PROGRAM COORDINATOR, TECH + ADVOCACY (FULL-TIME)
WITNESS makes it possible for anyone, anywhere to use video and technology to protect and defend their rights. We provide training, tools, and support to people around the world so that they can use video ethically and effectively to create positive change.
WITNESS’ Tech + Advocacy efforts engage technology companies, create new tools, and support digital policies that help human rights advocates safely, effectively, and ethically use video to document abuses and expose them to the world. We advocate to and collaborate with the companies behind the tools that power citizen witnessing, pushing them to create devices and platforms that are safe and effective for the activists and citizens we work with. We work on tools that help citizen media creators add context and prove the veracity to their media, protect those that they film, and use live video in ways that are more immersive and impactful.
The Program Coordinator will focus on identifying opportunities for influence on technology platforms, norms, policies, and approaches at a systems level, so that the opportunities for millions of people to produce and use video and related technologies for social justice are stronger and anyone, anywhere can be an active witness for human rights. They will also work on identification, partnership and experimentation around new approaches to using technology for human rights.
- Advocacy to Technology Companies: specifically the integration of functionalities and policies that support human rights principles, enable human rights activists and improve use of their platforms and products for human rights change
- Guiding Tech Projects: Acting as a point-person within the WITNESS team for managing partnerships, testing, and deployment of new tools that support human rights witnesses to be safer and more effective
- Advocacy at a Policy Level: Carrying our technology agenda into policy spheres, supporting allies and lending our unique voice at the intersection of mobile technology, visual media, and popular participation
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Engagement with Technology Companies and ICT for Human Rights (40%)
- Support WITNESS’ advocacy towards technology companies to incorporate changes in policy or product that support human rights principles and human rights usages. WITNESS’ focus priorities in this area are articulated attechnology.witness.org, and include focuses on privacy, visual anonymity, supporting scaled-up guidance on skills and ethics, amplifying human rights content and providing better modes to share and present authenticated information.
- Work with Program Director to build relationships with technology influencers and to support private advocacy and closed-door meetings with stakeholders.
- Contribute to broader outreach around our tech and witnessing priorities.
- Helping to plan and implement research.
- Develop public advocacy including blogs, presentations, and short videos.
- Maintain a constant feedback loop with colleagues, partners, and allies around the world, with a particular focus on WITNESS Regional Managers, to understand the needs of activists and independent media creators and identify or develop potential responses.
Coordinate the Development, Testing, and Deployment of New Tools (35%)
- Working with the Program Director and other relevant team members, act in a ‘product manager’ role within team focused on new WITNESS projects developing and tailoring tools to the needs of citizen witnesses. Current projects include the Mobil-Eyes Us initiative and our collaboration with the Guardian Project on CameraV.
- Act as primary technology, technical, and design feedback liaison within WITNESS to our partners on our tools collaborations.
- Lead testing, assessment, and iteration where needed, and contribute to public and media outreach alongside partners and WITNESS colleagues.
Champion Citizen Witnessing in Policy Arenas (25%)
- Track and provide support in articulating positions and supporting WITNESS’ actions on relevant issues in right to record, Internet freedom, corporate and government surveillance, and corporate responsibility in the ICT area, with a focus on leadership at the intersection of video, mobile and citizen participation
- Support WITNESS’ work on police violence in the United States, contributing on issues that overlap with tech policy such as the public’s right to film police interactions, the use of body-worn cameras by police, and local surveillance debates in coalition with grassroots partners.
PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIPS
- Program Director (supervisor)
- Regional Managers and Coordinators
- Program Lead for US Police Violence
- Other Program Managers
- Engagement Team, Media Archive, Media Operations, External Relations departments as needed
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
The ideal candidate will have a balance of experience in technology, human rights, social media and digital communications, and new forms of journalism.
- Education: Relevant Bachelor’s required; Masters preferred
- Experience: A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience working in technology and/or human rights, and with a demonstrated capacity to think creatively and effectively about engagement and advocacy
- Technology landscape: Understanding of current debates around the role of technology in human rights; understanding of broader technology environment, and exposure to start-up and technology innovation environments
- Technology literacy: High level of technology literacy with a good understanding of different technology operating systems, products and platforms and the appropriate situational use of each as well as the basics of software development, user experience design, and product management
- Human rights: A demonstrated commitment to human rights and understanding of how human rights operate in both a domestic and international contexts
- Journalism: A familiarity with the current news environment and current trends in citizen journalism
- Excellent writing and presentation skills ranging from blogs to slideshows to research reports
- Demonstrated capacity in persuasion, facilitation or advocacy
- Practical research and analysis skills
- Demonstrated record of dynamism and self-starting action
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in a technology company, either in a technical or PM role
- Professional experience of human rights advocacy internationally
- North America media justice, activism and human rights experience: Experience engaging with media or video activism in North America
START DATE: Flexible
LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY
TITLE: Program Coordinator, Tech + Advocacy
SALARY: WITNESS offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits that include employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, accident, and disability insurance, FSA, 401k, transit, and a generous vacation package.
TO APPLY: To apply, send your cover letter with salary requirements, resume, and contact information for 3 references
to jobs@witness.org with the subject line “Program Coordinator, Tech Advocacy”.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled; early applications are encouraged. Please note that due to the volume anticipated, we will not be able to respond individually to each applicant.We kindly ask that you do not send duplicate applications via mail or email, and no phone calls. Thank you.
WITNESS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. WE CAREFULLY CONSIDER APPLICANTS FOR ALL POSITIONS WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, CREED, GENDER, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, MARITAL OR VETERAN STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR ANY OTHER LEGALLY PROTECTED STATUS.