UK Citizens Online Democracy (UKCOD), the registered charity that runs mySociety and its stable of democracy and community websites is seeking applications for the position of trustee.
The role of trustees is to:
* Ensure UKCOD fulfills its charitable objectives
* Oversee the work of mySociety and its projects
* Participate in strategy, policy and other discussions
* Ensure the moral integrity of mySociety
Trustees have legal obligations, detailed here on the Charity Commission website. Positions are unpaid, as required by law. Current trustees are often very practical volunteers: we are still small enough that simply being an extra pair of hands is required as much as strategic thinking. However, mySociety is now five years old, and at this critical time of uncertainty and opportunity in UK democracy, we are seeking to strengthen our board of trustees in various ways. This includes:
* Experience and networks within the philanthropic sector
* Diversity in gender, age and background
* Legal and financial qualifications
* Contacts within the forthcoming generation of MPs
* Statistical analysis skills
We are looking for passionate applicants who are keen to give the often substantial time required, generally more than five hours a month. Demands on time can be unpredictable and lumpy and input from trustees can be required outside of board meetings and occasionally on short notice. Face to face meetings are held in central London once a quarter. It is desirable that applicants can usually attend in person, however conference calling is possible.
Applications including CV and a covering letter to trustees2009@ukcod.org.uk. Deadline 1st August 2009.
- ‘Comfortable Research’ by Joel Bedford (Creative Commons)
I (Tom, mySociety’s director) am planning to write a book over the next 6-12 months, which I hope will set out a mySocietyish vision for practical steps to a better democracy in the UK.
As I’ve got a lot of day to day mySociety-running to do, there’s no way I can take the time needed to do all the primary research for such a project myself. So this post is a job advert for an internship to help me with this project.
An ideal intern would have roughly this skillset:
- Experience as a researcher, preferably in history or politics
- A pretty good understanding of the Internet
- Great telephone skills for wheedling information out of people who need sweet talking
- Good information organising skills, to keep everything found in a nice, easy to use way
- Able to put in at least 2 days a week for at least two months, starting ASAP.
- A willingness to work with other researcher(s)
I’m not snobbish about academic qualifications, or even about type of training or degree, but I do need proof a candidate knows how to get off their own arse to find out interesting things. I’m also easy about age and location. If you know a smart 50-something investment banker who’s just been laid off, I’d be happy to talk to them.
It is an internship, not a paid job, although as with all mySociety volunteering posts it comes with free food, a chance to sleep on Francis’ sofa, the likelihood of meeting lots of fascinating and well connected people, plus all sorts of other perks (TBD).
If you know anyone who might be interested, please send them the link to this post. And even if you don’t, suggestions for how to spread the word about this ad are very welcome.
Are you the best coder you’ve ever met, or perhaps even the best you’ve ever heard of? Better than that, even? If so, you might just be good enough for us lift our weary mouse fingers to check out your CV.
NB Applicants with a sense of proportion, realism and modesty also warmly welcome.
The charitable project that built TheyWorkForYou, FixMyStreet and the 10 Downing Street e-petitions site is seeking a world-class web developer.
This is a rare opportunity for an outstanding individual to join a small team of paid developers and volunteers that represents the greatest concentration of non-partisan democratic and civic coding talent found anywhere.
Technical skills
- World-class skills in one or more of PHP, Perl, Python or Ruby
- Substantial expertise in open source operating systems, databases, and version control
- Experience of working in a team with other programmers, contributing to project architecture
- Experience of accessible, standards-based web design
- Fanatical obsession with usability and making users happy
Personal qualities
- Laziness, Impatience, Hubris
- Fascination with understanding how complex systems work, and satisfaction at mastering them quickly
- Self-starter, with the ability to manage own work and to work both at home, with colleagues, and with clients.
- ‘Completer-finisher’ personality, with track record of delivering projects to deadline
- Team player with strong communication skills
- Personal enthusiasm for mySociety’s goals, preferably manifested through actual web projects – see our FAQ for more details
Benefits and Salary
- Salary £33k+
- Opportunity to contribute to high-profile sites delivering real democratic and community benefits to citizens
- Substantial role working with major partners
- Opportunities to travel to political and media events in the UK and abroad
- mySociety is a virtual organisation, so hours and location are highly flexible
- Minimum 12 month commitment after probationary period
Submissions extended to 15th July 2009 looking for candidates willing to commence work by 1st September. Please send your application or any questions to tom@mysociety.org including the word msjob in the subject line.
