Position Description: Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in New York
Location: New York (New York City preferred)
The Academic Engagement Network (AEN) is seeking a Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in New York. This is a full-time position reporting to AEN’s Director of Member Engagement. All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
About AEN
AEN builds and mobilizes networks of university faculty and administrators to counter antisemitism, oppose the denigration of Jewish and Zionist identity, promote academic freedom, and advance education about Israel. Founded in 2015, AEN works on over 325 university and college campuses across the United States. More information about the organization can be found here: www.academicengagement.org. AEN is independently-branded and operates in partnership with and under the fiscal sponsorship of Israel on Campus Coalition, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Position Overview
The Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in New York (SAFE-NY) is a full-time position with occasional evening and weekend hours required. Applicants should be based in or be willing to relocate to New York, with a strong preference for applicants who reside or who are willing to relocate to New York City for this position. There is an expectation of occasional supported travel to campuses around the state, to AEN-sponsored events and meetings across the country, and possibly to Israel.
Position Responsibilities
Member Recruitment and Retention
AEN engages, educates, and empowers faculty to take concrete action both independently and collectively to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel bias on campus and in the academy. The successful applicant will be responsible for achieving key recruitment benchmarks in New York. They will oversee and refine the recruitment cycle, from prospect identification and vetting through onboarding and integration into the network, and will lead member satisfaction efforts, including ensuring regular collection and analysis of data and use of that data to improve AEN’s services and offerings to faculty.
Member Engagement and Mobilization
AEN’s overarching goal is to move faculty and university leaders to action in support of Jewish, Zionist, and pro-Israel campus communities. The organization focuses on giving its members the confidence to speak up with authority on antisemitism, Jewish identity, and the diversity of the Jewish experience. The Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in New York will be responsible for generating robust member participation in AEN’s educational programs and trainings. They will spearhead AEN’s Rapid Response Mobilization strategy in New York to address urgent issues on campuses and in other state-wide academic settings. Long-term projects and initiatives involving New York/NYC-based faculty and aligned faculty, such as those engaging with AEN through its Faculty Against Antisemitism Movement, will also be supported by the Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in New York. The successful applicant will utilize extant tools and develop new methods of information gathering to ensure that faculty and the AEN Leadership Team are up to date on the latest developments on New York-area campuses.
Partnering with Aligned Organizations
In its work to improve the campus climate and engage, educate, and empower faculty, AEN works closely with a number of partner organizations. The Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in New York will be responsible for proactively engaging with these and other organizations, including those that are based in the New York and New York City areas, as appropriate.
Tracking Member Activity and Data Management
AEN gathers a variety of data regarding engagement with members, attendance of members at programming and events, and follow-through from faculty participation in the network and in AEN’s programming to activism and successful interventions on campuses, in professional associations, and in at-risk disciplines. The Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in New York will oversee data collection regarding faculty activities in New York and will manage the collected data in such a way as to allow AEN to effectively communicate its work and impact vis-à-vis member engagement in New York in general, and at New York City area campuses in particular.
Experience and Qualifications
The ideal candidate for this position will have knowledge of effective practices of community organizing in general, and in particular for recruitment, retention, and engagement within diverse organizations where backgrounds and viewpoints vary widely. They will have a firm understanding of American higher education; a demonstrated savviness about contemporary campus challenges for Jewish and openly Zionist students, faculty, and staff; and a commitment to confronting antisemitism and anti-Israel bias and to ensuring that campuses are inclusive and welcoming learning environments for Jewish, Zionist, and all students. Candidates must provide proof of identity and legal right to work in the United States as specified in the Immigration Reform and Contract Act of 1986.
Graduate degree preferred.
The Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in New York (SAFE-NY) will be driven by AEN’s mission, team culture, and strategic direction. Additional desired qualities and attributes for this position include:
- Strong written and oral communication skills that are effective with a range of audiences and stakeholders.
- An interest in, and experience with, issues associated with antisemitism, Judaism, Israel, campus challenges for the Jewish community, and/or free speech and academic freedom.
- Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work independently as well as in collaboration with colleagues, members, partners, and stakeholders.
- Robust work ethic and effective time management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects. An ability to ideate and execute quickly is essential.
- Self-motivation and an ability to think creatively.
- A commitment to diversity and inclusion, demonstrated by valuing, and supporting a diversity of perspectives, viewpoints, and ideas.
- Commitment to continual learning and professional development.
- Sound judgment and problem-solving skills.
There is a general expectation that the successful candidate will be well-versed in various computer systems and software.
Compensation
The target salary range for this position is $90,000-$100,000, commensurate with experience. A generous and comprehensive benefits package is offered to all full-time employees.
AEN’s Work Culture
We expect new members of the AEN leadership team will join us in valuing the following:
- Making a positive impact in service of our members and the academic community.
- Approaching people and situations with an open mind and a desire to learn.
- Fostering healthy and productive relationships.
- Practicing empathy and gratitude.
AEN’s Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity
AEN is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, age, disability status, marital status, parental status, military service, veteran status, or any applicable legally protected characteristics.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume and brief cover letter via email with the subject line "LAST NAME, FIRST NAME: SAFE-NY" to Joshua Suchoff, AEN’s Managing Director, at [email protected] by January 31, 2025, after which applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.