Lead Community Tech Manager at Wikimedia Foundation

LEAD COMMUNITY TECH MANAGER

Remote

Summary

Welcome to the Wikimedia Foundation, where knowledge knows no bounds. As a non-profit organization supporting Wikipedia and a suite of other impactful wiki projects, we are on a mission to empower every individual to share knowledge freely. Ranked among the world’s top ten websites, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of global knowledge.

We are on the lookout for a dynamic Lead Community Tech Manager who possesses a strong background in product development, technical support processes, and user engagement. In this role, you’ll report to our Product and Technology leadership, bringing your expertise to the forefront of our mission.

At Wikimedia, inclusivity is in our DNA. We’re dedicated to making knowledge accessible worldwide. Here, you will have the opportunity to make a difference, foster a culture of sustainability, empathize with users, volunteers, and colleagues, and apply a collaborative, data-driven mindset. Your role will be pivotal in nurturing individuals’ growth, helping them achieve their career aspirations while fostering technical excellence within our community.

In this remote position, we highly value teamwork and a consensus-driven approach as we develop fully open-source software. You’ll collaborate with a diverse and talented team, providing the space for developers and Wikimedia community members to enhance software used by over a billion users.

Occasional travel opportunities, such as team offsites, are available, and we accommodate virtual attendance when necessary.

Your Responsibilities

1. Drive Projects to Completion: Lead cross-functional teams to accomplish projects aligned with community priorities, organizational objectives, and product and technology strategy.

2. Assess User Needs: Collaborate with Wikimedia movement partners to assess technical and user requirements that demand attention.

3. Facilitate Engagement: Employ structured methodologies to ensure ongoing engagement with diverse stakeholders, technical follow-through, and accountability for deliverables.

4. Problem Solving: Identify and isolate issues within complex systems, deploying the right expertise for specific problems.

5. Foster a Supportive Environment: Cultivate a supportive team atmosphere, ensuring that diverse voices are heard.

6. Engage Volunteers: Collaborate with volunteer developers within the movement, creating meaningful technical partnerships.

7. Prioritization and Planning: Lead project prioritization, cross-team product discussions, and long-term planning.

8. Collaboration: Partner with peers for cross-team project delivery and organizational updates.

9. Mentorship: Promote a culture of continuous improvement and mentorship.

10. Inclusive Hiring: Participate in hiring processes that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in creating and managing user-facing engagement and support processes for product management and maintenance.
• Ability to work across multiple teams and contexts.
• Expertise in consumer-facing internet technology for large and diverse audiences.
• Experience collaborating with product design throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Strong knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects of product management, including prioritization, stakeholder engagement, user experience, planning, time management, and escalations.
• Proficiency in using project management software.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written English, and proficiency in at least one other language.

Qualities That Matter to Us

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Community Engagement: Skill in building relationships and trusted partnerships with community members, such as Wikipedia editors, volunteer developers, moderators, patrollers, and readers.
• Conflict Resolution: Ability to anticipate risks and resolve conflicts, particularly in a consensus-driven environment.
• Detail-Oriented: Keen attention to detail with a focus on follow-through while keeping the big picture in mind.
• Passion for Improvement: A drive for process improvement, knowledge sharing, and iterative action.
• Alignment with Our Mission: A strong desire to make meaningful contributions to knowledge equity, free culture, and open access.
• Effective Communication: Clear and concise communication in both synchronous and asynchronous channels.

Additionally, We’d Love It If You Have

• Experience working in an international organization with a distributed staff.
• Experience working with volunteer communities, either professionally or otherwise.
• A passion for open-source products, free knowledge, and Wikimedia’s mission.
• Fluency in one or more regional languages of Africa or Asia.

About the Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is a non-profit organization that powers Wikipedia and other Wikimedia free knowledge projects. Our vision is to ensure that every person can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. We host Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects, develop software for reading, contributing, and sharing Wikimedia content, support volunteer communities, advocate for policies promoting free knowledge, and more.

We are committed to fostering a diverse workforce and maintaining an inclusive and equitable workplace. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.

The Wikimedia Foundation operates remotely, with staff and contractors in over 50 countries. Our compensation is competitive, equitable, and aligned with our values and culture. For applicants within the United States, the anticipated annual pay range for this position is US$120,196 to US$187,253, taking into account location-based cost of living differences. For applicants outside the US, the pay range will be adjusted to the country of hire.

During the interview process, all applicants can discuss specific pay ranges with their recruiter based on their location.

If you require assistance or accommodation to complete any part of the application process due to a disability, please contact us at recruiting@wikimedia.org or +1 (415) 839-6885.

Join us in shaping the future of knowledge sharing. Apply today and become a part of our global community.

Expert Tips to Be a Successful Applicant

1. Showcase Your Collaboration Skills: Provide examples of projects where you successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals. Highlight how your teamwork made a difference.
2. Share Your Problem-Solving Prowess: Illustrate your ability to identify and resolve complex issues within systems. Describe how your expertise improved outcomes.
3. Demonstrate Your Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: Discuss instances where you actively promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion, whether through hiring processes or fostering an inclusive team culture.
4. Highlight Your Passion for Improvement: Emphasize your dedication to continuous improvement and knowledge sharing. Share a story of how your focus on iterative action brought positive change.
5. Express Alignment with Our Mission: Explain why you’re passionate about contributing to knowledge equity, free culture, and open access. Connect your personal values to Wikimedia’s mission.

Best of luck with your application!