Sr. Digital Security Trainer

Position description

Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, defending, and empowering public-interest journalism, is hiring a senior digital security trainer to conduct in-field digital security training with journalists and newsrooms.

Reporting to the deputy director of digital security, this position is part of a digital security team that provides training sessions, consultations, and security audits for news organizations of various sizes, documentary filmmakers, and freelance journalists. The team also produces written guides, blog posts, and newsletters on digital security subjects for public consumption, which this role will contribute to, with the potential to expand content development into the realm of video, audio, and illustration.

Responsibilities

• Lead digital security trainings on topics such as risk assessment, password managers, multifactor authentication, encrypting voice calls and text messages, online privacy, device security, mitigating online harassment, and more.

• Work closely with all team members to ensure clients’ needs are met, from intake and service implementation to follow-up.

• Assist teammates in developing curricula and supporting materials for digital security trainings.

• Contribute to public editorial content, such as guides, blog posts, and newsletters.

• In the long term, train SecureDrop services clientele, including administrators and journalists, on installing and using the platform.

• Other responsibilities as assigned by the deputy director of digital security.

Qualifications

Must have

• A passion for the First Amendment and protecting the press freedom rights of all.

• Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, journalism, education, or related field preferred, or four years of cybersecurity awareness training experience.

• One-plus years of experience working in newsrooms and with journalists, or the equivalent understanding of the threat model and landscape for journalists.

• Two to three years of experience training on technical skills for a nontechnical audience.

• Experience creating materials for training on technical topics –– ideally digital security.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills — the ability to establish a strong connection with the journalists we train.

• Familiarity with journalistic threat models or equivalent applied experience with threat modeling for at-risk groups.

• Knowledge of the core principles of encryption and secure communication tools.

• Keen understanding of how computers operate within a variety of operating systems (desktop and mobile).

• Comfort working independently, as well as collaboratively.

• A deep track record of working collaboratively with teams in both in-person and remote settings.

• Comfort with public speaking.

• A proven ability to translate complex issues into succinct, accessible language for multiple audiences.

• Flexibility to undertake occasional (twice a year or less) international travel.

Preferred

• Experience with instructional design or curriculum development.

• Connections to journalism university programs or closely related education programs.

• Experience with circumvention/anti-censorship technology.

• Experience working with international audiences on digital security topics, with an understanding of global contexts.

• Experience writing beginner-friendly guides or posts on digital security topics aimed at journalists or adjacent groups.

• Ability to speak or write in non-English languages (especially Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, and/or Russian).

Working with us

This is a full-time role with a competitive nonprofit salary in the range of $90,000-105,000, depending on experience. This position will preferably be based in FPF’s Brooklyn headquarters; however, strong U.S.-based remote candidates will also be considered. For more information on our full benefits package, please visit our website’s careers page.

FPF does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual or reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status, and other personal characteristics protected by law.

How to apply

If you think you’d like to be a part of our team, please submit your résumé and a cover letter (no longer than one page). Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to close this process early due to high applicant volume.

After an initial application review, FPF’s hiring process includes a phone screen with HR and a panel interview with the team. For candidates moving to the final stages, a presentation on a digital security topic to the team and department head, and a final meeting with our executive director will follow.