Director of News + AI Innovation Lab

## Director of News + AI Innovation Lab Apply:
Campus:
Downtown Phoenix:
Full time:
Posted 6 Days Ago:
End Date:
September 29, 2026 (7 days left to apply):
JR127153
** 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…