Senior Director, Global Internet & Technology Initiatives

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Technology is central to Internews’ mission and is a core part of how we perceive the world and 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 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 in communities around the world. The Senior Director is also the leader of a team of diverse technology and internet freedom professionals.

The Senior Director will join a group of Directors within the wider Global Programs & Initiatives team, each responsible for varying thematic portfolios, as well as driving Internews’ learning, thought leadership, and expertise within their sectors of responsibility. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, mission-driven expert with a demonstrable passion for and track record in a broad range of democracy and global internet freedom and technology initiatives, within the media and information realm. The ideal candidate is also an experienced change manager, a deeply connected networker, and a thoughtful, strategic planner.

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 which comprises a team of more than 50 talented individuals. The Senior Director is responsible for outreach, partnerships, and fundraising necessary to advance departmental and organizational goals. The Senior Director will engage regularly with programs funded by the US Government, European Union, and other mechanisms, and will support expansion efforts to relevant public or private sectors.

GITI currently consists of three sub-teams – Internet Freedom & Resilience programs, Global Technology Hub services, and the Greater Internet Freedom project – overseeing cross-cutting domains of expertise in areas of information security, digital safety and privacy, censorship circumvention, internet policy projects, social media platform engagement, and direct service and support to media and civil society. GITI also serves as a home within Internews for technical and digital expertise, developing a number of frameworks, methodologies, and approaches aimed at having an adaptable, suitable, and transformative impact for the communities it serves. As the world and technology continue to evolve, we envision a department that will adapt and expand to meet these needs proactively, moving into additional technology-related arenas as new challenges and opportunities emerge.

LOGISTICS

Internews has US offices in Arcata, CA and Washington, DC which support a hybrid workforce with staff working remotely, fully in office, or partially remote. Ultimately, this position may work remotely from the US, partially remotely from our Washington, DC office, or fully in-office for candidates based in the DC area. Preference will be given to applicants in the Washington, DC area; if based outside Washington, DC, the Senior Director will be expected to travel to the DC office on a regular basis, possibly with very short notice.

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 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 Internews’ senior management group. This role engages regularly with senior staff, advises on issues that affect the overall organization, and participates in strategic, annual planning and organizational development activities.
• The SD 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.

Program Oversight and Implementation

• Develop organizational strategy for the role, approach, impact, and learning for Global Internet & Technology Initiatives programs that supports the overall Internews Strategy.
• Annually craft departmental work plans and budgets in collaboration with section leads that effectively advance this strategy within available resources.
• Strategically grow a portfolio of global technology projects, with an eye towards innovation, impact, and organizational learning.
• 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 and Learning

• Identify opportunities to advance mission impact and facilitate technology learning across the organization.
• Lead a community of practice across Internews’ technology programs and activities to integrate GITI work across portfolios and identify relevant programs/approaches implemented by regional teams, and to continually iterate positions, policies, talking points, approaches, etc.
• Provide regular updates on our technology work via quarterly emails or in briefings to various audiences, both internally and externally.
• Building from project-funded activities, develop a system to identify, cultivate and maintain a set of core methodologies that merit long-term use within Internews programs and within our broader community.
• Cultivate a roster of external consultants and technical experts who are familiar with Internews’ work and can support our evolving approaches, tools and resources, and who can share their 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 better understand Internews’ positions, guardrails, and approaches on any major tech issues and opportunities – including generative AI – facing our organization and its 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, professional wellbeing, and career progression.
• Support innovation and collaboration across the department, which comprises more than 50 people.

Development and Fundraising

• Develop and maintain a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the technology sector, specifically on all aspects of freedom of express, 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 their portfolio. Support business development efforts related to technology 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.
• Work collaboratively with the VP of Global Programs & Initiatives to coordinate technical advisory, support services, and fundraising with the regional program units and other global teams.

Outreach and Representation

• Cultivate relationships with internet freedom, democracy, and technology partners, academics, policy makers, donors, and supporters around the world, with the goal of growing our network of partners and supporters.
• 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 supports, online and with the news media.
• Work with external affairs team to ensure presence on social media, including authoring op-eds, research and publications on relevant topics and support relevant Internews staff to author these, when relevant.
• Lead in Internews’ relationships with the major technology platforms (Google, Meta, TikTok, etc.) and tech companies more broadly, including building partnerships where appropriate, and advocating for change as required. While many Internews staff have individual relationships with technology companies, the Senior Director maintains the larger organization picture of our overall engagement and connects with Program, Development, Strategy, and External Affairs teams to ensure consistency.
• Raise Internews’ profile in the internet freedom and technology community through representation (or coordinated representation by qualified Internes staff) at conferences, donor meetings, and other opportunities. This includes regular coordination with US government and EU funders, as well as private ones.

QUALIFICATIONS WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Required

• At least 12 years of progressively senior experience in a relevant sector or industry, including at least 7 years’ experience of managing 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 internal 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 is strongly encouraged.
• 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.
• Native / bilingual fluency in English essential for this role; professional proficiency in 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 ongoing assignments to deadline.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively as needed in support of programs and initiatives.