We are hiring: Associate Policy Counsel

The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) is a young, impact-focused Indian non-profit organisation, born out of the SaveTheInternet.in movement for net neutrality. Our work aims to protect and advance constitutional freedoms for every Indian in a digital society.

We are looking for an Associate Policy Counsel to join our Policy Team. IFF’s policy team aims to bring public policy closer to the public, and you will play a key role in shaping this work.

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Key Responsibilities:

1. Track, analyse, explain: Regular tracking, rapid response, and nimble advocacy is a key part of IFF’s impact focused culture on public policy and digital rights. Work with IFF staffers in identifying such policy issues impacting the public interest requiring intervention on a daily basis, identifying the right response. Monitor legislative proposals and track draft regulation, identify and monitor key discussions and other business impacting digital rights brought up by Ministers or MPs in Parliament and assess state government actions that impact our internet freedoms.
2. Produce well written documents: Manage IFF’s submissions and representations to public institutions, government agencies and offices, and legislative bodies - including analysis, writing and editorial overview. An ideal candidate is not just a policy expert; they are a good policy project manager, able to track different developments and processes, and manage our startup organisations resources to be of maximum impact in protecting and advancing rights.
3. Drive real world change on digital rights: It isn’t only about drafting documents or attending stakeholder consultations; ensure that our work results in action by following up on submissions, ranging from corresponding and meeting with officials, RTIs, in-person briefings, and strategically using convenings and other mechanisms.
4. The policy flywheel: We believe effective work in defending and extending internet freedoms and civil liberties in India requires integrated advocacy between public campaigning, litigation, policy development, and legislative outreach. Working closely and jointly strategizing, executing work with our team members on litigation and transparency/RTI is critical to this policy role.
5. Be a spokesperson: Drive public engagement by briefing the public on these issues and articulating the nature of interventions which the public can ask from their lawmakers and public institutions. Create and draft letters, summaries, explainers and regular blog posts, appear in videos for IFF and related campaigns. Assist with preparation and deployment of policy related updates for our social media channels and website updations. A strong plus for candidates adept at collaborating with artists, designers and other members of the IFF community for special projects relating to IFF’s digital rights related advocacy.
6. Strategize and plan: Rapid response and being on top of developments is key to be quick to deploy, but we want to make sure we can help win long term. You should know when to note developments, shift gears, and pivot priorities. This role will be in charge of developing and regularly updating our public policy strategy: what issues we should care about and engage with, with whom, and how. Winning on public policy relating to internet freedoms and rights can take time - and you should be able to develop and own the strategy that helps us do this, and help us conceptualise, execute longer form and longer term policy projects and research in support of that.
7. Explain policy developments to our community: Represent IFF in national and international coalitions, and work collegially with relevant NGOs and advocacy partners to strategically advance IFF’s aims. Help colleagues with Community Engagement and Fundraising initiatives. This particularly includes explaining complex policy processes from Delhi to our members and community - in Bangalore, Bharat, and beyond!

Qualifications

• Graduate: Graduate degree in law/ economics/ public policy/ public administration/ social work/ media studies, or related fields. A legal degree is not a requirement. However, a core job function relies on a familiarity with legislative and governmental processes and authorship on policy documents as detailed above.
• Experience: Preferably 1-2 years of dedicated experience working on issues relating to digital rights, technology governance, and/or regulation of markets.  Experience less than that is not a disqualification for candidates; demonstrate your early stage excellence in subject matter knowledge, volunteer experience, or policy entrepreneurship.
• Expertise: Past experience with any of the following will be looked at favourably– engagement with public institutions/representatives; obtaining information through RTI requests;  working on subject areas such as data protection, surveillance, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure.

Preferred traits, culture and skills

• Passion for digital rights: The ideal candidate will be a person with passion for policy analysis and advocacy on technology issues, and optimism in our mission.
• A collaborative spirit: As a small, impact focused civil liberties organisation, it is crucial for our policy role to work with colleagues across verticals. The right candidate will be adaptable and should enjoy working in an energetic, fast-paced workplace. You should be ambitious in setting the organisation’s goals and collaborative in your work style.
• Integrity, empathy and discipline: IFF’s core strength are its people! They approach their work with a high degree of motivation and belief. To be sustainable, it requires high levels of workplace honesty, helping colleagues and keeping focussed on outcomes. We help each other to collectively advance ambitious goals.
• Writer, communicator and geek: The candidate will be expected to possess excellent written and oral communication skills. Know your audience: be as comfortable speaking with civil servants and policy wonks as you would simplifying complex issues for the general public, press, and public representatives. You should like talking to other people on digital rights!

Work With Us!

Compensation
This position is full-time and in-person at IFF’s office in New Delhi. The salary band for this position will be Rs. 50,000 per month based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

What is it like to work at IFF?
We are a small team of 8-10 full-time staffers who work out of our office in New Delhi. All our staff have diverse academic and professional backgrounds. We work 5-and-half days a week.

We are committed to and actively practise employment equity. IFF promotes diversity in the workplace and encourages applications from all qualified applicants– women, members of caste-based, religious, and sexual minorities, and people from all regions.

We have a flexible and accommodating leave policy which also accounts separately for menstruating persons. Equality and diversity is at the core of our values and staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Hiring Process:

1. Submitting your CV (not more than 2 pages) and a brief cover letter (not more than 1 page - explaining your vision for IFF’s policy work and professional fit for this role, your interests, core capacities and skills for this position)
2. Policy Analysis Assignment
3. Interviews
4. Final offer