The Academic Engagement Network, Inc. (AEN) is seeking a Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in California. 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 350 university and college campuses across the United States. More information about the organization can be found here: www.academicengagement.org.

Position Overview

The Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in California (SAFE-CA) is a full-time position with occasional evening and weekend hours required. Applicants should be based in or be willing to relocate to Southern California, with a strong preference for applicants who reside in or are willing to relocate to Los Angeles for this position. There is an expectation of supported travel to campuses around the state. Occasional travel to participate in AEN-sponsored events and meetings across the country, and possibly to Israel, is also expected.

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 California. The Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in California 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 California will be responsible for generating robust member participation in AEN’s educational programs and trainings, as well as AEN’s Rapid Response Mobilization strategy in California to address urgent issues on campuses and in other statewide academic settings. Long-term projects and initiatives involving California/LA-based faculty and aligned faculty, such as those engaging with AEN through its Faculty Against Antisemitism Movement initiative, will also be supported by the Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in California. 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 California 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 California will be responsible for proactively engaging with these and other organizations, including those that are based in the Los Angeles area and other parts of the state, 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 advocacy and successful interventions on campuses, in professional associations, and in at-risk disciplines. The Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in California will oversee data collection regarding faculty activities in California 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 California in general, and at Los Angeles 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 organizations where backgrounds and viewpoints vary widely. The successful candidate 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 and prior experience as an instructor or member of the faculty is preferred.

The Senior Associate for Faculty Engagement in California 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
• Commitment to continual learning and professional development.
• Sound judgment and problem-solving skills.

The successful candidate is expected to 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. We offer a generous, comprehensive benefits package to all full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, disability, 401K, and parental leave.

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.

Consistent with applicable law, AEN provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, and to qualified applicants and employees with known limitations related to, affected by, or arising out of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, as well as to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs or practices.

To Apply

Please visit our application portal to submit your cover letter and resume.