Senior Policy Researcher

Expected start date: July-August 2024Location: Bengaluru/RemotePosition: Full-timeApply by: 15 June 2024Do you think digital justice is a key developmental challenge of the 21st century?Are you interested in emerging policies that will shape the future of the digital society and economy?Does Big Tech's control over global digital infrastructures worry you? These are the key questions that drive our efforts at IT for Change. If these issues are keeping you up at night as well, let's team up!About the Role: IT for Change is expanding its senior research and management team. We would like to welcome entrepreneurial individuals who would like to be part of a dynamic NGO that works towards social change. The incoming candidate will be part of shaping the organizational trajectory for the coming years, lead a track, and take on the broader challenge of institution building with the core leadership team. Specifically, they should be able to helm a role of intellectual leadership by developing and taking point on these tracks, effectively leading research and policy advocacy initiatives, and supervising an interdisciplinary team towards implementation and execution.We are looking to recruit for 3 track leads:Track 1 - Social media governance, the public sphere, and democracyTrack 2 - Regenerative AI: Governing data and AI for global economic justiceTrack 3 - Digital infrastructures and their intersection with development domains such as health, agriculture, urban governance, etc.Ideal Qualifications:• 10+ years of experience in policy research on development, economic justice, and human rights issues, with at least 5+ years' experience on digital issues.• Expertise in the political economy of the digital - market concentration and corporate power, geo-politics and geo-economics of digitalization, democracy and the public sphere, the sociologies of innovation, international governance challenges and pathways, alternative AI models, etc.• A track record of robust and critical understanding of a broad range of debates and issues with respect to technology governance• Skills relevant to research methods in the digital domain• Excellent writing skills and ability to author accessible pieces in a short turnaround• Keen interest in change processes, including providing knowledge support for civil society organizations, policymakers, and multilateral discussions• Demonstrated experience in guiding teams, mentoring younger researchers, working in trans-disciplinary environments, and independently leading projects from conception to change-making• Appreciation of the nature of the NGO environment, and demonstrated leadership skills in navigating complexityRoles and Responsibilities:As part of the senior leadership, the candidate will be expected to provide managerial leadership across flagship organizational projects, undertake substantive research and advocacy, and contribute to management decision-making processes. Specific responsibilities include:Project management and implementation