Associate Professor (Academic Administration or Research) and Associate Director: Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy (CMTD) + Media Ecosystem Observatory (MEO)
McGill University – Montréal, Québec
McGill University invites applications for the position of Associate Director and ranked contract academic staff for the Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy (CMTD) + Media Ecosystem Observatory (MEO), Max Bell School of Public Policy.
About the Institutes
- The Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy is McGill’s focal point for critical, public-facing scholarship on how media and emerging technologies shape democratic life. It conducts research across three streams—technology governance, information ecosystems, and media & journalism—and translates findings through events, podcasts, and policy engagement.
- The Media Ecosystem Observatory is an interdisciplinary research institution that combines large-scale online data analysis with survey research to track and report on mis-/disinformation, information-ecosystem health, and democratic integrity. It coordinates the national Canadian Digital Media Research Network.
The two units are now merging under a single umbrella. The inaugural Associate Director will be the senior operational and strategic lead, working in close partnership with Professor Taylor Owen (faculty director) to integrate teams, amplify impact, and secure long-term sustainability. The candidate will also be appointed as a Ranked Contract Academic Staff (Academic Administration or Research), and report to the Director of the Max Bell School of Public Policy.
Position Summary
The Associate Director provides overall leadership for research operations, external relations, policy engagement, communications, and development. They will:
- Craft and execute a unified 3- to 5-year strategic plan that aligns CMTD & MEO missions.
- Oversee day-to-day management (staffing, compliance, governance).
- Steer a multidisciplinary research portfolio spanning technology governance, information-ecosystem health, election integrity, mis/disinformation and media policy.
- Translate research into influence and impact—cultivating relationships with policymakers, regulators, industry, civil-society partners and the media.
- Lead knowledge-mobilization and public-communication efforts (reports, briefs, web, podcasts, events, press).
- Co-develop and execute a diversified fundraising strategy (grants, philanthropy, partnerships) and support Professor Owen on major donor cultivation.
- Support the AI strategy of the Max Bell School of Public Policy.
- Represent the merged centre within McGill, with external funders, and in national and global policy networks.
- Foster an inclusive, collaborative culture that values equity, diversity and mentoring of students and early-career researchers.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Organisational Leadership
- Integrate CMTD and MEO structures into a single coherent entity.
- Develop and monitor multi-year strategic plans, governance processes, and KPIs.
- Report regularly to the advisory board and ensure compliance with McGill research-centre policies.
Research Management
- Approve project pipelines and allocate resources across mixed-method studies.
- Uphold methodological rigour and research ethics, including data-sharing and privacy protocols.
- Negotiate and manage external research partnerships and institutional agreements.
Policy Engagement
- Coordinate briefings, testimony, and consultations with federal, provincial, and international bodies.
- Maintain high-trust relationships with policymakers, regulators, industry, and civil-society partners.
- Translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations and public commentary.
Public Communication
- Oversee communications staff and set an integrated editorial/calendar strategy (reports, briefs, podcasts, events, social media).
- Serve as a frequent spokesperson for the merged centre, including media interviews and op-eds.
- Grow the centre’s digital presence and flagship public events.
Development & Finance
- Build and manage multi-year budgets; track grant deliverables and reporting.
- Lead major grant proposals and cultivate new funding streams (philanthropy, government, corporate social-impact).
- Support Professor Taylor Owen in stewarding major donors and institutional partners.
People & Culture
- Supervise and mentor a team of 50-60 staff, postdocs, and research assistants.
Required Qualifications
- Education – Advanced degree in public policy, communication, political science, information science, law, or related field or comparable senior leadership experience in a think tank, NGO, or public-sector research unit.
- Experience – Minimum 7–10 years managing multi-disciplinary teams and complex budgets; demonstrable success turning research into policy or public impact; track record of winning and stewarding six- or seven-figure grants.
- Subject-matter expertise – Deep understanding of digital-platform governance, AI policy, media policy, information-disorder, and democratic resilience.
- Skills – Strategic planning; stakeholder diplomacy; superior written/oral communication; media savvy; data-literacy sufficient to guide large-scale computational projects; bilingualism (English/French) or commitment to attain functional French; familiarity with university environments.
Assets
- Established networks in Ottawa and internationally, provincial capitals, international tech-policy circles, and/or philanthropic communities.
- Experience coordinating multi-institution national research consortia.
- Demonstrated public-facing profile (op-eds, media commentary, conference speaking).
Terms & Compensation
- Position – Full-time, renewable 3-year contract (subject to probationary review).
- Location – 680 Sherbrooke St W., Montréal.
Salary:
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Posting Period:
Please submit your application within 30 days of the publication of this advertisement.
Required Documents:
The following supporting documents are required:
- cover letter and curriculum vitae
- statement of research
- names and contact information of three referees
Applicaitons are accepted through McGill's Career Portal, Workday. A link to the applicaiton portal is forthcoming.
Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.
McGill University is an English-language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing.