ROLE 

Luminate is seeking a Strategic Litigation Lead to join our Luminate Strategic Initiatives [LSI] team that focuses on closing the enforcement gap against Big Tech companies to address digital threats to democracy. Our goal is to foster a healthier information ecosystem by strengthening the integrity of digital media. Our funding strategy combines strategic litigation, policy and advocacy, and campaigning to push for greater accountability and oversight of the platforms’ business model and products. The LSI team currently focuses on the European Union and the UK.  

The Strategic Litigation Lead is a senior-level position, reporting to the Director of Strategic Litigation. This role will primarily focus on identifying opportunities, and leading work on grants and contracts–– as well as providing expert legal analysis across the programme.  This involves strategic thinking and legal insight to guide the litigation workstream, and to advise the policy and campaigning workstreams on legal considerations and opportunities. The role will also have senior level responsibility for relationship management with external partners and stakeholders. Working in partnership and collaboration with other funders and organisations will be essential to the role’s success 

The Strategic Litigation Lead will be based in Brussels, Belgium with regular travel to meet with colleagues in London as needed. The successful candidate must have the right to work in Belgium. The salary and benefits offered are competitive and on par with other European philanthropies.   

RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Strategic Litigation Lead will have a range of responsibilities. They will include the following:   

• Leading on the grant making and the management of a portfolio of grants to civil society organisations and contracts to relevant stakeholders 

• Managing high level strategic oversight of litigation 

• Growing, developing and managing relationships with external partner and stakeholder organisations 

• Researching, analysing, and advising on litigation and strategy, monitoring developments  

• Identifying new litigation, collaboration and partnership opportunities 

• Representing Luminate in external events  

• Understanding internal legal, finance and administrative processes 

• Overseeing budget, resources management and allocation 

• Possibility to line manage internally and/or external consultants  

This role includes some travel, so ideally, the candidate would have flexibility to travel internationally.  

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS 

The ideal candidate is aligned with Luminate's values, including Luminate's diversity policy.  

Required:  

• Law degree

• Several years of experience in litigation   

Note: We view this section as a guide, not a checklist. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t satisfy every single bullet on the list below: 

• Demonstrated understanding of strategic litigation  

• Experience of working in or with civil society organisations  

• Knowledge of EU and human rights law 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills 

• Successful track record of thinking strategically and to identify connections and opportunities across projects and organisations  

• Demonstrated ability to work within a high-performance team with a high intensity workflow across multiple different projects 

• Adaptability and the ability to think creatively 

• Enthusiasm and exceptional ability to nurture strong relationships with a range of organisations and working with diverse teams and colleagues 

• Experience as a manager 

• Experience managing budgets and finances 

• Understanding of philanthropic grant making processes 

• Fluency in one or more major European languages other than English is highly desirable 

• Knowledge of, or experience in, consumer protection, data protection or competition law is a plus 

Applications are due by 11:59pm (CET) 10 November 2024 

ABOUT LUMINATE   

Luminate is a global foundation working to ensure that everyone – especially those who are underrepresented - has the information, rights, and power to influence the decisions that shape society. The foundation is focused on enabling people to fully participate in civic and political life, to safely challenge power, and to access accurate, trustworthy information. It was established by philanthropists Pierre and Pam Omidyar and has worked for over a decade on issues related to governance and citizen engagement.  

IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW   

Luminate believes that diversity and inclusion make us more successful in our work, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or national law.