• About the Open Rights Group
• Job Description
• Rewards
• How to Apply

About the Open Rights Group

Politicians and the media don’t always understand new technologies, but comment and legislate anyway. The result can be ill-informed journalism and dangerous laws.

The Open Rights Group is a grassroots technology organisation which exists to protect civil liberties wherever they are threatened by the poor implementation and regulation of digital technology. We call these rights our “digital rights”.

In 2005, a community of 1,000 digital rights enthusiasts came together to create the Open Rights Group. Since then, ORG has spoken out on copyright term extension, DRM and the introduction of electronic voting in the UK. We have informed the debate on data protection, freedom of information, data retention and the surveillance state.

These are issues that affect all of us. Together, our community, which includes some of the UK’s most renowned technology experts, works hard to raise awareness about them. (To find out more about the Open Rights Group, please read our 2007 Review of Activities [pdf])

Open Rights non-executive board member job description

The Open Rights non-executive board member will be expected to take an active role in ensuring the organisation works towards its key missions. He or she will provide strategic guidance and oversight to Open Rights in its stated objectives and goals, and will take part in shaping those goals at regular board meetings. He or she will help ensure that adequate resources are available to progress these objectives and goals, delegating to the executive director or board sub-committees and working groups, and monitoring the resulting work.

The Open Rights non-executive board member will take part in ensuring that Open Rights remains solvent and financially strong, and will take responsibility, together with the other voting members of the Board, for ensuring that all of Open Rights’ activities comply with all legal requirements, be they related to statutory and common law, company law, employment law or any legal undertakings the organisation enters in to. We are especially interested in applicants with board-level experience and professional experience as either a lawyer, accountant or fundraiser.

The Open Rights non-executive board member will be expected to dedicate at least 1-2 days every month to the organisation, to attend monthly board meetings, quarterly Advisory Council meetings and occasional corporate events. He or she will be expected to remain well informed about the organisation and its activities, taking a personal interest in and a collective responsibility for the sustainable growth of the organisation. Finally, he or she should be committed to the health, the democratic integrity, accessibility, and accountability of the Open Rights Board.

Rewards

• Play a major part in the success of an innovative young campaigning organisation that is already making a significant impact on the UK’s politics and media.
• Be at the cutting edge of politics and technology.
• Work with a strong community of like-minded staff, advisers and volunteers committed to strengthening human rights and freedoms in the digital era.

How to Apply

Please send covering letter and CV to michael [AT] openrightsgroup.org. Deadline for applications is Tuesday, 30 September. Tuesday, 28 October.