Associate

Location: Washington, DC
Timing: The position is open as long as the posting remains visible here.

Help major social justice organizations protect civil rights in the era of big data. Develop new strategies for Internet freedom, bringing open Internet connections to users around the world. Build better software tools for Congress.

These are some of the challenges we tackle at Upturn, a Washington, DC-based technology and policy consulting firm. We help policy leaders unlock the Internet's potential while managing its risks. Our toolbox spans policy and law, software engineering, and computer science techniques.

We're looking for an awesome new person to join and support our team. Salary will be competitive, and we will provide you with health insurance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

You will:

-- Research and write memoranda on a wide range of technology, policy, and social justice issues, ranging from new surveillance technologies to employment screening software.
-- Track new technology and policy developments, and write posts for Equal Future.
-- Attend client meetings and help to prepare and review client-facing deliverables.

REQUIREMENTS

You must have a bachelor's degree and previous work experience, ideally at the intersection of technology and public policy.

You are:

-- Meticulous and detail oriented. You are remarkably organized and able to create and optimize systems to support your own work and the work of your team.
-- A structured thinker. You analyze problems in a precise and organized way. You can quickly distill the details that matter most.
-- A clear communicator. You express yourself clearly and effectively in both written and verbal communications.
-- Proactive in finding ways to get things done and meet professional goals. Your track record shows that you can thrive in an unstructured environment, and be dependable starting on day one.
-- Comfortable with technology. You understand how Internet and digital technologies work and can describe them to a layperson. When learning about a new technology or concept, you can quickly identify what you know and what you don't, and proceed with your research accordingly.

We'll like you even more if you:

-- Have previous work experience with tech policy or social justice issues.
-- Have experience writing for a public audience, e.g. on a newsletter or a blog.
-- Have web development experience or graphic design skills.
-- Have a degree in computer science, have experience coding, or have other background or experience involving quantitative analysis.

HOW TO APPLY

In an e-mail, tell us why you're the right person for the job. Be creative, and be concise. It would be a good idea to include:

-- The best three or four examples of your work that show why you're right for the job. These should include at least two writing samples, but feel free to be creative. For examples that involve collaboration, please make it clear what role you personally played.
-- Your CV attached as a PDF.
-- The names of three references, with a brief description of how each person knows you. (We'll ask for contact info later if we need it.)

Click here for more information.