"Senior Research Scientist - Technology and Democracy"

Senior Research Scientist - Technology and Democracy

Posted: 16-Apr-25

Location: New York, NY

Categories: Academic/Faculty

Internal Number: 166449

The NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights is seeking a Senior Program Manager / Senior Research Scientist to lead our work on Technology and Democracy. The Center devotes significant attention to reducing the role of the technology industry in facilitating political disinformation and extremism, intimidation, and violence. This multifaceted initiative includes work on the distinct but interconnected roles of companies involved in social media, encrypted messaging, artificial intelligence, and online gaming. The Center has published in-depth research reports on these issues and has used these reports as the basis for advocating more vigorous self-regulation by the tech companies and oversight of the industry by the federal government. The new Senior Program Manager will have the opportunity to sharpen our focus and advance our recommendations for reform and the efficacy of our engagement with major technology companies and with government.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Center’s Director to define the direction of the program and strategy for research and advocacy.
• Refine and deepen the Center’s work on technology by conducting independent research, and producing reports, op-eds, and other written material.
• Lead our ongoing advocacy for adoption of our recommendations, including the organizing of conferences and information sessions, doing media interviews, and participating in other events.
• Supervise program staff and research assistants.
• Integrate program research into business education materials both at Stern and across our Global Business School Network for Business and Human Rights.
• Engage with MBA students and serve as Stern and NYU Law course guest lecturer on technology and democracy.

About the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights

Founded in 2013, the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights is the first-ever human rights center based at a business school. Our mission is to challenge and empower companies and future business leaders to make practical progress on human rights. Our current focus areas include values-based investing, technology and democracy, and global labor. We are looking for a creative and ambitious leader who is passionate about these issues to join our team.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $125,000-$157,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or doctoral degree required.
• Excellent writing and communication skills. Ability to produce rigorous, analytical research that is accessible to business, government, civil society, the general public, and the media; ability to forward the program’s advocacy agenda through strong presentation of research and recommendations to relevant stakeholders.
• Familiarity with human rights challenges in the technology sector
• Direct experience working at or engaging with major global tech companies is preferred.
• Experience in research and in managing and completing complex, sensitive projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and maintain strong working relationships with people from different backgrounds.
• A self-starter with the ability to adapt quickly and motivate others to achieve strategic objectives in a collaborative manner.
• Extensive work experience on technology, human rights, or related issues within a company, government agency, advocacy organization, university, and/or think tank. Journalistic experience will also be considered.

Submit a CV, cover letter and two references.