Overview

Founded in 1941, Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of democracy around the globe. Our Research and Analysis division produces cutting-edge reports on topics such as the state of democratic institutions, key tactics employed by modern authoritarians, and how the internet is restricted and increasingly manipulated to undermine human rights, particularly of society’s most vulnerable. Freedom House’s Technology and Democracy team monitors the global state of human rights online, analyzes digital threats to election integrity, and advocates for a free and open internet.

Position summary
Freedom House is seeking a Community Engagement Specialist who will join the organization’s small, supportive, and dynamic Technology and Democracy team. This position will strengthen and oversee Freedom House’s engagement with digital rights organizations, independent experts, the private sector, multilateral and multistakeholder bodies, and other key audiences in support of a free and open internet. The candidate will work closely with the team behind Freedom on the Net, our annual study of internet freedom in 70 countries. This is a full-time position ideally based in New York City, with some flexibility for Washington, DC or remote locations in the United States.

Key responsibilities

  • Collaborate with Freedom on the Net’s international network of contributors to advance their research and advocacy efforts at the local, regional, and global levels.
  • Recommend and develop processes and structures that refine our engagement with external stakeholders.
  • Identify new and cultivate existing relationships with digital rights organizations, independent experts, the private sector, multilateral and multistakeholder bodies, and other key stakeholders.
  • Develop strategies and collaboration opportunities to engage partners around priority issues related to human rights online, including through convening and participating in roundtables, events, and coalition calls as needed. Where funding and health conditions permit, travel to attend relevant conferences to represent Freedom House.
  • Design and maintain outreach communication products such as content for Twitter and newsletters.
  • Project manage Freedom House’s engagement activities over the short, medium, and long-term.
  • Analyze data and prepare charts, graphics, and other support materials for publication.
  • Assist with donor reports, funding proposals, and monitoring and evaluation as needed.
  • Provide additional administrative, logistical, and research support to the Technology and Democracy team as needed.

Qualifications

  • Candidates must possess authorization to work in the United States.
  • Minimum of 3 years of related experience in partnership building, communications, advocacy, project management, or a comparable field.
  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field preferred but not required.
  • Strong knowledge of and interest in how the internet can protect or undermine human rights.
  • Understanding of the global internet freedom community, including relevant organizations, experts, conferences, and multilateral and multistakeholder bodies.
  • Demonstrated ability collaborating and building trusted partnerships with researchers, activists, human rights defenders, journalists, or other groups within civil society, particularly in non-U.S. and non-European contexts.
  • Experience using communications and advocacy tools to strengthen community engagement and impact.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across Freedom House’s research, communications, and advocacy teams, as well as with external partners across regions and issue areas.
  • Strong English writing skills and experience drafting concise, eloquent, and media-friendly communications.
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in a workplace setting and in collaborations with external stakeholders.
  • Emotional intelligence needed to facilitate cooperation between people with divergent views and from different cultural backgrounds.
  • Comfort working with limited supervision on long-term tasks, finding solutions to problems as they arise, and taking responsibility for your work.
  • Experience conducting project management and coordinating multiple tasks on a 3-12 month timeline.

We do not expect anyone to tick every single box for this position, and if you have relevant experience not listed here, please apply and tell us about it.

Additional Information

  • The hired candidate is expected to begin in late March or April 2022.
  • Salaries are commensurate with experience and based on pay grades that prioritize equity across the organization. The pay grade for this role starts at $50,000.
  • Freedom House provides a strong benefits package, including a 10-percent employer match program for your 403(b) retirement account, commuter benefits, flexible summer hours, floating holidays, high employer contributions to medical, dental, and vision premiums, basic and voluntary life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending account, and more.
  • Diversity makes our research stronger. The negative effects of digital technology disproportionately impact marginalized populations, including people of color, women, people with disabilities, religious minorities, and the LGBT+ community. Freedom House centers these experiences in its work. We actively seek and strongly encourage applications from people with lived experience relating to our work.
  • Freedom House workplace culture emphasizes support, growth, and transparency. We value colleagues’ mental and physical well-being.
  • Freedom House employees are currently working remotely with the option to come into the office in New York City (located in downtown Manhattan) or Washington, DC. Strong candidates who wish to stay permanently remote will also be considered.
  • The role may require light domestic and international travel to participate in conferences, briefings, and workshops.

Directions to Apply
Apply by sending the following documents, as PDFs, to techdem@freedomhouse.org with “Community Engagement Specialist Application” as the subject:

  • A resume (1-2 pages)
  • A cover letter (max. 1 page)

Applications will be accepted through Monday, March 14, and candidates will be expected to submit a short writing exercise during the interview process. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Applicants who fail to meet these criteria will not be considered.

Disclaimer: This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder may differ from those outlined in the job description and other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job. Freedom House may add, change, or remove essential and other duties at any time.

Freedom House is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors,  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Freedom House, please call: 202-227-4308.