Technology Advocacy Manager

Job Title: Technology Advocacy Manager

Department: Advocacy and Communications

Job Band: Management I

Office Location: New York or Washington DC candidates are preferred, however, extraordinary applicants residing outside of the local area may be considered for fully remote work

Reports to Title: Deputy Director of Advocacy

FLSA Status: Exempt

Union Represented: Yes

How to Apply:

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references.

Application Deadline: 

Applications will be accepted until May 4, 2024. However, we will review applications on an ongoing basis as needed.

Organization Overview:

Founded in 1981, the Committee to Protect Journalists (“CPJ”) is an independent, non-profit organization defending journalists worldwide without regard to their political ideology. Through its work to safeguard journalists, CPJ protects the rights of all people to have access to diverse and independent sources of information. For more than four decades, CPJ has helped win the early release of imprisoned journalists, secure convictions in journalist murders, and enable positive legal reform in countries where the climate for free expression has deteriorated while providing direct safety advice and assistance. Learn more about CPJ’s fight to defend freedom of the press here: http://cpj.org/

At CPJ, we are dedicated to upholding values of equity and free expression in both our internal operations and external endeavors. As an organization headquartered in the United States, we aspire to build a diverse workplace and foster an inclusive and welcoming environment. As an international organization, we strive for our people to be representative of the global community on which we report and to equip them with the opportunities and resources they need to learn and succeed.

Job Summary:

The Technology Advocacy Manager is in an exciting new role and is responsible for leading CPJ’s advocacy on technology and press freedom issues. Building on CPJ’s long history of work on rapidly evolving challenges at the intersection of tech and press freedom, this position will drive the development and implementation of a new multi-year tech advocacy agenda for CPJ. Working across teams, this role will identify tech policy and practice issues that threaten individual journalists and press freedom more broadly and propose strategic interventions that CPJ should utilize to counter these. The Technology Advocacy Manager will identify emerging challenges and monitor fast-moving developments, providing context and analysis to drive and inform organizational decision-making. Whether with a national, regional, or international focus, the Technology Manager’s portfolio would range from negotiations on the UN Cybercrime Treaty to stemming the use of surveillance to proposed changes in relevant policies by social media platforms. This position will represent CPJ at existing coalition and advocacy meetings, government/company briefings, and consultations while taking stock of how CPJ should engage in the rapidly changing landscape of digital coalitions and partnerships. 

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit represented by the Writers Guild of America, East.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead in the development and implementation of a multi-year strategy for CPJ’s research, advocacy, and engagement with technology companies, policymakers, regulators, governments, and other external stakeholders regarding tech and press freedom issues. 
• Provide strategic advocacy advice and policy and trends analysis to ensure CPJ is positioned and equipped to deliver on its mission.
• Craft timely, comprehensive, accurate, compelling, evidence-based advocacy messages or other related materials to advance CPJ’s research, positions, and proposed solutions.
• Support technical interventions directed at governments, policymakers, companies, and multilateral institutions; contribute to report writing; and prepare presentations for briefings and other meetings with external stakeholders.
• Represent CPJ in relevant coalitions and initiatives (e.g., #KeepItOnCampaign and Global Network Initiative) and participate in conferences and events. 
• Maintain regular contact with external actors and partners working directly on relevant issues; nurture relationships and enhance CPJ’s ability to deliver relevant proposals to policymakers and companies to influence outcomes that benefit journalists.
• Conduct a landscape assessment of initiatives and partnerships relevant to the nexus of tech and press freedom and contribute.
• Develop systems to monitor and report on key developments in policy, legislation, corporate practice, and legal actions related to the nexus of press freedom and technology. This includes, for example, surveillance and threats to privacy, online safety and harassment, Internet shutdowns and censorship, digital forensic technologies, and the emergent threats and opportunities posed by AI for press freedom. 
• Collaborate with CPJ regional programs, guiding and contributing to research and analysis of critical cases and trends and integrating these into subsequent outreach and advocacy interventions.
• Develop or assist in the development of relevant content, including reports, research summaries, talking points, speeches, threat scenarios, and op-eds.
• Contribute to staff capacity building and lead internal knowledge sharing on technology issues related to CPJ’s mission.
• Carry out necessary administrative work, including trackers, financial reports, contact data, and other organizational records.

Education/Qualifications & Work Experience: 

Required:

• 5+ years of experience in digital rights, online censorship, online harassment, tech surveillance, and internet shutdowns, among others that impact free expression and the free flow of information in the digital age. A regional or international focus is preferred. 
• Excellent knowledge of cutting-edge issues at the intersection of press freedom and tech, with a solid grasp of relevant geopolitical dynamics and the broader media freedom landscape. 
• A sound understanding of international human rights frameworks, especially the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and tools such as export controls, and familiarity with prominent industry and issue-related human rights and ethical guidelines or initiatives. 
• A rich network of contacts with digital rights groups, security researchers, and tech companies.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing advocacy strategies, plans, and materials with meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative and consultative environment.
• Experience working within international and geographically diverse issues and environments, including through coalitions and campaigns.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Additional Qualifications, Characteristics, and Competencies:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must have an exceptional ability to translate technical concepts into real-world language and to explain the threats or opportunities they may present to the lives and work of journalists. 
• Excellent research skills, including desk-based research and interviews.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing complex research and advocacy projects and plans. 
• Critical thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable toggling between working independently and excelling in a fast-paced environment while engaging with a global team across different time zones and cultures.
• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality and with a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and anti-oppressive values. 
• Fluency in Arabic, French, or Spanish is a plus.

Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this classification successfully and are reflective of work in a typical office setting. Absent undue hardship, CPJ may make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

• Remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods.
• Occasionally move about in the office to access file cabinets, machinery, etc. (This applies to employees who work in the NYC office).
• Operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and printer.
• Communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Observe details at close range.
• Carry objects weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Work in an office setting where the noise level is usually moderate (this applies to employees who work in the NYC office).
• For individuals not hired to work from the NYC office, this position may require up to 20% travel, including visits to CPJ's New York City office and domestic and international travel as necessary. If hired to work from the NYC office, travel up to 20% may still be required for other purposes beyond everyday commuting.
• Occasional weeknight and weekend availability is necessary. 
• Must be accessible to assist in emergencies outside of regular working hours.

Vaccination Requirement:
Employees who work in the NYC office must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they qualify for reasonable accommodation for medical or religious reasons. Accordingly, new employees must submit proof of vaccination before employment unless a reasonable accommodation is granted.

Location:

We promote a flexible working environment for work-life balance, with opportunities for hybrid and flexible work schedules. Our NYC office, located in Midtown Manhattan, was designed to be a place where we can work effectively and collaboratively, bringing energy, inspiration, commitment, and deep learning to our mission. The NYC office is working on a hybrid schedule of two days in-office (Wednesday and one other day of the employee’s/manager’s choosing), with the option of working three days remotely, subject to adjustment based on business needs. 

Candidates residing outside the local area may be considered for fully remote work with the ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed. 

Benefits:

• Health Care Plans (100% employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision plans for employee coverage)
• Health Reimbursement Account (employer-funded HRA of $5,000 annually) 
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (employer contribution of 4%. Additional employer dollar-for-dollar match of elective employee contribution up to 3%)
• Life Insurance and AD&D Plans (100% employer-sponsored with the option to elect additional voluntary plans)
• Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, and paid holidays)  
• Short Term & Long Term Disability (employer-sponsored with the option to elect additional voluntary plans)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pre-Tax Flexible Spending Accounts (medical, dependent care, and commuter expenses)
• Voluntary benefits plans (accident, hospitalization, critical Illness, pet, and legal insurance)
• Flexible Work Schedules

Equal Employment Opportunity:
CPJ provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.