.edu/az-resources.

ASU’s comprehensive benefits package is a key part of your total compensation. Visit the ASU Compensation Estimator

Employment Verification Statement:

ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.

Background Check Statement:

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.

Fingerprint Check Statement:

This position is considered safety/security sensitive and will include a fingerprint check. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the fingerprint check.