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Global Election Technology and Cybersecurity Advisor

Employer
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems
Location
Arlington, VA
Closing date
Aug 18, 2019

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ABOUT IFES: IFES is an international, nonprofit organization that supports the building of democratic societies. IFES provides targeted technical assistance to strengthen transitional democracies. Founded in 1987 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, IFES has developed and implemented comprehensive, collaborative democracy solutions in more than 120 countries. PRIMARY FUNCTION/PURPOSE: IFES seeks a Global Election Technology and Cybersecurity Advisor to counter evolving threats to democratic processes stemming from changes in election technology and cyber vulnerabilities. This individual will work closely with frontline defenders and elections experts around the world to help democratic institutions flourish in the face of rising anti-democratic trends. POSITION SCOPE: IFES' Election Technology and Cybersecurity Advisor understands the unique and varying dimensions of cybersecurity in the elections context, and has demonstrated expertise and innovation in analyzing threats and proposing and implementing solutions to mitigate or manage those threats. He or she is an expert in election technologies and cybersecurity. As such, he or she understands the institutions and processes involved in elections, has demonstrated an ability to partner closely with relevant actors globally, and is oriented toward countering current challenges as well as anticipating future threats. At the same time, he or she understands the critical importance of transparency and verifiability in the elections context and how to advance these principles without compromising security. He or she understands the cross-cutting nature of election technology and model's collaboration with electoral advisors in other technical fields such as legal/regulatory reform, inclusive political processes, and strategic communications. He or she maintains strategic relationships with a range of actors, such as governments, donors, EMBs, judiciaries, INGOs, foundations, technology vendors and other technology actors. He or she is actively tracking next generation challenges such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing - and the challenges they might pose for the electoral process. The Global Election Technology and Cybersecurity Advisor will report to the Senior Director (Applied Research, Learning and Strategy) in the Center for Applied Research and Learning. JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:Outreach and partnerships o Develop new partnerships with traditional and non-traditional actors to devise innovative programmatic responses to counter cyber threats to electionso Represent IFES' as the primary spokesperson and serve as the lead external contact regarding election technology and cybersecurityo Actively participate in Hill briefings, testimony, and the DRG community of practice on election technology and cybersecurity.o Carefully nurture and maintain strategic relationships with election technology vendors and other technology actors to understand advancements and outreach being conducted globally.o Maintain and enhance academic and institutional connections and partnerships in the areas of election technology, cybersecurity, and open data. Technical Advancement and Innovation o Advance IFES' mission and competitive advantage through innovation in the area of election technology and cybersecurityo Lead internal working groups on election technology and cybersecurity and provide mentorship and coaching to program staff on the subject matter Technical Assistance Quality Assurance o For projects that incorporate assistance around election technology, conduct direct technical assistance in country programs, provide advice on and oversee of the work of technical consultantso In consultation with regional experts, provide ongoing advice and recommendations for program activities and conduct program reviews as necessary. Business Development and Program Design o Organizes institutional response to critical issues surrounding cybersecurity and election technologyo Provide advice and recommendations to regional business development strategy discussions and executiono Contribute to and review IFES' program design efforts, including proposals, concept notes and options papers, and lead the development of topic-specific proposals, in consultation with regional expertso Actively maintain relationships with USAID DRG Center, DRL, INL, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and other core donor contacts relevant to the areas of election technology, cybersecurity, and open data. POSITION REQUIREMENTS:Education: Masters or above in related topicExperience: Minimum 10 years of overall work experience with a mastery of the field of cybersecurity and election technology. Proven record of strategic development and engagementTRAVEL: Ability to travel up to 60% LANGUAGE SKILLS: Fluency in English required. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT: Standard office work environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

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