See also: Hiring a Technology & Community Manager in Washington, project managers in Cape Town, and journalists and researchers for the Global Integrity Report field staff. 

Organizational Description

Global Integrity (https://www.globalintegrity.org) is one of the world’s leading independent information providers on governance and corruption trends globally, generating original, bottom-up data and journalistic reporting through a network of more than 1,200 local experts in 120-plus countries.  Its information on national-level anti-corruption systems is used regularly by aid donors (World Bank, UN, Inter-American Development Bank, Millennium Challenge Corporation), civil society advocates, and reformers within government to design and implement evidence-based governance reform strategies.  The organization has won an Ashoka “Changemakers” award an “Every Human Has Rights” award from The Elders and Internews; its methodology for assessing the existence and effectiveness of anti-corruption mechanisms is described by the World Bank as “best practice.”

Global Integrity is known in particular for its expertise in developing quantitative indicators to assess the existence, effectiveness, and citizen access to accountability mechanisms at the national, sub-national, and sector levels.  It also has significant experience working on sub-national accountability reforms under the auspices of its Local Integrity Initiative (see http://local.www.globalintegrity.org), and regularly blends qualitative journalistic reporting with its data gathering efforts.  Across all of its fieldwork at the national, sub-national, and sector levels in more than 100 countries, the organization has designed, fielded, and published more than 80,000 quantitative indicators of accountability, transparency, and anti-corruption mechanisms.

Beginning in 2007, Global Integrity began to seek out opportunities to convene governments with our local research teams to discuss and debate the results of Global Integrity fieldwork in an attempt to stimulate consensus around next steps on the governance reform agenda in particular countries.  That model, which we eventually dubbed our “Global Integrity Dialogues,” has proved successful and more than a dozen highly-specific, intensive workshops have been carried out in countries as diverse as Brazil, Timor-Leste, and Rwanda. 

Our focus on providing technology to bolster the capacity of like-minded groups is a key priority going forward.  One of the reasons Global Integrity has been able to scale its work so efficiently without increasing overhead is our heavy reliance on (and investment in) a low-bandwidth web-based platform that allows researchers and reporters anywhere on the planet to collaborate on data gathering and reporting from anywhere they can find an internet connection.  The third generation of our global fieldwork platform is currently being developed to allow external, third-party partners to use the system to design, execute, and publish their own governance and corruption assessments with little to no involvement by Global Integrity staff (see http://getindaba.org for details).

Job Description

Project Manager – This position will play a key role in managing and supporting almost all of Global Integrity’s fieldwork in the coming years.  Alongside other managers and directors, this position will help to research and design new fieldwork methodologies and indicators; recruit and manage field teams of journalists and researchers to execute current and future fieldwork projects; perform analysis and quality control over the resultant data and reporting; and design and lead outreach and dissemination activities, including public workshops and capacity building activities.  Like all colleagues at Global Integrity, this position will have the creative space to conceive of and lead new and innovative initiatives on a regular basis.  We encourage good ideas and risk-taking.

Location: Washington, DC.

We are looking to hire 1-2 new project managers during this recruiting cycle.

Ideal Skill Set

Global Integrity attracts employees from the most distinctive professional and academic backgrounds. There is no cookie cutter ideal candidate for any position at Global Integrity.  We are instead more interested in an individual’s drive, professionalism, and entrepreneurial energy.  For this particular position, the following factors will strengthen an applicant’s candidacy:

• 3-10 years of relevant project management experience working in public policy, international development, journalism, and/or international politics.  Experience working on issues of governance and/or anti-corruption is helpful but not required.
• At least a graduate degree in a relevant area of study, including, but not limited to, public policy, international relations, journalism, comparative politics, or development studies.
• Demonstrated experience in an entrepreneurial role, whether within an organization or as an independent social or private entrepreneur. Familiarity with an international non-profit environment is helpful but not required.
• Comfort in a perpetual start-up environment requiring extensive “self-starter” skills with minimal bureaucratic safety nets or backstopping.
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills: this means the ability to write a press release, policy summary, or op-ed with minimal guidance and the ability to speak comfortably to an expert audience or on camera. Experience with news reporting or blogging (on any topic) is helpful.
• Precision, organization, and ability to execute at a consistently high level with little to no micromanagement.
• Proficiency in a widely spoken second language; working English is required.

Our Culture

Our office environment (now spread between Washington, New York, Chicago, and Cape Town) requires openness, collaboration and flexibility. Our staff has an uncommon diversity of responsibilities: from high level strategy to online messaging to logistics issues (we book our own travel and fix our own computers), everyone contributes. You will develop new skills in this job; expect to learn and adapt constantly. We are very much a learning organization.

We have a “no jerks” policy; you will be supported by results-oriented yet frequently cheerful coworkers whose primary mode of social engagement is based on trust and respect.

International literacy and cross-cultural sensitivity are considered core competencies.

Compensation

We anticipate this position’s salary ranging between US$40,000 – $55,000 depending on the candidate’s experience and demonstrated skills. 

Global Integrity provides full health and disability benefits, as well as a modest life insurance policy, to all full-time employees and currently pays 100% of the premiums associated with those benefits.  Holiday and sick time are also provided.

How to Apply

We will only be accepting applications for this position online via the following web form:

http://www.tfaforms.com/208795

After reviewing submitted applications, we anticipate calling back a small number of potential candidates for individual interviews via phone or in-person. We are happy to answer additional questions directly (see Contact Information below), but all interested applicants must use the online form to apply for the position.

Deadline for Application: July 20 2011

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I’ve read about the Indaba platform you’re building; it sounds exciting, but do I need to be a techie?

A: No; in fact, we’re building Indaba so that we can eliminate the need for dedicated programming and database management skills on staff. If you can use a mouse on a computer, you can use Indaba.

Q: You use the word “data” often in describing your work.  Do I need to have statistical and/or econometric skills to apply for this position?

A: No, though familiarity with and/or command of basic statistical and econometric skills is welcomed.  We tend to view the data we generate as an entry point to what are often highly political, qualitative discussions and policy choices around governance reform.  We have less faith in the ability of multivariate regressions or factor analyses to shed meaningful light on those discussions in practice.

Q: Do I need to be an anti-corruption “specialist” to apply for this position?

A: No, though familiarity with issues of governance, transparency, and corruption are welcomed.

Q: I am not an American citizen, nor do I have a green card or work visa, but I’m interested in applying for this position.  Will you sponsor a work visa for me?

A: Possibly.  We do not want immigration issues to stand in the way of a great match for this position.  Apply and let’s see where the discussion goes.

Q: Will I need to wear a badge every day if I work at Global Integrity?

A: As long as we’re breathing, no.  We’re light on the formal trappings typical of larger institutions.  We do have a neat looking coffee maker, however.  And we painted the walls of our office ourselves last year.  “Perpetual startup” is a good way to think about what the 9-5 environment is like.

Contact Information

Nathaniel Heller, Managing Director

Office +1-202-449-4100

nathaniel.heller@globalintegrity.org

— photo credit: wallyg