New York, NY
PROGRAM OFFICER, TECHNOLOGY
m/Oppenheim Associates is assisting the Ford Foundation in New York in the search for a highly-skilled and innovative leader to serve as the Technology Program Officer, a newly created role within the Internet Rights Unit. Additional information on Ford Foundation’s goals, further details on the position, and desired qualifications can be found on the position description.
The Ford Foundation’s Internet Rights unit works globally to advance economic and social protections in the internet environment, achieve universal, affordable, and secure internet access, broaden the participation of marginalized groups through targeted strategies for digital inclusion, encourage the development of technologies that strengthen individual privacy and data security as a norm, promote open and transparent technology systems, advance fair and representative strategies for internet governance, and train the next generation of leaders to ensure a diverse flow of technology expertise into government and civil society.
Building on Ford’s rich legacy in and commitment to promoting universal access, open systems and clear protections for the public in the Internet environment, the Technology Program Officer will serve as technology advisor, mentor and ambassador, add a critical technical lens to important grant making discussions, help to identify, assess, plan, and implement new technology needs, tools, systems, and processes required by the program.
The Technology program officer will:
- Manage a dedicated portfolio of grants and other activities to support a robust field of individuals worldwide working on technical aspects of the Open Internet as part of the Foundation’s Democracy, Rights and Justice Program. Work with cross-functional teams of managers to identify the right emerging technologies or technology projects that the Ford Foundation will support to increase internet freedom and human rights globally;
- Contribute to the design and manage a new Ford Foundation Technology Fellows program, with the goal that through this program there will be a greater degree of engagement from philanthropy with technology;
- Participate in the implementation of program and Foundation-wide technical strategies, as well as prioritize technology-centered projects and resources to advance the Ford Foundation’s broader program goals.
The Technology Program Officer must have substantial professional and management experience in IT infrastructure architecture, deployment, operations, and considerable experience in and deep knowledge of internet technology, either internationally or within a global context. He or she will have sophisticated knowledge about existing and emerging technologies and their regulatory environments (internet policy experience a plus).
For additional information, please contact Lisa Grossman at lisag@moppenheim.com or Kim Brettschneider at kimb@moppenheim.com