Pre-Crime Programme Manager

• Title
  Pre-Crime Programme Manager

• Salary
  £40,000 – £43,000 for four day week.

• Location
  Nationwide (home-based); monthly travel to London required for meetings.
  Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.

• Working Hours
  0.8 FTE
  ORG supports flexible working arrangements.

• Line Manager
  Report to Head of Fundraising and Projects.

• Benefits
  26.5 days paid annual leave, including bank holidays.
  Additional one week Christmas closure.
  Additional day off for your birthday.
  8% pension contribution.
  Generous training and development budget.

• Closing Date
  9am on Monday 2 February 2026.

Open Rights Group (ORG) is recruiting for a Pre-Crime Programme Manager

The Pre-Crime Programme Manager leads our work on predictive policing and surveillance within the criminal legal system and counter-terrorism policy, with a particular focus on raising awareness of, and challenging, the impact on over-policed and over-surveilled communities.

They are responsible for the development and implementation of the Pre-Crime programme, working with the Senior Management Team (SMT) and other staff to expand the programme’s profile, network and funding opportunities.

As a Programme Lead, they will also be responsible for working with the SMT and other Area or Programme leads to further develop and uphold ORG’s values and collaborative working culture. They will be recognised as an issue-expert and senior leader within the organisation.

Activities

This is a permanent position at Open Rights Group, and we have secured a number of project grants to deliver the following activities:

• Lead and manage the Safety Not Surveillance (SNS) Coalition, the UK’s only coalition fighting to prohibit AI- and data-driven predictive policing. SNS brings together grassroots partners with national organisations to build power in communities, secure media coverage, engage decision-makers and mobilise those with lived experience.

• Develop detailed policy positions on the deployment of AI and data-driven technologies by private and public actors in criminal justice, immigration and national security.

• Advocacy to encourage decision makers, including MPs, Lords, Government departments and the Information Commissioner’s Office, to adopt ORG’s and the coalition’s recommendations.

• Conduct campaigns that raise awareness of the threats posed to people’s digital rights by the data-driven technologies in policing and counter-terrorism, as well as more broadly.

• Through research and FOIs, help build a legal case with our partners against covert Police-led pathways under Prevent, the UK’s counter-terrorism programme.

• Opportunities to campaign against digital ID, the Online Safety Act and to protect freedom of expression.

Open Rights Group (ORG) is recruiting for a Programme Manager to lead our projects covering predictive policing, counter-terrorism policy and technology, and to support civil society and grassroots organisations that represent and advocate for over-policed and over-surveilled communities.

What we’re looking for

Above all else, we need a passionate and effective advocate. And as regards the rest, we’re more interested in your skills, rather than your knowledge.

You might be knowledgeable on the current and emerging technologies impacting policing and the criminal justice system.

You will likely have experiencing managing multiple projects addressing harms impacting communities that are marginalised and made vulnerable by society.

You might have a strong policy background with an interest in human rights, policing, surveillance or draconian technology.

You will have the capacity to perform simultaneous roles such as research, project planning and creating communication outputs and have the creativity and lateral thinking skills to ideate interventions and disrupt harms.

You may be bringing a wide range of contacts to the role or have the skills to build relationships with diverse stakeholders with sensitivity to their aims and values.

What the job will involve

• Research: for example on the impact of current data processing practices under the Prevent Duty on individuals and targeted communities.

• Drafting policy documents: including public-facing documents such as consultation responses and reports.

• Outreach to policy-makers: including engagement with UK MPs, Lords and councillors.

• Feeding into our campaigning work: through collaboration with our Campaigns Manager, to ensure that your policy research is fed into our campaigning and grassroots activism.

• Coalition building: through collaborating with other team-members to expand our coalition of cross-sectoral allies.

• Creating comms outputs: such as blog and video posts summarising policy submissions and campaign materials.

• Some public speaking: such as giving press quotes and interviews, as well as representing ORG at external events.

• Programme management: for example, setting goals, objectives and key performance indicators for the programme to deliver.

• Project planning: including identifying further opportunities and partnerships for programme growth.

What we’re like

ORG is a vibrant digital rights campaigning organisation. Founded in 2005, we have over 20,000 members and supporters and 10 local groups across the UK.

We uphold our human rights to free expression and privacy. We condemn and work against repressive laws or systems that deny people these rights.

We campaign, lobby, go to court – whatever it takes to build and support a movement for freedom in the digital age.

Our remote team is spread across the UK. We’re a supportive, flexible group with high standards. We’re innovative and agile. You’ll work hard but be rewarded by the impact you collaboratively achieve.

We take staff well-being seriously and meet up regularly for in-person work and social events.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a CV and a completed application form (downloadable below) to recruitment@openrightsgroup.org by 9am on Monday 2 February 2026.

Please ensure that your email has the subject heading ‘Pre-Crime Programme Manager Application’ and that all attachments are sent in PDF or ODT format.

Interviews for short-listed candidates will be held online in the week commencing 9 February 2026, with the second and final interview taking place in-person the following week, starting from the 16 February 2026.

Embed/attach:

1. JD
2. Applicant pack
3. Application form

If you require any of these documents in an alternate format please contact us on recruitment@openrightsgroup.org

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.

ORG is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that a diverse and inclusive team working in a supportive environment is vital to the success of our work. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from marginalised and racialised backgrounds, as well as applications from disabled and LGBTQIA+ candidates.