Privacy International (PI), London
Policy Officers
Deadline for application: 20 July 2016

Privacy International (PI) is looking for two new Policy Officers. One role will focus on the Global South, engaging with national, regional and international institutions; while the other will focus on the companies, regulators and countries that set standards internationally.

In its multi-year strategic plan, PI is pushing for surveillance reform, building a global movement with emphasis on work in the Global South, and challenging the exploitation of data. PI is looking for people to join its dynamic organisation to hold government and industry to account and demand meaningful protections and safeguards for people everywhere. PI urgently needs to develop and promote policies that are centred on empowering individuals, placing them in control over their data. Technology underpins much of our lives and we need to ensure it empowers people and does not betray them.
Privacy International is looking for people who are motivated to engage with issues around:

Policy Officer (Technology, Rights and the Global South): Governments across the world are moving swiftly towards more data-driven policy-making and are adopting more invasive technologies to manage societies. This affects more so those living on the margins of societies and in the Global South where there is often a lack of the legal, political and social infrastructure to enforce needed protections. We must enhance policy makers' understandings of the importance of autonomy, dignity, and self-determination as well as personal and collective security and the safety of data and infrastructure.

Policy Officer (Data Innovation and Policy): Our modern devices, networks and services are built with the capability of extracting vast amounts of personal, community and societal data without the consent of the people that it is extracted from. In addition to legal and technology advocacy, PI requires a person who has demonstrated an ability to communicate effectively with policy makers and regulators to achieve the goals of the organisation by bringing about incremental change. PI is looking for someone who wants to help frame and shape our engagement strategy around Data Exploitation for the key stakeholders and policy makers best placed to deliver remedies.

The Policy Officers will also work with PI teams focused on advocating for better privacy protections, campaigning for surveillance reform, engaging in strategic communications, on groundbreaking research and investigations, and exploring the intersection of technology and human rights. 

Responsibilities
• Work with staff across Privacy International and the PI Network of partner organisations to review and develop communications and policy resources for an array of audiences.
• Monitor priorities and activities of key national, regional and international bodies around privacy, data protection, human rights, technology and security.
• Maintain and develop new partnerships with experts and organisations in the two programme areas: i) the Global South through working with new communities and sectors to motivate and enable strategic engagement on these issues, ii) engaging with experts in data analysis, data-driven decision-making and across the technology sector.
• Work across our teams to design and implement strategic campaigning and advocacy activities which will include responding to public consultations and producing briefings for diverse stakeholders, including the general public, civil society organisations, regulators and standards bodies, media, and policy-makers and industry.
• Lead in organising and implementing targeted workshops and training by coordinating logistics and content development.
• Represent, and be an ambassador for, Privacy International at conferences, meetings, workshops and other events as required.

Person specification
Essential
• Degree in law, human rights, political science or international relations, or equivalent experience.
• Extensive experience in policy, campaigning, advocacy, or strategic communications.
• Detailed knowledge of: regional and international policy processes involved in human rights (Policy Officer - Technology, Rights, and the Global South); regulatory and standards bodies processes and fora involved in technology policy and rights (Policy Officer - Data Innovation and Policy).
• Demonstrable knowledge of privacy, data protection, and technology issues.
• Proactive and self-motivated individual capable of working unsupervised and taking responsibility for managing relationships with key partners, stakeholders and policy-makers.
• Exceptional communications and presentation skills, both written and oral, with a proven track record of communicating complex issues to diverse audiences.
• Strong multitasking abilities and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Experience of working with and in small teams.
• Experience of organising events and/or workshops.

Desirable
• Knowledge of the non-profit sector and general understanding of the key institutions in i) the human rights world and/or ii) regulatory and technology policy environments.
• Fluency in at least one other language other than English, possibly Arabic, Chinese, or Spanish.
• Knowledge of and experience working in i) international human rights and familiarity with international human rights law and/or ii) technology and policy, regulation and/or standards.
• Enthusiasm for development work and willingness to travel frequently.

This post is a permanent full time position, based in PI's office in Clerkenwell, London.

Submitting your application 
Please indicate in the heading in your cover letter which of the two posts you would like to be considered for i.e. Application for Policy Officer (Technology, Rights and The Global South) or Policy Officer (Data Innovation and Policy). If you would like to be considered for both roles please state in the header Application for Policy Officer roles. If you do decide that you want to be considered for both roles, please ensure that your cover letter clearly indicates why you think you would be suitable for each of these distinct roles. If you apply for both roles, PI will inform interviewees for which role they have been shortlisted. 

To apply, please send:
• a CV (no more than two pages)
• a cover letter (no more than one page)
• a sample of non-academic writing (for example, blog or analysis piece, or creative writing).

The CV and cover letter must be submitted as a single PDF file of no more than three pages (please place the cover letter first). In addition submit the sample of non-academic writing as a separate PDF file. To apply, please send both files to recruitment@privacy.org by 6 pm BST on Wednesday 20 July.

Interviews will be held the week commencing 25 July. There is a possibility that there will also be a second round of interviews, which will be decided only after the first round interviews have taken place. PI is able to arrange video conference interviews with candidates based outside London.