About the role
As a result of the European Digital Agenda, a wave of policy and legislation proposals affecting Open Source has arisen. The Open Source Initiative (OSI) has been addressing the challenges of legislator and public understanding of both Open Source and the communities that make Open Source software, but now seeks an experienced Policy Analyst to guide the positions taken and the delivery of education to legislators, their staff and the wider public. This role will be key to the future of Open Source in Europe.
- This is an initial 2 year full-time role with a probationary period, but OSI hopes to gain the experience necessary to sustain a role of this kind permanently
- OSI is prepared to compensate the role competitively but precise terms will depend on the experience and domicile of the candidate
- OSI is committed to equal opportunities across all dimensions, seeks the right candidate for the job regardless of extraneous dimensions and will adjust the role to fit.
About The Open Source Initiative
The OSI is the authority that defines Open Source, recognized globally by individuals, companies, and by public institutions. Since 1998, the OSI has been at the forefront of open source advocacy, education, and collaboration, working to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the open source ecosystem.
Responsibilities
- Monitor and analyze EU policy developments related to open source software, identifying emerging issues and opportunities for the foundation to engage
- Develop and implement policy initiatives that support the OSI’s mission and advocacy goals in the EU
- Advise, educate and support OSI’s staff and Board in their engagements with public policy.
- Build educational programs designed to educate and inform policy-makers, their staff and other stakeholders to advance the public interest where open source software is concerned.
- Represent the organization at EU-level events and conferences, advocating for the benefits of Open Source software and the role it can play in promoting innovation and competitiveness
- Provide analysis, strategic guidance and support to the organization’s members on EU policy issues and opportunities that impact Open Source software development and adoption
- Collaborate with other Open Source software foundations and organizations to advance shared policy objectives at the EU level, including organizing policy-related meetings and events.
Qualifications
Required
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in EU policy advocacy
- An existing awareness and appreciation of the principles of Open Source software, ideally with experience in working with one or more practitioner communities.
- Demonstrated understanding of EU policy-making processes and institutions
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Excellent analytical and strategic thinking abilities, with the ability to synthesize complex information and develop effective policy solutions
- Ability to work in a highly collaborative and distributed team
Preferred
- C1 proficiency in English and at least B2 in one or more further European languages.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in public policy, law, computer science or equivalent.
Location of Position
- Routinely remote work
- Location with easy access to Brussels for regular visits including multi-day visits
Our interview process
We expect this vacancy to remain open until we make an appointment. However, we will start the selection process as soon as we have three viable candidates, repeating this again if no appointment is made. We seek to make the experience of interviewing with us as delightful, efficient, fair, respectful, and transparent as possible. A typical process might include the following steps, and can take max 3 weeks to complete.
- An introduction to the role with the hiring manager (30 minutes, online)
- Two discussion-based interview with OSI team members (45-60 minutes, online)
- One discussion-based interview with a ClearlyDefined team member (45-60 minutes, online)
- One final interview with with the hiring manager (30-45 minutes, online)
- References (Ideally 3 former managers, conducted asynchronously by OSI)
We try to move as quickly as possible, but if you have any time constraints, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please notify the hiring manager or coordinator for the role you are applying to, and we will reach out soon to see how we may be able to assist.