Full-Time Research Director
Job Description
Position Description
Harmony Institute is on a mission to discover the patterns and principles that underlie the interaction of media and society and the emergence of culture, leveraging the massive volumes of data today’s media generate. We are an independent applied research lab, and we are currently seeking a creative, entrepreneurial, high-performing individual to lead and grow an innovative, networked, highly collaborative research practice. The ideal candidate will take on the following roles and responsibilities:
Vision Setting and Strategy. The Research Director will be responsible for co-creating and realizing the Institute’s vision for executing applied research, directed by the needs of partners, and using internal teams, a distributed network of researchers and large data sets. The Research Director will arrive with a strong professional network that includes: researchers investigating the interaction of media and society; funders interested in this kind of research; and relevant partner institutions. They will draw on this network—as well as on superlative collaboration and communication skills—to set a market-relevant, responsive research agenda. They will build out all aspects of the Institute’s research practice, in a way that:
– Leverages the resources, knowledge and know-how of multiple sectors, disciplines and institutions;
– Delivers against the applied research needs of the Institute’s partners and clients;
– Advances basic understanding of the patterns and principles that underlie the interaction of media and society and the emergence of culture;
– Positions the Institute as a preeminent organization and key resource for researchers and practitioners interested in studying and/or leveraging the social effects of media, especially using emerging computational and data mining methods.
Execution. The Research Director will have a record of leading research initiatives within the social sciences and humanities fields germane to the Institute’s research practice. They will bring the intellectual curiosity, versatility and rigor required to identify opportunities for additional research, both within these fields and against the needs of potential funders and partner institutions. The Research Director will be fluent in experimental paradigms and methodologies, familiar with emerging practices, and eager to push their boundaries, particularly those that rely on computational analysis of large data sets. The Research Director will be able to recognize and seize opportunities, and to take risks and challenge norms in a way that might not be possible or appreciated in other institutional research settings. They will need to oversee complex long-term projects from ideation through funding to execution, reflection, and reporting.
Institute Representation. The Research Director will be expected to persuasively represent the Institute’s mission, vision, values and work, on the page—in both academic and mass media publications—and in person, in meetings, and at conferences.
Team Supervision. The Research Director will thrive in an open, collaborative, results-oriented start-up work culture. They will report to the Managing Director and contribute to the Institute’s overall strategy. They will oversee and manage the activities of the internal research team, as well as project teams bringing together researchers, research analysts, data analysts, data engineers, and programmers.
Additional Roles and Responsibilities
– Develop and maintain a responsive strategy, with associated plans, for executing applied research
– Create opportunities for partnership and funding that significantly grow the Institute’s resource base
– Build and grow a network of research affiliates and associated institutions, that can be engaged, as needed, to execute projects
– Create and maintain the Institute’s professional publication strategy
– In collaboration with Research Managers, design and execute an innovative research -fellowship program
– Oversee the professional development and advancement pathways of the internal research team; and create opportunities to contribute to the professional development of all staff
– Design and implement systems and social practices that keep Harmony Institute, as an organization, ahead of the curve on the latest relevant research and methods
– Work with the Communications Director and others on key network building strategies, e.g., mass media publication
– Represent the voice of research in the context of the Institute’s strategy team and, periodically, at the level of the Board of Directors
– Build, maintain and regularly engage advisory boards around research
Skills and Qualifications
– Ph.D. in an area related to the study of media and society, preferably with a focus on computational analytic methods
– Proven ability to establish and operate within mixed discipline teams and translate between disciplines in order to facilitate teamwork
– Proven ability to simplify complex information in a way that can be easily and persuasively communicated to a range of audiences, and to code-switch to reach different audiences effectively
– Proven ability to connect research outcomes to “real-world” needs and applications
– Experience working in both academic and non-academic environments
– Record of research and/or publication for academic and general audiences
– Comfort with and facility in both quantitative and qualitative modes of inquiry, and both empirical and theoretical approaches
– Proven success seeking and managing outside sources of funding for research
– Proven skill managing and growing the capacity of happy, high-performing teams
– Familiarity with the social media analytic tools the Institute uses, e.g., Crimson Hexagon
Compensation
Salary is commensurate with experience. There is a generous benefits plan, including paid time off for sick leave and vacation; medical, dental and vision plans; pre-tax flexible spending accounts and transit program; and 401(k).