ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
Technology is central to Internews’ mission and is a core part of how we perceive the world and how we plan to solve problems within it. The Senior Director (SD) of Global Internet & Technology Initiatives (GITI) serves as Internews’ global expert on the role of technology in expanding democracy and human rights and countering digital authoritarianism, specifically on all aspects of information access, the evolution of AI, internet governance, tech sector accountability and the intersection of these issues on communities around the world. The Senior Director will also be the leader of a team of diverse technology, internet freedom and advocacy professionals and programs.
The Senior Director will join a group of Directors within the wider Global Programs & Initiatives team, each responsible for leading in the design, development and management of their portfolio, as well as continuing to drive Internews’ learning, thought leadership and expertise within their sectors of responsibility. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, mission-driven expert with a demonstrable understanding of and/or track record in a broad range of democracy, internet freedom and technology issues, within the media and information realm, who is a strong manager, a deeply connected networker, and a thoughtful, strategic planner. Given its strategic importance, this role will have a significant focus on Artificial Intelligence, and its uses and implications for Internews’ and partner programming.
The Senior Director supervises the program directors and managers within their department, who in turn are responsible for the overall management of their respective portfolios and/or projects. The Senior Director is responsible for the outreach, partnerships and fundraising necessary to advance departmental and organizational goals. The Department currently consists of several teams and focuses, including Internet Freedom, Digital Rights and Resilience (including digital security, privacy and internet policy projects), the Global Technology Hub, the Greater Internet Freedom Project, and some specialized advisors which comprises a team of more than 50 highly talented individuals. We envision the department may expand to include other technology-related practices.
LOGISTICS
Internews has headquarters offices in Washington, DC; Arcata, CA; and London, UK. This role may be fully remote and is open to candidates based anywhere in the world; individuals must have independent work authorization that does not require employer sponsorship. Our strong preference is to hire a candidate based in the Washington, DC area; candidates based elsewhere should be able and willing to travel regularly to Washington, DC.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so candidates are encouraged to apply soon.
OUR COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING A CULTURE OF BELONGING
We are an organization of dynamic, mission-driven individuals who are passionate about our core values and about supporting positive change in the world. We pride ourselves on our commitment to innovation and flexibility. We believe that diverse teams are strong teams and work to support an ethic of belonging, dignity, and justice for all people. Our current team includes a mix of genders, parents and non-parents, and people of multiple races, nationalities, ages, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We are an EEO employer and encourage candidates of all races, genders, ages, orientations, ethnicities, and national origins to apply, and welcome those with alternative backgrounds and experiences.
DAY-TO-DAY TASKS will include:
Organizational Leadership and Corporate Responsibilities
- The Senior Director is a member of the senior management group. In this role the SD is a member of senior staff and advises on issues that affect the overall organization, participates in strategic and annual planning efforts and organizational development activities.
- The SD is an Alliance-wide position and is expected to deliver results across both Internews US and Internews Europe.
- The SD is expected to serve as a spokesperson for programs, Internews and its strategy and mission when participating in public events.
- In all duties, uphold Internews’ Core Values and demonstrate commitment to fostering a culture of Belonging, Dignity, and Justice.
Program Oversight & Implementation
- Develop organizational strategy for the role, approach, impact and learning for Global Internet & Technology Initiatives programs that supports the overall Internews Strategy.
- Strategically grow a portfolio of global technology projects, with an eye towards innovation, impact and organizational learning.
- Annually craft departmental work plans and budgets that effectively advance this strategy within available resources.
- Work with program portfolio directors and managers to ensure all global technology projects meet their goals and targets, are compliant, and produce timely and high-quality programmatic and financial reports.
- Work with the Global Business Management team and program directors/managers to regularly review portfolio progress for program impact, and to ensure that projects across the portfolio are compliant with overall finance and administrative policies of Internews.
- Work with program directors/managers to adjust/improve program implementation, as necessary.
Innovation & Learning
- Building from project-funded activities, develop a system to identify, cultivate and maintain a set of core technology products that merit long-term use within Internews programs and within our broader community.
- Identify opportunities to advance mission impact and fertilize technology learning across the organization.
- Work collaboratively within the VP of Global Programs & Initiatives to coordinate technical advisory, support services and funding with the regional program management units, and other global teams.
- Lead a community of practice across Internews’ technology programs and activities, to integrate work across portfolios and continually iterate positions, policies, talking points, approaches etc. Provide regular updates on our technology work via quarterly emails or briefings.
- Cultivate external consultants and technical experts who are familiar with Internews’ work who can support our evolving approaches, tools and resources and who can share expertise through internal learning events.
- Work with experts within and outside of Internews to author internal position papers on relevant internet and technology areas to enable Internews staff and program teams to understand Internews’ positions, guardrails and approaches to the major tech issues and opportunities, including generative AI, facing our organization and work.
People Management
- Supervise and manage the senior team of the department, including interviewing, hiring, and training; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
- Mentor the senior team on managing their direct reports in ways that develop the team’s professionalism, effectiveness and career progression.
Development & Fundraising
- Develop and maintain a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the technology sector, specifically on all aspects of freedom of expression, information access, the evolution of AI, internet governance, tech sector accountability and the intersection of these issues on communities around the world.
- Work closely with the Global Development team and Regional Program Management Units on project design, proposal writing and budgeting for technology projects within the portfolio. Support business development efforts related to technology programs for other teams as able.
- Raise funding for discrete projects to advance our approaches to working with technology and to support thought leadership.
- Establish and report on annual KFIs for development and fundraising that emphasizes a diverse portfolio of support, while also contributing to Internews’ overall Revenue Strategy.
Outreach & Representation
- Cultivate relationships with internet freedom and technology partners, academics, policy makers, donors and supporters around the world, with the goal of growing our network of partners and supporters.
- Raise Internews’ profile in the internet freedom and technology community through representation (or coordinated representation by qualified Internews staff) at conferences, donor meetings, and other opportunities.
- Serve as one of the senior spokespersons for Internews programs globally, including working with external affairs to advance our Global Internet and Technology Initiatives work with the public, our supporters and potential supporters, online and with the news media.
- Work with external affairs team to ensure presence on social media, and proactively share notes, recordings, photos, contacts etc. from all events through appropriate channels.
- Lead in Internews’ relationships with the major technology platforms (Google, Meta, TikTok, etc.), including building partnerships where appropriate, and advocating for change as required. While many Internews staff have individual relationships with the platforms, the Director maintains the larger organization picture of our overall engagement and connects with Program, Development, Strategy and External Affairs teams to ensure consistency.
- Author op-eds, blog posts, research and publications on relevant topics and support relevant Internews staff to author these, when relevant.
- Ensure Internews has clear and timely processes to tap into representation needs from relevant team members as needed. Elevate team members, partners and Internews staff around the world to represent in these areas as appropriate.
QUALIFICATIONS WE’RE LOOKING FOR
Required
- At least 12 years of progressively senior experience in a relevant industry, including at least 7 years’ experience of management in international non-profit organizations.
- A background in technology, internet freedom, media programs (management, online/digital, policy) and/or experience with innovative digital communication platforms.
- Demonstrated expertise and in-depth knowledge of technology broadly, including internet freedom, digital rights, digital security and AI policy, ethics, and legal considerations.
- Extensive experience with international development grants management, donor and international partner relations. Experience working with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the European Commission, other donor agencies and private development organizations.
- Experience working with multi-stakeholder groups, working groups and coalitions at the international level devoted to policy and problem solving in relevant sectors.
- Experience in non-profit business development; researching development and funding opportunities, leading proposal teams on relevant internet freedom and technology policy inputs.
- Track record of planning, goal setting, and achieving major results to deadlines. Proven capabilities in monitoring and evaluation processes for development programs and technology products, as relevant preferred.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of an international and diverse team in a flexible, dynamic environment across multiple time zones and working divisions at Internews.
- Fluent English essential for this role; professional proficiency additional languages strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills including diplomacy, tact, and the ability to negotiate in international and local contexts.
- Experience living and working overseas; international work experience on applied internet freedom, technology, media and policy programs strongly preferred.
- Excellent communication skills: speaking, presenting, writing, and listening.
- Ability to work both independently and as an effective team member.
- Proven ability to prioritize and handle multiple on-going assignments to deadlines.
- Ability and willingness to travel extensively as needed globally in support of programs and initiatives. If based outside the DC area, the SD will also be expected to travel to DC on a regular basis.
This position is being offered and hired by Internews Network. Benefits will be consistent with Internews Network’s offerings and will be reviewed during the hiring process. Additional information can be found on our Benefits page.
Internews Network is an EEO/AAP/OFCCP employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. Internews does not discriminate based on race, gender, gender identity or orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.