Senior Policy Analyst/Counsel, Privacy & Data Program

Center for Democracy & Technology • Washington, DC

22h • $100,000 - $138,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) seeks an experienced advocate for privacy, consumer protection, and other public-interest values to join the multidisciplinary Privacy & Data Program as a Senior Policy Analyst or Senior Counsel. The successful candidate will be knowledgeable about tech policy, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), privacy, civil rights, and workers’ rights. They will be a self-starter who can generate ideas and execute them to completion with independent leadership. Competitive candidates will also have experience working with Congressional staff, civil society, tech companies, reporters, and other stakeholders, and can identify opportunities to engage those audiences. The new team member will help execute the Privacy & Data Program’s priorities, ranging from advocating for stronger protections for consumers’ and workers’ privacy and against discriminatory uses of data, to responsible AI development and use. Key workstreams include advocating for meaningful federal and state privacy legislation; working with federal and state agencies to promote effective oversight and regulation of company data and AI practices; research, writing, and advocacy concerning emerging privacy issues such as AI personalization, memory, agents, and advertising; direct-to-company advocacy aimed at influencing company privacy and data practices to better serve people’s interests; and supporting a grant-funded project focused on workers’ rights. Each of these workstreams places a strong focus on equity and the risks of discriminatory uses of data. About CDT The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that fights to advance civil rights and civil liberties in the digital age. We champion policies, laws, and technical designs that empower people to use technology for good, while protecting against invasive, discriminatory, and exploitative uses. CDT was founded in Washington, D.C., in 1994 and has operated a second office, in Brussels, since 2014. CDT works to protect people’s rights across a range of technology uses and applications, with a focus on privacy and data (including specific projects on health privacy , workers’ rights & technology , and disability rights & technology ), AI policy and governance , free expression/platform governance , government surveillance , elections & democracy , civic technology & education , competition , and state advocacy. We engage policymakers in the U.S. and the European Union, advocate for companies to adopt best practices, represent the public interest in multistakeholder processes and standards bodies, file amicus briefs in court, conduct original research , and raise public awareness about how technology design and governance impact our democracy and social inequality. CDT is a leading voice in tech policy conversations. We testify before Congress, advocate to the White House, engage closely with federal agencies – and, increasingly, engage with policymakers in the states. We also collaborate with a wide range of civil society partners and academic researchers.

Requirements

• Commitment to CDT’s mission, and particularly to advancing technology policies and practices that protect civil rights, human rights, and democratic values.
• Technology policy experience and expertise, as demonstrated through career positions, or written or other work.
• Five or more years of experience in relevant legal, policy, or advocacy positions – no specific degree is required and we encourage people from a variety of backgrounds to apply.
• Working knowledge of U.S. federal and state privacy law.
• Familiarity with Congress, federal agencies, state lawmaking processes, and corporate best practices or compliance.
• Strong communication skills, with experience in writing, public speaking, and the ability to communicate policy issues to the media and the public.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with civil rights law and/or international privacy frameworks preferred.

Responsibilities

• Engage in internal deliberations with the team and across other CDT teams regarding policy positioning, emerging technologies, and other issues that relate to privacy, workers’ rights, civil rights, and AI governance.
• Draft legal and policy analysis and develop policy recommendations related to emerging privacy and tech policy issues, particularly concerning AI.
• Author advocacy materials including agency comments, reports, blog posts, op-eds, and letters to advance the program’s policy goals.
• Provide policy and technical assistance to policymakers and regulators.
• Advocate for CDT’s substantive viewpoints to a variety of external audiences, including Congressional staff, civil society partners, state lawmakers and allies, companies, and other stakeholders in the tech policy space.
• Identify advocacy opportunities, plan how best to take advantage of those opportunities, and execute those plans with minimal supervision.
• Represent CDT in the media and in a variety of coalitions, meetings, speaking engagements, conferences, and other places.

Benefits

• CDT provides a generous benefits package that includes health care and dental coverage for employees and dependents, a retirement plan, paid vacation, sick days, and parental leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed