Director, Democracy + Tech Initiative, Digital Forensic Research Lab

Job Location: Atlantic Council Headquarters - Washington, DC
Employment Type: Full-Time
Seniority Level: Director
Job Category: Staff

The Democracy + Tech Initiative is a policy practice that aligns global stakeholders toward tech and governance that reinforces, rather than undermines, open societies. The Initiative examines how the tech that connects and informs people is funded, built, and governed, and how that affects the viability of rights-respecting and democratic societies around the world.

Connective technologies are ubiquitous in modern life, and the ways in which governments use, promote, and regulate them is central to the global order. As many nations embrace an increasingly forceful authoritarian approach to these issues, the need for a powerful, coherent, and actionable democratic approach has never been greater.

The Initiative grew out of, and builds on, the Digital Forensic Research Lab's established track record and leadership in the open-source field. It empowers global communities to promote transparency and accountability online and around the world. It is a part of the overall Atlantic Council Technology Programs (ACtech).

Each part of ACtech is a policy start-up. We're different than most think tank teams, and we like it that way!

The Democracy + Tech Initiative is designed to:

• Center human rights and democracy in tech and policy debates;
• Shape what happens next by looking beyond the current tech and democracy flash points;
• Ensure decisions about global tech include equities and stakeholders around the world;
• Connect and align siloed communities and issues across government, industry, and civil society; and
• Elevate a new generation of diverse leaders with crosscutting expertise to shape policy and industry outcomes.

After four years building the first phase of this groundbreaking initiative, we are seeking an experienced and creative leader to guide the Initiative through its next phase. The ideal candidate will be well placed to lead a team of at least six global staff to support them in having outsized impact on the technology policy issues most relevant to the viability of human rights and democracy globally.

We are hiring for an immediate start. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate has been selected.

This position is based in our Washington, DC, headquarters, requiring a minimum of 4 days per week in office. The Atlantic Council offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, education, and organizational equity, with offers from $160,000 to $210,000.

• Co-create and oversee the implementation of Initiative strategy and goals for advancing rights respecting approaches to technology policy and development, making use of Atlantic Council publishing, events-based, convening, and other resources;
• Manage a team of research fellows and practitioners to grow as professionals and operate as a team, while implementing grants, driving strategy, and delivering on program goals;
• Oversee the Initiative's budget, and lead development efforts to sustain and grow the program;
• Build relationships and collaborate with key government officials and offices, industry representatives, and civil society leaders around the globe;
• Identify key opportunities for policy impact, build actionable strategies for taking advantage of them, and support the Initiative's existing programs;
• Oversee the strategy for and publication of research that contributes to the Initiative's mission and advances the ACtech's overarching goals;
• Maintain coordination mechanisms with civil society and industry working on similar issues;
• Stay current on policy discourse surrounding foreign policy and national security, internet freedom, geopolitics of technology, comparative digital regulation, emerging technology, trust and safety as a field, internet governance, connectivity and infrastructure investments, data governance, digital public infrastructure, and other related issues;
• Represent the Initiative and Atlantic Council in public fora, in the press, and major gatherings;
• Shape the policy relevance of ACtech and DFRLab research by identifying potential areas of inquiry where open source or digital forensic research would be valuable or underreported;
• Represent the Initiative within ACtech, liaise with Atlantic Council senior leadership, and work collaboratively to embed the Initiative's work with the Atlantic Council's overarching approach to technology.

• Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience and demonstrated subject matter expertise;
• Mastery of issues related to tech policy, human rights, geopolitics, and tech industry operations with a global context;
• Experience working with global civil society and government officials;
• Excellent research, writing, and editing skills in English;
• Experience raising funds from a diversity of sources and managing budgets;
• Experience managing virtual and international teams and growing organizations;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including an ability to work well in a team and deal effectively with individuals ranging from interns to top officials in government and the private sector;
• Washington, D.C. location preferred;
• Ability to travel to Washington, D.C. and globally to represent the Initiative's work.

• Master's degree or equivalent in International Affairs, Journalism, Public Policy or a related field;
• International experience and foreign language skills;
• Experience working in international policymaking or advocacy;
• Active on social media and/or a high degree of digital literacy.

To produce quality work and to successfully achieve our mission, we recognize the need for our staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a work/life balance. Our comprehensive benefits package helps to keep costs low for our staff and their families. Benefits include, but are not limited to comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, 403(b) plan, FSA options, pet insurance, Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, and wellness benefits.