About the Oversight Board
The Oversight Board makes binding and independent decisions about the most challenging content issues on Facebook and Instagram. Members of the Board include Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former Prime Minister of Denmark, Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Michael McConnell, Director of Stanford’s Constitutional Law Center, and many other diverse leaders and thinkers from around the world. The Board issued its first decisions in January 2021.
The Oversight Board Administration is the team of full-time staff who support Board Members in carrying out their duties. The Administration has a presence in London, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., and operates with a global scope.
You can learn more about the Board at www.oversightboard.com.
The Role
The Head of US Communications and Global Engagement will work to engage policymakers, civil society leaders, researchers, journalists and other key external stakeholders in the work of the Oversight Board, reporting to the Vice-President of Global Communications and Public Engagement. A deep understanding and enthusiasm for the role of the Oversight Board in the evolving technology and content moderation landscape is important.
The post holder will:
- Create and deliver global (non EMEA) and US specific engagement strategy tied to specific outcomes that advance the organizational strategy.
- Lead on US campaigns integrating engagement and media work to maximize strategic outcomes.
- Identify and engage proactively with tech policy and political stakeholders in the US, to promote and explain the work of Oversight Board.
- Ensure and maintain strong networks with key US reporters, influencers and media networks, in tech and policy space, working proactively and reactively to secure coverage.
- Support on reputational or crisis management issues, as required, including direct engagement with media.
- Act with delegated authority for the VP or Deputy VP, to take time sensitive actions in the US time zone.
- Play a lead role in design and execution of integrated regional communications and engagement moments.
- Develop and oversee the creation of communications materials and events to support stakeholder and media engagement.
- Attend conferences and events, including public speaking, in line with the Board's seven strategic priorities to promote and explain the work of the Oversight Board.
- Highlight key external stakeholder considerations to internal stakeholders.
Responsibilities will include:
- Lead on external audiences outside of EMEA and with a focus on the US stakeholders (with a focus on policymakers) media, legal community, tech companies, challenging stakeholders, academic institutions and other key external bodies.
- They will actively engage with the media and lead on media relations in the US, communicating Oversight Board case decisions and developments to the media, as well as key stakeholder groups.
- They will develop materials, programs and strategies to help navigate difficult issues proactively and build support and understanding for the Board among key external stakeholders.
- They will work closely with other members of the communications team and Oversight Board Administration leadership on a range of key projects and issues, including shaping our overall global communications and public engagement strategy.
- They will secure speaking opportunities for board members and other senior OSB leaders, as well as attending conferences and events to publicly represent the Oversight Board, in line with key priorities.
- Identify and map key external stakeholder groups on an ongoing basis.
- Brief internal stakeholders on trends and considerations observed in external stakeholder discussions.
- Sign off on newsletter, stakeholder emails, messaging documents and publicly available communications.
- Manage external engagement consultants.
- Line management responsibilities.
- Work closely with senior members of team to ensure alignment and coherence of external messaging and activities.
This role may be based in the Administration’s location of Washington, DC.
Skills & Experience
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience in media, communications, public policy or civil society advocacy and coalition-building.
- Impeccable spoken and written communication skills.
- Experience working and engaging with a diverse range of external stakeholders including policymakers, journalists, civil society, non-governmental organizations and members of the public.
- Experience in working with Senior/Executives managing complex briefs to a high standard.
- Experience in navigating complex organizational structures.
- Ability to operate in a fast-paced organization, managing competing projects, priorities and internal stakeholders simultaneously.
- Experience communicating on challenging issues relating to technology and society, such as human rights, freedom of expression, privacy and security.
What we can offer you
As well as a competitive annual salary of circa $200,000, we also offer a market leading benefits package, covering a variety of areas, both professional and personal. These benefits include:
- A generous employer contribution towards the 401(k) plan with no requirement for you to contribute;
- Progressive family friendly benefits including a robust paid parental leave policy;
- Comprehensive short-term and long-term disability, life assurance and business travel insurance packages providing financial support in events of ill health, injury etc;
- A generous childcare subsidy to provide financial support for eligible childcare costs;
- A generous home working and commuting allowance to provide financial support for remote and/or office working;
- An extensive healthcare package including medical, dental and vision plans offering coverage for you and your family;
- A training allowance to support both your continuous professional development and professional membership;
- 22 days of paid time off per calendar year in addition to statutory public holidays;
- 2 'recharge' paid vacation days per calendar year;
- A holistic wellbeing support plan encompassing a variety of offerings to assist you. We provide you with an allowance to fund activities to best support your wellbeing as well as workshops and training to provide tools and guidance. Additionally, there is a wide-ranging employee assistance program available to advise on personal, family or financial matters, and also fun social events all year round.
Oversight Board is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment. You will receive equal treatment regardless of age, mental or physical disability, gender, gender expression or gender identity (including transgender status), gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions) or maternity, race, color, creed, nationality, ancestry, citizenship status, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, and any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.
We welcome all applications for this role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. If you are submitting an application, please note that we will only be in touch if your application is shortlisted for interview. Please see our privacy notice here.
If you would like to keep updated with the work of the Oversight Board and future opportunities, please follow us on our LinkedIn page.