Associate Director for Data & AI Investigations and Partnerships

Overview

The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, part of the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, seeks an innovative and collaborative data journalist to serve as Associate Director for Data & AI Investigations and Partnerships. The role will lead new initiatives in data curation, support data-driven reporting partnerships, incorporate AI, and teach a hands‑on class.

Responsibilities

• Launch and manage a new initiative to gather and maintain a curated set of newsworthy data and document collections for journalists and researchers to use.
• Assist the Howard Center director in establishing and managing data‑driven reporting collaborations with professional and academic newsroom partners.
• Manage selected student‑driven investigative data journalism projects in collaboration with professional news organization partners.
• Integrate large language models and other AI technologies responsibly into the investigative reporting workflow.
• Oversee the work of a Howard Center staff member and graduate fellows specializing in investigative data journalism.
• Teach one hands‑on class per year tied to Howard Center data investigations.

Preferred Experience

• Experience producing investigative data journalism as a reporter.
• Experience managing investigative data journalism projects as an editor, project manager or similar role.
• Experience building and maintaining newsworthy databases or document collections for internal newsroom or external partner use, or managing people engaged in that work.
• Experience experimenting with or a demonstrated interest in large language models, agentic systems, machine learning or other AI approaches for investigative reporting.
• Experience establishing or managing editorial collaborations with newsroom partners.
• Teaching and mentoring experience (university‑level teaching, workshops, or informal training of newsroom colleagues).
• Management experience with professionals, interns, or early‑career journalists.
• Interest in storytelling forms tailored to reach new audiences.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of four years post‑college experience as a professional journalist, including data journalism experience.

Application Materials

Resume, cover letter explaining interest and alignment with responsibilities and preferred experience, and links to three examples of prior work (data‑driven investigative stories, data products, tools, or teaching materials).

Benefits

• 41 days of leave per year (22 vacation, 3 personal, 16 holidays) and 15 days sick leave.
• Choice of defined‑benefit retirement plan (state pension) or defined‑contribution plan with employer match.
• State of Maryland insurance for healthcare, prescription drugs, dental, vision, term life, accidental death, long‑term disability.
• Tuition remission for you and dependents.
• Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave.

EEO Statement

University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.