Calling all Project Assistants: we need you!

The mission of Open Knowledge International is to open up all essential public interest information and see it utilized to create insight that drives change. To this end we work to create a global movement for open knowledge, supporting a network of leaders and local groups around the world; we facilitate coordination and knowledge sharing within the movement; we build collaboration with other change-making organisations both within our space and outside; and, finally, we prototype and provide a home for pioneering products.

A decade after its foundation, Open Knowledge International is ready for its next phase of development. We started as an organisation that led the quest for the opening up of existing data sets – and in today’s world most of the big data portals run on CKAN, an open source software product developed first by us.

Today, it is not only about opening up of data; it is making sure that this data is usable, useful and – most importantly – used, to improve people’s lives. Our current projects (OpenSpending, OpenTrials, School of Data, and many more) all aim towards giving people access to data, the knowledge to understand it, and the power to use it in our everyday lives.

Now, we are looking for an enthusiastic

Project Assistant

(flexible location, part time)

to join the team to help deliver our projects around the world. We are seeking people who care about openness and have the commitment to make it happen.

We do not require applicants to have experience of project management – instead, we would like to work with motivated self-starters, able to demonstrate engagement with initiatives within the open movement. If you have excellent written and verbal communication skills, are highly organised and efficient with strong administration and analytical abilities, are interested in how projects are managed and are willing to learn, we want to hear from you.

The role includes the following responsibilities:

Monitoring and reporting of ongoing work progress to Project Managers and on occasion to other stakeholders
Research and investigation
Coordination of, and communication with, the project team, wider organisation, volunteers and stakeholders
Documentation, including creating presentations, document control, proof-reading, archiving, distributing and collecting
Meeting and event organisation, including scheduling, booking, preparing documents, minuting, and arranging travel and accommodation where needed
Project communication and promotion, including by email, blog, social media, networking online and in person
Liaising with staff across the organisation to offer and for support, eg public communication and finance

Projects you may be involved with include Open Data for Development, OpenTrials and OpenSpending, as well as new projects in future.

This role requires someone who can be flexible and comfortable with remote working, able to operate in a professional environment and participate in grassroots activities. Experience working as and with volunteers is advantageous.

You are comfortable working with people from different cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds. You are happy to share your knowledge with others, and you find working in transparent and highly visible environments interesting and fun.

Personally, you have a demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively, with respect and a focus on results over credit.

The position reports to the Project Manager and will work closely with other members of the project delivery team.

The role is part-time at 20 hours per week, paid by the hour. You will be compensated with a market salary, in line with the parameters of a non-profit-organisation.

This would particularly suit recent graduates who have studied a complementary subject to Open Knowledge International, looking for some experience in the workplace.

Successful applicants must have excellent English language skills in both speaking and writing.

You can work from home, with flexibility offered and required. Some flexibility around work hours is useful, and there may be some (infrequent) international travel required.

We offer employment contracts for residents of the UK with valid permits, and services contracts to overseas residents.

Interested? Then send us a motivational letter and a one page CV via https://okfn.org/about/jobs/. Please indicate your current country of residence, as well as your salary expectations (in GBP) and your earliest availability.

Early application is encouraged, as we are looking to fill the positions as soon as possible. These vacancies will close when we find a suitable candidate.

If you have any questions, please direct them to jobs [at] okfn.org.