Technical Project Manager

Job Opportunity: Technical Project Manager

Thank you for your interest in joining the Sortition Foundation. We hope this document encourages and inspires you as you consider this opportunity.

Location: This is a home-based remote position open to applicants globally. We currently employ people based in Hungary, the UK and Australia and we value the diverse perspective that candidates from different geographies can bring to our team. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of location, and are committed to finding the best fit for our team.

Salary: We offer a competitive salary and benefits package that considers the cost of living in the country of employment. The UK salary for this role will be £50,608.89 per year (Band B) pro rata based on our Global Salary Scale adjusted for cost of living according to your location and paid in your local currency.  

Benefits: We also offer 40 days of leave per year (including national holidays), an equipment and furniture allowance, two in-person team days per year, and much more.

Hours: 35 hours/week (job-sharing is also possible). We operate on a flexible schedule; you will work your hours whenever you’d like, whilst also accounting for in-time virtual meetings.

Contract length: 1 year fixed term contract, with possibility of extension, subject to funding availability and performance in the role

Reporting to: Director of Sortition Services

Management Responsibilities: None

Application deadline: 09.00am (UK time) 21 October 2024. Details of how to apply at the end of this job description.

About the organisation

The Sortition Foundation is a not-for-profit company that exists to transform politics and upgrade democracy. We recruit people from all walks of life for citizens’ assemblies in the UK, Australia, Europe, and around the world, with clients including national governments, local governments, cultural, technology and other organisations. The surplus generated from this work funds our campaigning for the institutionalisation of these assemblies at local and regional/national level. We are structured as a workers co-operative and our core values are to be caring, courageous and curious. We have a small and growing team across the UK and Australia and a subsidiary organisation, Sortition Europe, based in Hungary.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced project manager interested in the deliberative democracy field to deliver selection and stratification services to customers, to enable randomly selected processes to take place at all levels of government & society. As a project manager, you will be responsible for ensuring a smooth journey for our customers and a high quality of service delivery. 

Responsibilities

• Liaise with customers to manage selection and stratification services

• Co-ordinate the design, printing and postage of invitation materials, including the random selection of addresses for the invitations to be sent to

• Developing web-pages (using a CMS) for customers to enable registration for randomly selected events

• Developing spreadsheets and back-end processes to enable random selection for events

• Co-ordinating the confirmation of selected participants and replacing those who drop out

• Preparing reports for customers

• Working closely with other members of the delivery team to support each other

• Keeping abreast of best practice in sortition and deliberative democracy

Essential skills and experience

• Experience in managing projects independently

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, facilitating clear and effective exchanges

• Expertise in spreadsheets, including advanced functions and formulas

• Technical fluency in simple coding in any of the following: python, javascript, Google Apps script, and HTML/CSS

• Ability to understand demographics and statistics and large data sets

• An ability to self-start, work flexibly and on your own initiative

• An ability to demonstrate a commitment to the values of the Sortition Foundation that guide our goals: Collective Wisdom and Social Justice.

• An ability to demonstrate a commitment to the values of the Sortition Foundation that guide our culture: Curious, Caring and Courageous.

Desirable Skills:

Optionally, there are some additional skill sets that we would be interested in identifying in applicants, but which do not form the core part of the project manager role and are therefore not essential: 

• An understanding of sortition and deliberative democracy

• Technical skills in software systems development and maintenance and experience with NationBuilder (liquid, and templates)

• Ability to strategically expand and leverage networks to benefit the organisation and advance business objectives

• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with key stakeholders, clients, and industry peers

• Attend conferences and networking events

• Business development and sales

• Write papers and give talks at conferences and events

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues efficiently

• Experience with integrating coding solutions and spreadsheet tools to streamline workflows and enhance productivity

The successful candidate will be highly organised, self-motivated and independent; everyone works from home with substantial freedom to choose their own hours.

Benefits:

• Holiday allowance: 40 days of annual leave including public holidays (pro rata)

• Flexible Working: Flexible hours and the option to work remotely

• Pension Contributions: 3% employer contribution to your pension (if you’re UK-based)

• Sick Leave: 20 days of sick leave per year (pro rata)

• Social Events: Regular social events and in-person gatherings

To apply, please email your CV and a short covering letter with the subject line, “Technical Project Manager Application.” The closing date for all applications is 09.00am 21 October 2024 (UK time). If you require additional time, please contact us by 14 October 2024 at the above email address and we will do our best to accommodate.

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process. If you would like to request any adjustments, please contact us. We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.

If you would like to discuss the role or have any questions, please do email us.

Our intention is to hold interviews (virtually) on 5 and 6 November 2024. We will share the questions with you two days prior to your interview. Should you be offered the role, we will ask for two references from you.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other categories protected by law.