Digital Media Research Associate

Position: Digital Media Research Associate (Full-time, Remote)

Organization: Accelerate Change

Reports to: Darrell Scott, VP of Media Investments & Acquisitions

Direct Reports: N/A

Location: Full-time, 100% remote position (from home or co-working space) with occasional travel once every 2-3 months (post-COVID)

COVID-19: We take COVID-19 safety very seriously. Employees must follow our COVID-19 safety protocols and be fully vaccinated and boostered. Accommodations are provided to the extent required by law.

About Accelerate Change

Founded in 2012, Accelerate Change is a nonprofit (c3/c4) digital media lab. We work to increase civic engagement with BIPOC and low-income communities through digital media. Our programs include:

• Scaling emerging cultural media properties
• Investing in established cultural media properties
• Building influencer networks
• Leading a digital media lab
• Driving civic engagement campaigns

Learn more about our theory of change, approach, and impact at https://acceleratechange.org/a... team is made up of digital media innovators and operators who bring a mix of tech, business, civic engagement, and media backgrounds. Meet our team and learn more about our culture at https://acceleratechange.org/v... the Position

Accelerate Change is seeking a Digital Media Research Associate to support the new Investments & Acquisitions department in its efforts to dramatically grow and strengthen the cultural media ecosystem. The Associate will support the VP in sourcing and conducting in-depth research on for-profit cultural media companies, accounts, and networks that could be targets for investment or acquisition by Accelerate Change. Acquisition opportunities range from high growth social media accounts run by a small team to multi-channel media properties; from a single podcast with promising traction to full podcast networks.

Here’s what you could expect to do as Digital Media Research Associate (key responsibilities):

• On a weekly basis, source dozens of for-profit cultural media properties, accounts, and networks that have deep, trusted relationships with key, targeted audience segments (Parent Media, Black Media, Latino Media, and Youth Media).
• Conduct deep research on target media properties, finding as much information about the properties as possible and helping connect the VP to the property’s team leadership for a first conversation.
• Oversee research into and gain expertise on at least 1 media vertical (YouTube, podcasts, influencer networks, etc.) or 1 audience segment (Parent Media, Black Media, Latino Media, and Youth Media) of interest to the Investments & Acquisitions team.
• Draft team memos on research findings.
• Support with scheduling meetings with founders, do data entry, and other related projects, as needed.

We’ll also look for the Digital Media Research Associate to:

• TBD. As part of a rapidly growing organization, you’ll need to embrace change and that your responsibilities will shift over time. Pitching in to help with the needs of your department and the overall Central Team is an important part of your role
• Help advance our goal of becoming an anti-racist organization. Within your role, apply equitable work practices, challenge white supremacy, and help make our programs more inclusive. Center our understanding that multiple systems of oppression intersect with racism and be an active part of our values work.
• Serve as a resource to our networks of partners. Help amplify partner successes, make connections between partners and facilitate learning sharing, and offer your expertise to partners in our networks wherever it makes sense.
• Take an entrepreneurial approach to their work and learning new skills. In our fast-paced, unstructured environment, we love it when staff first try to figure things out on their own and then ask for help if they’re stuck.
• Seek out opportunities to deepen their skills on current/emerging platforms and with lean startup methodology. We take an individualized approach to growth where staff have the chance to explore and propose development opportunities that align with their interests and the team’s priorities.

What We’re Looking For

• 2+ years experience with key responsibilities: We’re looking for someone who has at least 2 years of experience in digital media (non-profit or for-profit), startups, investing, philanthropy, or research, having developed an interest in media operations, strategy, or business models.
• Research, analytical, and writing skills. We’re looking for someone who can dive into a media property, account, or network and come back to the team with a clearly communicated, synthesized set of findings that helps move the team forward in its quest to find viable acquisition opportunities.
• Commitment to social justice. Accelerate Change is a mission-driven organization focused on progressive social change and social justice, with a focus on communities of color. You have a demonstrated commitment to this work and you’d like to be part of a team of people who do, too.

Benefits

• $46,000 - $56,000 salary range, with exact salary depending on experience and new staff rarely starting at the top of the range
• Flexibility for work and life: Unlike a lot of places, we actually believe that people should only work 40 hours each week, except for occasional sprints that require more time in a week. We also trust everyone to make a schedule that works for them, as long as you’re able to join all necessary meetings. Want to work more one day and less the next? Fine by us. Work better in the middle of the night than during the afternoon? Go for it. Need to shift your hours to be able to pick up your kid from school? All good.
• Health care after 3 months, with individual premiums fully covered and cost-share for dependents. Vision and dental plans are available at-cost to the individual.
• 15 paid vacation days, 6 paid holidays, 3 paid floating holidays each year and 7.5 paid sick days each year.
• Professional development funds, with renewal of funds each fiscal year.
• Cell phone and internet reimbursement (or co-working reimbursement): We acknowledge that working from home requires using your own internet and phone for work purposes so we offer a set reimbursement amount for cell phone and internet usage. If working home isn’t for you, we also have the option for folks to rent a co-working space and get reimbursed for their monthly costs.
• 401(k) plan after one year, with 100% employer match on the first 3% and 50% employer match on the next 2%.

Apply

To apply, please upload your resume and tell us more about your experience using the application form on our website.

Accelerate Change is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that people of color, people from working class backgrounds, women, and LGBTQIA+ people must be centered in the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.