Principal, Programs (Technology Policy)

Omidyar Network • Full-time • Washington, District of Columbia, United States • $106.08k - $200.10k / year • 1d ago

About Omidyar Network (ON):

Omidyar Network is a philanthropic organization with a mission to bend the arc of the digital revolution towards shared power, prosperity, and possibility. We envision a world where our shared humanity steers our digital future. So far, we have committed more than $1.94 billion to initiatives that share our vision.

Digital technology is a powerful and ubiquitous force, shaped by people, that can make wondrous things happen when guided well. We believe in working together to guide tech's trajectory through intentional choices. We partner with and invest in some of the world's brightest visionaries and innovators to guide our digital future towards the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

About the Programs Team:

Our programs team focuses on the key drivers of our shared digital future: the culture, the governance, and the business of digital tech. Through our grant making and advocacy, we aim to shape more intentional societal governance and amplify our shared agency. We collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders, including investors, tech firms, policymakers, consumers and workers to guide tech’s trajectory and establish coalitions and countervails in civil society. Programs team members join Omidyar Network from a wide range of backgrounds in policy, advocacy, nonprofits, community organizing, technology, consulting, philanthropy, education, and the arts.

How You’ll Contribute to our Impact:

Join our integrated DC‑based policy and communications team to shape public policy and public narrative on technology—AI governance, competition, labor, equity, privacy, and safety. You will set strategy, drive advocacy, build coalitions, and serve as one of Omidyar Network’s key public policy actors, all while modeling the collaborative, high‑trust culture we prize.

Core Responsibilities:

Lead end‑to‑end policy and communications strategies that advance our tech‑governance agenda, in collaboration with policy and communication leads and the rest of the team.
Build and sustain coalitions across government, civil society, labor, industry, and academia.
Cultivate deep relationships with journalists and be able to participate in respond rapidly to media opportunities.
Structure, negotiate, and occasionally oversee grants and external contracts that resource partners advancing our public‑policy goals.
Represent Omidyar Network in policy forums, briefings, and public events.

Location:

We are currently working in a hybrid capacity and will require staff to work in-person a minimum of 2-3 days per week beginning in September 2025. This position will be based out of our Washington D.C. office. Employees are required to reside within 100 miles of ON’s Washington, D.C. office location which includes the states of Maryland and Virginia. Candidates must have a current U.S. work authorization to be considered.

Compensation:

This is a full-time, salaried position that features competitive pay and benefits, including health care (medical/dental/vision), paid time off, and a generous employer 401k contribution. The salary range for this role is $160,080 -$200,100. ON manages pay equity seriously and new hires generally start at the midpoint of this range.

What You'll Bring to the Team:

7+ years in tech‑related public policy, advocacy, government.
Experience in strategic communications with an emphasis on policy messaging and stakeholder engagement
Subject‑matter depth in AI, competition/antitrust, consumer protection, labor, or related issues.
Demonstrated success in coalition building and/or shaping the public narrative.
Outstanding written and verbal skills; able to translate complex policy into clear stories.
A team‑first mindset that strengthens our culture.

Omidyar Network is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes people from all experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply. We fundamentally believe that people are inherently capable, but often lack opportunity. We know that a diverse workforce reflecting a broad range of backgrounds and views allows us to see problems in more nuanced ways, creating the thought leadership needed to elevate humanity and evolve the culture, governance, and business of technology. We actively recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a broad candidate pool.