Digital Rights and Civic Technology Advisor, Digital Citizenship Lab (NEW)

Who We Are

IREX is a global development and education organization. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. With a projected annual portfolio of more than $150 million and more than 750 staff worldwide, we work with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.

The Digital Rights and Civic Technology Advisor will be an integral part of IREX’s Digital Citizenship (DC) Lab, which explores how online and offline experiences impact the way individuals engage with each other and with the communities, organizations, and institutions around them and use digital technologies to educate, inform, and convene. The DC Lab’s goal is to advance strong digital citizenship along four dimensions - robust digital rights, responsible digital engagement; protection from digital harms; and inclusive digital access, experiences, and leadership. The Digital Rights and Civic Technology Advisor will report to the Lab’s leadership and be responsible for advancing thought leadership relevant to DC Lab work and for integrating digital rights approaches and tools into wholistic digital citizenship initiatives across IREX’s information and media programs.

We are doers. Our decades of on-the-ground experience help us create greater impact, practical recommendations, and lasting partnerships.

Are you the next member of our team?

Your Background & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in international studies, public policy, information, media, and technology, human development, human rights, or other relevant field, master’s degree preferred;
• 8+ years of progressive job experience in areas relevant to the position including digital rights; digital democracy; ethical application of emerging technologies, including AI, in development work; civic technologies; addressing online harms; etc.
• Experience managing product development processes, such as digital tools, capacity strengthening trainings, learning frameworks, and others;
• Experience designing and carrying out innovative civic tech and digital rights initiatives in diverse settings;
• Experience writing proposals and concepts for USG and other donors;
• Experience conducting research and producing knowledge products for external audiences such as papers, two-pagers, presentations, and similar products;
• Strong desk research and critical thinking and analytical skills necessary to stay up to date with rapid developments in technology, rights, and democracy landscapes;
• Excellent written and oral communications skills including writing and editing of impact reports and publications and effective presentation and audience engagement;
• Ability to both work independently and collaboratively as part of the larger muti-cultural, diverse team;
• Speaking, reading, and writing proficiency in English.
• You must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.

Your Daily Tasks

• Development of digital rights tools;
• Coordination of digital rights tools and thought leadership with other DC Lab workstreams such as responsible digital engagement, digital protections, and inclusive digital experiences, leadership, and access;
• Responsible for managing workplans and deliverables associated with their scope of work;
• Reporting to the DC Lab Director and practice leadership.
• Representing IREX at donor and stakeholder convenings;
• Presenting on digital rights and emerging technologies for development expert roles at conferences and events;
• Creating and sharing compelling presentations of information and DC Lab products related to the scope of this position to internal and external audiences.
• Writing concepts and proposals related to the advancement of digital citizenship and digital rights and the integration of civic tech and emerging tech in development;
• Participating in the design of holistic programs that include digital rights and civic tech components;
• Lead the proposal development process for specific opportunities;
• Responsible for identifying collaborators and partners with relevant expertise to partner with IREX on digital citizenship initiatives and building strong relationships with these partners.
• Responsible for support cost proposal development for civic tech and rights initiatives.
• Building collaborative relationships with other DC Lab team members and with staff across I&M practice to integrate digital rights and civic tech activities, tools, and initiatives into the work of other digital citizenship and I&M programs;
• Participating in the creation and nurturing of the community of practice for digital citizenship.
• Other support duties as needed.

IREX will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008.

We conduct background checks on all successful candidates.

This position is eligible for Remote work. The eligible employee is a regular, full-time staff who works from a worksite outside the DC metro area on a more permanent or ongoing basis.

This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

EOE – Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.