#JobAlert: We’re looking for a Senior Policy & Advocacy Manager

For our Berlin office, AlgorithmWatch is looking for a Senior Policy & Advocacy Manager!
- Full- or part-time (32-40 h per week)
- Desired starting date: 1 March or 1 April 2023
- Deadline for applications: 31 January 2023, 23:59 CEST (we will be inviting applicants for interviews from mid-January on a rolling basis)
AlgorithmWatch is a human rights organization based in Berlin and Zurich. Evaluating the social impact of algorithmic decision-making (ADM) and AI-based systems, we’re dedicated to ensuring that these systems are used to strengthen human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. All too often, they restrict people’s rights and are not deployed in their interest. To change this, we run campaigns, publish journalistic investigations, and scientifically analyze algorithmic systems and how they are overseen and controlled.
Please visit our website, subscribe to our newsletters, or follow us on Twitter, Mastodon or LinkedIn to get an idea of our work and see some of our team members.

Your future role
As Senior Policy & Advocacy Manager, you help AlgorithmWatch protect people’s fundamental rights in the face of increasing use of algorithmic systems, and you do so in close collaboration with the rest of the policy team, succeeding our outgoing Senior Policy & Advocacy Manager. You are responsible for our work in one or more of our four thematic pillars, which we will jointly define according to your profile and the team’s needs:
- Algorithmic systems in the public sector
- Algorithmic systems in the public sphere (governance of online platforms)
- Algorithmic systems at the workplace
- Algorithmic systems and sustainability
In detail, this means:
- You develop and co-develop evidence-based policy positions, and you advocate for them vis-à-vis decision makers – in writing as well as in person.
- You actively identify opportunities for translating these positions into campaigns and outreach activities addressed at the general public.
- As a Senior member of the team, you guide and advise other team members in coordination with the Head of Policy & Advocacy.
- You build and intensify coalitions with like-minded organizations and develop strategies to collaborate with communities particularly affected by the use of algorithmic / AI-based systems.
What you bring to the role
- You have a background in law, social sciences, humanities, data/information sciences, or other fields relevant to our work.
- You have several years of experience in policy or advocacy work focused on technology and digital issues or in other fields of social justice and human rights (but have a particular interest in digital issues).
- Your political judgment and strategic thinking are excellent, and you are motivated to develop and carry out innovative advocacy and campaigning strategies.
- You have good knowledge of political institutions and processes at the European, German or international level and experience working directly with decision-makers. You have a network of contacts in politics, academia, and civil society.
- You are reliable, proactive, and keen to take ownership of your files. You are able to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a complex and fluid environment.
- You speak German and English fluently, and your oral and written communication in both languages is persuasive across a variety of formats, from policy papers to social media posts.
- You are motivated to represent our organization in various contexts and to get in touch with diverse groups of people, and you are willing to travel to events (maximum of three days, limited number of occasions).
- You identify with our values and our mission to protect human rights and the common good.
What we offer
- You contribute to making society more fair, democratic, inclusive, and sustainable.
- A multi-disciplinary team of diverse, dedicated, and enthusiastic colleagues based in Berlin and Zurich and an amazing network of civil society partners, academics, and policy makers.
- A supportive and appreciative environment, with a team culture that allows to both celebrate successes and share flops and lessons learned. We organize team retreats, events and skill-sharing workshops, team coachings (need-based) and more.
- You enjoy a high level of autonomy, responsibility, and creative possibilities, coordinating with the Head of Policy & Advocacy.
- Flexible working hours and home office arrangements.
- 30 days of vacation; overtime is compensated with time off in lieu; optional occupational pension provision.
- A position with perspective: We support you in your professional development according to your skills and interests with individual and team-based training opportunities.
- A minimum of 4.200 Euro gross monthly salary (full-time equivalent); find information about how gross salary and net income are calculated in Germany here. Please note: We’re working on an update of our salary structure; some adjustments and special benefits will soon be introduced.
- A part-time or full-time contract with 32 - 40 hours/week; initially for 3 years, but we pursue a continued employment and a long-term collaboration.
To support and secure an appreciative and empowering team spirit, we defined values and principles for our team in our mission statement.
Did we get your attention? Please apply now!
AlgorithmWatch is committed to equal treatment and equal opportunity. We strive to have a diverse team and diverse directive boards. We believe that a diversity of perspectives on the team is essential for the task of adequately researching and controlling algorithmic systems. We encourage applications from people who experience(d) discrimination, as well as people with migration or refugee biographies, Black and people of color, or LGBTIQ.
We are constantly working on designing an environment that is inclusive to all people. We understand this as a process in which we have to listen and learn, detect privileges and question them – and act upon it. In case you think that we fall short on this aspiration during the recruiting process, we would appreciate your feedback.
You share our goals and would like to be a part of our team? You would like to get to know us better? We’re looking forward to your application – even if not every aspect in our job posting applies to you!
Please send the following via e-mail to jobs@algorithmwatch.org until 31 January 2023 (please don’t include a photo, your birthdate, or your family status):
- A short cover letter and your CV (German or English)
- A sample of your work – a policy document, position paper, campaign website, press release or similar – accompanied by a brief explanation of your role in its creation
We’ll send you a confirmation that we received it and, if your profile is a good match, we will get back to you within two weeks. We will invite applicants for interviews on a rolling basis from mid-January. If you have any questions, Angela, Head of Policy & Advocacy, will be happy to answer them (jobs@algorithmwatch.org). Interviews take place in persona or via video conference. We can cover your travel expenses within a reasonable range (in case the German employment agency doesn’t).
We safeguard your personal data. To learn more about how we protect the data entrusted to us in the application process, please see our privacy policy.