Job openings/Program Assistant, Global Development

YOU ARE ...

... organized and dependable with a strong interest in the Wikimedia mission, community and goals for global development. You pay a great deal of attention to quality and are motivated to complete tasks as needed. You learn quickly, are Internet savvy and would thrive in a creative, culturally-diverse and collaborative environment where you are expected to solve problems both small and large, mundane and fascinating.

JOB TITLE

Program Assistant (Global Development) [CLOSED]

REPORTS TO

Head of Office Administration

SUPPORTS

Wikimedia Foundation Global Development Team

JOB SUMMARY

Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects are authors and edited entirely by communities of volunteer contributors around the globe. The Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) maintains the technical infrastructure to support these communities and pursues an agenda of programmatic and technical innovation. It also supports an incredibly diverse global community of editors and readers through global conferences, public outreach activities, and strategic relationships which support the cause of free knowledge. It is a highly transparent, collaborative organization. A global network of Wikimedia chapter organizations conducts important activities to support the movement in a fast-growing number of countries.

The WMF Global Development team collaborates with and serves the broad Wikimedia community and partners -- including readers, volunteers, editors/contributors, business partners and likeminded organizations -- to encourage the growth of Wikimedia communities and the projects around the world with a priority focus on the Global South. Our team coordinates Global Communications, Chapter Development, Mobile & Offline product development and will be launching pilot programs in India, Brazil and the Middle East-North Africa.

The Program Assistant will support the Chief Global Development Officer and the Global Development team on our administrative needs and will execute selected projects that support the work of the team. The ideal candidate will have high levels of skill and comfort in communication (especially writing), task execution, proactive executive support, and self-management. Candidates who are not already immersed in online collaborative communities will have to show an aptitude for quickly gaining a deep understanding of our communities' technologies, practices, traditions and culture -- and to become trusted and productive members of the Wikimedia community and staff. This is an entry level position into the Global Development team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the calendar, contacts and administrative needs including travel of the Chief Global Development Officer
• Support other Global Development team members for travel and meeting planning, as appropriate
• Keep up with the weekly and daily developments in the Global Development team and among community members in the Global South
• Manage selected projects on behalf of the team including event planning, visits by volunteers and other guests, selected research activities, writing and editing correspondence, liaison with community members
• Help Wikimedians visiting the office be productive and comfortable in the Foundation office and in San Francisco.
• Support the general office administration: organizing, scheduling, filing, and stocking/restocking of supplies; answer phones and route calls.
• Other duties as required
• Use any "free" time to provide proactive support the team or initiate personal projects that advance the work of the Global Development team

CANDIDATE CHARACTERISTICS

• Intellectual curiosity and thirst to learn about and contribute to the Wikimedia mission
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills are a must
• Ability to work in an open, culturally-diverse and collaborative environment
• Proactive, self-starter with a good sense of humor and comfort interacting with senior leaders
• Excellent organizational and calendar management skills with high personal standards of performance
• Ability to adapt quickly and easily to changing requirements in a fast-paced, tech based non-profit organization.
• Must be able to adhere to deadlines and perform high quality work under limited supervision

CANDIDATE BACKGROUND

• Bachelors degree from a highly regarded institution with excellent academic results
• Track record of high performance in previous internships, volunteer activities and/or professional environment
• Experience as a writer and/or editor
• Fluent (oral and written) in English and another language
• Working knowledge of the wiki environment is a plus.
• Strong grasp of word processing, spreadsheet and presentation programs ideally OpenOffice.