• LOCATION: Any metropolitan area within Australia
• COMMITMENT: Part time (0.8FTE) fixed-term 12-month contract
• REPORTS TO: Board
• SALARY: $100-125,000 per annum FTE (pro-rata to 0.8FTE), depending on experience, including 10% superannuation

We are currently seeking an Executive Director with inclusive leadership skills to inspire, lead and manage performance to achieve Digital Rights Watch’s operational and strategic goals.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the growth of a human rights non-profit, shaping its day-to-day operations, and collaborating with an active and engaged board to develop its strategic direction.

You will be responsible for guiding our small but growing team to further the objectives of the organisation. You will represent the interests of Digital Rights Watch to government, corporate partners, the community, and the human rights and technology sectors. You will lead our engagement with organisational partners both here in Australia and globally to further the collective impact of the digital rights movement.

We have existing funding (both project and organisational), and leads for future partnerships, but you’ll be responsible for securing ongoing funding for Digital Rights Watch’s work from public donations, philanthropic sources, and corporate partnerships. You’ll act as a public spokesperson for the organisation and work with our staff to implement communication plans that engage with the public on a range of national security, privacy and human rights issues. You will work with our board, staff, and volunteers to develop policy positions and engage with partners to advocate for positive change.

We are looking for someone with a start-up mentality, who wants to have a go, but you will not be left without support. We will be flexible to adapt to accommodate candidates that may not have all the selection criteria.

Planning:

• Set strategic direction for the organisation, in close consultation with the Board
• Develop operational and programme focus and frameworks
• Lead annual strategic and programme planning and review
• Oversee infrastructure and technological resource planning
• Prepare funding applications, agreements and acquittals

Management:

• Commit to & deliver the organisation’s strategic plan
• Manage staff and resources
• Shape and support operations/programme contracts, structures, policies and systems
• Ensure compliance with legislative, policy, and funding obligations

Business:

• Ensure and oversee financial planning, management, performance
• Secure public, private, and philanthropic sector funding & resources
• Nurture organisational relationships that support and expand organisational capacity

Campaigns and communications

• Support staff to deliver community engagement, media and outreach activities
• Advocate at local/state/national levels to government, business, and community
• Represent Digital Rights Watch to media
• Represent Digital Rights Watch in local, national, and international forums

To be successful in this role, you probably have:

• Previous experience in a similar role in the not-for-profit sector
• Honest and open leadership and management skills in a complex multi-disciplinary organisation
• The ability to analyse and conceptualise problems and formulate and execute solutions
• Demonstrated capacity for teamwork, coaching, and staff development
• Significant executive managerial experience and a successful track record of managing teams to achieve strategic objectives and operational targets
• Excellent cross-cultural communication skills as well as a good knowledge and respect of human rights and technology sectors

Digital rights is an emerging field of human rights work around the world. Whilst experience with this work is useful, campaign skills and experience from other fields are also applicable. Formal qualifications and experience are less important to us than the right attitude and passion. If you’re interested in this role, please do apply.

Digital Rights Watch is a non-discriminatory employer. Women, gender-diverse people, queer people, people with a disability, people of colour, and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

About Digital Rights Watch

Founded in 2016, Digital Rights Watch is a national charity whose mission is to ensure that Australian citizens are equipped, empowered and enabled to uphold their digital rights.

We believe that digital rights are human rights which see their expression online. We are a progressive change organisation and we believe that robust digital rights are essential for society to change for the better.

We recognise that individuals alone cannot bear the onus for protecting their rights and privacy. A healthy digital future will be built on strong regulation both of government and corporations. This regulation must be grounded in a respect for our fundamental human rights. We recognise that the technology industry has failed to represent the best interests of historically-marginalised people.

We note that the digital debate in Australia is dominated by large technology companies, who are also heavily lobbying our government. We act as a counterbalance to this laissez-faire capitalist world-view.

We are nonpartisan and will work across the political spectrum to achieve our vision of a fair digital society for all Australians. As the Internet is global in nature, so is our understanding of the issues. We partner with like-minded sister organisations across the globe.