ROLE

The Partnerships Lead has a critical role to play on the Luminate Strategic Initiatives team. They will be responsible for building relationships with other foundations, funders and high-net-worth individuals. There are two goals. Firstly, to significantly increase the funding available to the ecosystem of activists, advocacy groups, litigators and technologists who are trying to rein in Big Tech and build a better internet. Secondly, to ensure that the work of funders is more deeply coordinated and aligned so that it has greater impact.  

OPPORTUNITY

Over the last five years, the world has been waking up to the threat posed by Big Tech companies. The spread of mis and disinformation, the amplification of hate speech and the increase in polarization and mental health issues is doing profound damage to individuals and communities everywhere. To date there has been relatively little funding available to those who are trying to tackle these problems.  

However, the scale and urgency of this problem is creating new opportunities. Funders with experience working on platform accountability and digital rights are looking for ways to increase their impact and funders from other sectors – for example, health, children, women and climate – are seeing the need to address these issues in order to advance their core missions.  

Luminate Strategic Initiatives is ideally placed to build partnerships in this space. We have a long history of working on platform accountability and our founders, Pierre and Pam Omidyar, have already made a major, multi-year commitment to scaling our efforts. This creates a unique opportunity for the right person to play a leading role in growing the funding ecosystem to tackle a significant global issue. 

TEAM

Luminate Strategic Initiatives (LSI) is an exciting new team at Luminate designed to scale the organization’s work on the threat posed by Big Tech and the need to create an internet that better advances the world we want to live in. It’s an inter-disciplinary crew that brings together deeply experienced policy advocates, campaigners, strategic litigators, and ecosystem builders. The team is primarily focused on Europe, which is where this work is most promising. LSI is executing a strategy that leverages European laws and regulations together with the willingness of European policymakers, regulators, courts, and the public to rein in Big Tech. 

The Partnerships Lead will work closely with the Vice-President, LSI and the Director of Ecosystems and Partnerships team, as well as the Directors of the three other LSI teams: Policy; Campaigning; and Strategic Litigation. The role will mostly be external facing and will require extensive collaboration with other funders.

This position could be based in Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, the Hague, London, or Paris. Successful candidates must be based in the identified locations and have a right to work in their country of residence. Competitive salary and benefits are offered. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Developing and executing Luminate Strategic Initiatives’ Partnership strategy  

• Working with each team at LSI to identify and cultivate partnership opportunities   

• Building partnerships with funders who are already working on platform accountability  

• Identifying funders from other sectors, as well as high-net-worths and others, who could contribute to this work, and finding ways to develop partnerships with them   

• Developing initiatives and structures to (a) increase the funding for platform accountability and (b) ensure that it is better aligned and more impactful.  

• Developing a network of other funders, consultants and advisors who can help support and accelerate this work  

• Managing LSI’s Partnerships budget  

QUALITIES AND EXPERIENCE

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 this list. 

• You’ve got great people skills; you’re quick to establish rapport and build trust  

• You’ve spent significant time in collaborative roles that require bringing diverse parties together, identifying common ground and doing meaningful work together  

• You’ve played a key role in developing new initiatives / collaboratives / coalitions involving multiple, diverse parties  

• You’re good at developing strategy and have the patience and focus to execute even if it takes several years

• You’re talented at seeing the connections between different issues and are great at showing others how these issues are related and convincing them to work together  

• You’re experienced at pitching for and raising money AND/OR You’re familiar with how funders work and the challenges and opportunities of working within their mandates and strategic plans. (Note: this experience need not have come from being a funder. Eg. You may have learned about this from working at organization that dealt with funders)  

• You’re passionate about addressing the problems of Big Tech and supporting the development of a better internet (Note: you do not need to be an expert in these issues) 

   

Our screening process requires candidates to respond to a handful of questions that provide perspective on how your skills would relate to the day-to-day job.  Submissions will be anonymised, randomised and reviewed by a panel of reviewers from the hiring team. If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to the next step, which includes meeting with members of the team.  

Applications are due by midnight (BST) on 3 October 2022.  

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.