Background

A just and equitable world where communities and ecosystems can thrive is possible. But social injustice, democratic backsliding, and the climate crisis threaten us all. The courageous people and communities daring to speak out face attacks and reprisals from powerful vested interests. Many pay the ultimate price.

Open Briefing is a vital part of the response. We build resistance and resilience among the people and communities challenging power. And we are answering more calls for assistance across more countries than ever before. Last year, our international team provided over 4,600 hours of direct support to activists and advocates under threat of physical, digital, and psychological harm across 93 countries.

Alongside this local support, we provide consultancy and advisory to help nonprofits and foundations supporting and resourcing grassroots change to take the right risks. We ensure that these international partners are equipped and empowered by enhancing their security risk management, information security and data protection, and staff care and wellbeing. Our work in this area frequently involves being both a trusted ally and a critical friend.

Our team protects many high-profile activists and well-known organisations. But much of our work is behind the scenes, with ordinary people and communities who are targeted for challenging power. For 13 years, we have worked together towards a better future. And we are just getting started. We are expanding our diverse, inspired, and purpose-driven team; will you join us as our new wellbeing and resilience coordinator?

Role description

You will play a key role in coordinating our wellbeing and resilience team’s internal and external efforts to deliver our strategic objectives. Your primary responsibilities will include:

Workstream strategy and development (60%)

• Lead initiatives to develop and socialise the workstream’s tools, resources, approaches, methodologies, and training materials.
• Support to gather data, measure our wellbeing impact, and monitor sector trends.
• Support to improve the workflows and processes that govern the operational delivery of our wellbeing work.
• Coordinate the scaling of our peer support programme and peer supporters network.
• Coordinate reflections and initiatives to integrate DEI into our processes and services, in particular in fostering a better understanding of collective wellbeing and concepts of wellbeing across different cultures.
• Coordinate workstream initiatives and conversations for team members to engage, reflect, and learn on issues relevant to their work.

Organisational culture and wellbeing (20%)

• Support the monitoring, implementation, and review of Open Briefing’s wellbeing framework based on healthy teams and happy employees.
• Participate in agreed internal working groups to further develop key business functions or mission-related initiatives.
• Support to revise and communicate organisational policies, procedures, and trainings under the ownership of the wellbeing and resilience team.
• Represent our organisation in networks and events to share and learn about wellbeing trends and best practices in our sector.

Consultancy and training (20%)

• Monitor cases and provide peer support, group mentoring, and troubleshooting to wellbeing and resilience consultants delivering responsive assistance.
• Coordinate key client accounts and support the design of wellbeing support (including quotes, proposals, and reports) to clients across our workstream.
• Provide wellbeing consultancy and training as appropriate to our nonprofit and foundation clients.
• Provide funded wellbeing support as appropriate to at-risk defenders, grassroots organisations, and movements through our responsive assistance programme.

Person specification

Essential

• You will be a qualified and experienced wellbeing professional (such as a coach, counsellor, or other psychosocial professional).
• You will have a proven track record of working in wellbeing with individuals, teams, and organisations.
• You will have strong project management and communication skills.
• You will have experience in facilitating successful teamwork, nurturing healthy teams, and coaching and mentoring peers.
• You will have experience with designing adult-learning tools and methodologies.
• You have experience working with grassroots activists, communities, organisations, and movements, and/or international nonprofits and foundations.
• You will be sensitive to the progressive and rights-based missions and diverse profiles of our clients and other stakeholders.
• You will have excellent written and spoken English.
• You will be based in a timezone UTC +/- 3 hours.

Desirable

• You may have experience of organisational and occupational psychology tools and methodologies.
• You may have experience with DEI strategies.
• You may have an excellent written and spoken second language.

Terms and remuneration

We are remote first and digital-nomad friendly. This is a home-working role; however, Open Briefing may cover the cost of a suitable co-working space or hot desk at its discretion. This is a full-time, employed role. Your line manager will be Camille Gallie, our director of wellbeing and resilience.

We offer a remuneration package made up of fair pay, sector-leading benefits, and progressive leave policies, including:

• Salary of £45,000 per annum.
• Employer pension contribution (7% in the UK).
• Family private medical insurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme, including welfare counselling.
• Unlimited professional coaching.
• 25 days annual leave plus local public holidays.
• Up to three additional leave days for annual close down.
• Enhanced sick pay.
• Flexible working, including flexitime and remote and home working.
• Support for climate action:
  • Personal carbon emissions offsetting.
  • Up to two additional leave days for sustainable travel.
  • Up to two additional leave days for climate activism.
• Apple MacBook Air and peripherals.

As part of our duty of care, it is our policy to identify and communicate any risks associated with specific roles and set out how we mitigate them. We have identified the following risks associated with this role:

• Vicarious or secondary trauma.
• Compassion fatigue.

These risks are mitigated through effective line management and our wellbeing framework, which includes the provision of welfare counselling and unlimited professional coaching.

In order to ensure that we comply with local laws and regulations, Open Briefing staff based outside the United Kingdom are contracted locally through an employer of record (EOR). Wherever possible, we apply the same terms and conditions of employment to all staff, whether employed directly or through an EOR. Where there are differences due to local laws and regulations, we will apply the better of the provisions set out above or the local statutory requirements.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Open Briefing values diversity. We are committed to being equitable and inclusive, and to being a place where all can be their authentic selves. We therefore encourage applications from all who may meet the person specification and particularly from candidates who are from historically-marginalised groups that are underrecognised in our team. This currently includes Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour; people from countries in the global majority; and women and/or non-binary people. Please read our diversity, equity, and inclusion policy for more information.

Open Briefing is neuroinclusive, positive about mental health, and a Disability Confident Employer. We welcome applications from all candidates who meet the person specification. Please let us know in your cover letter how we can be the recruiter and employer that you need us to be.

We are an accredited Living Wage employer. The pay ratio in our organisation is currently only 2.4 : 1. We follow the gender pay gap reporting guidance from the UK government. We have also checked the text of this advert using the Gender Decoder tool.

How to apply

To apply, please email your CV to our office manager, Lauren Smith, at [email protected]. Please also include a cover letter of no more than two pages setting out:

1. What excites you about Open Briefing and the role of wellbeing and resilience coordinator.
2. How you meet the advertised person specification.

Please note the following dates:

• Closing date: 31 May 2024.
• First round interviews: 10-17 June 2024.
• Second round interviews: 19-21 June 2024.
• Desired start date: 1 July 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Please let us know in your cover letter if any of these dates are problematic and we will try to accommodate. The successful applicant will need to complete a reasonable vetting process before engagement.

Job pack