Latin America, by our Jabbermaster artist, Maya Richman

The engine room works with organizations of all shapes and sizes that advocate for social change and provides support to advocacy projects using tech and data in their work. We are now looking for someone to join the Matchbox Program and lead our support work in Latin America.

Do you have a vision for the role technology and data can play in activism and experience working with social change projects to use technology in their work? Are you eager to use this experience and your vast networks to help shape ideas that can change Latin America? Are you a creative thinker who enjoys tackling complex problems with gusto and good humor? Are you a self-starter, who is also comfortable working in a distributed team and taking an active role in defining work plans and program strategy? Do you enjoy sharing and documenting project experiences with partners and colleagues? Read on, this position might be a great fit for you.

The engine room’s Matchbox Program aims to promote transparency and accountability in Southern Africa and Latin America by collaborating with local and national organizations to build high-impact data and technology projects. And when we say collaboration, we mean it: the Matchbox Program is designed to provide support that relies on request, rather than offering help without knowing where the real needs lie. (Did you get excited? Read more about the program here.) Doing this work well, however, requires a sound understanding of when and how technology can improve advocacy. And that’s where you come in.

Responsibilities

We’re looking to hire a regional lead for our Matchbox Program work in Latin America. This is an exciting opportunity to help develop the transparency ecosystem in Latin America and the capacities of local organizations, but also to help shape the vision of the global Matchbox Program.

Day to day, you’ll be be working in direct collaboration with the Global Matchbox Lead, the engine room’s Design and Technology Lead, and other regional leads. You will be responsible for identifying local partners, working with these partners to refine project ideas into viable project plans, developing networks with local technologists, designers and data experts, advising the Matchbox team on the unique needs and opportunities in Latin America, contributing to the documentation and storytelling process, and providing input and support in the strategic development of the Matchbox program and community.

Here at the engine room we are working to build a sharp and diverse team of do-ers that want to support social change organizations. If you get excited about sharing a virtual office with people who all come from different cultures but have the same — humble and eager — approach to social change, you’ll fit in well.

Requirements

You’ll need…

• to live in Latin America
• speak fluent English and Spanish
• reliable internet

You’ll have…

• a concrete and conceptual understanding of how to use data and technology to develop sound and innovative project plans
• strong networks with regional civil society organizations and activist communities
• a demonstrated interest in issues of anti-corruption, transparency, and accountability
• very, very strong communication skills and ability to effectively work remotely with the engine room team and local partners
• an understanding of how social change organizations work, learn, and adapt
• the flexibility to travel regionally, frequently
• great writing skills
• the skills to manage workflows, schedules, and activities

TO APPLY: Please email a CV and cover letter to apply [at] theengineroom [dot] org with ‘Latin America Regional Lead’ in the subject line. The deadline for applications is January 25 but we encourage you to apply early: we’ll be reviewing applications as they come in and possibly making a final selection before the deadline.The regional project lead is a part-time, 50% position and compensated competitively (between 1500-2500USD per month based on experience).