About the ORFG
The Open Research Funders Group is an initiative of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC). The ORFG is a partnership of philanthropic organizations committed to the open sharing of research outputs. The ORFG believes openness benefits society by accelerating the pace of discovery, reducing information-sharing gaps, encouraging innovation, and promoting reproducibility. The ORFG supports actionable principles and policies that promote greater dissemination, transparency, replicability, and reuse of papers, data, and a range of other research outputs. Collectively, ORFG members hold assets in excess of $255 billion, with total giving per year in the $12 billion range.
Position Summary
The Senior Manager of the ORFG Community will expand the group’s network, helping to liaise with existing and prospective ORFG members to better understand the tools and resources necessary for developing, launching, and overseeing open policies. The role will expand the ORFG’s participation in external events, respond to opportunities, and cultivate strategic relationships with key constituencies. Additionally, the role will help further develop ORFG resources and community building efforts, including collecting and analyzing existing funder policies to determine best practices, cohort clustering, and opportunities for information-sharing. The role will work in partnership with the newly formed ORFG Coordinating Committee and engage with targeted funders to understand hurdles to policy adoption and identify appropriate tools to address these issues.
| Position Title | Senior Manager of the Open Research Funders Group (ORFG) Community |
| Location | Virtual |
| Hours & Schedule | 40 hours per week (average), generally available 9am-5pm Eastern Time with limited flexibility for other schedules or time zones. Extra hours may be necessary periodically and are offset by a generous time off policy during the rest of the year. Will require 3 to 5 overnight trips a year. |
| U.S. Overtime Status | Exempt |
| Compensation | Full time employee salary of $90,000-$110,000 USD per year, commensurate with experience. |
| Employee Benefits | Candidates legally authorized to work in the United States will be considered for employment and will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in a 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 80 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.
Candidates located outside the United States will be considered for an independent contractor position. |
| Reports to | SPARC Executive Director |
| Availability | Desired start date of March 1, 2025 |
Responsibilities
- Support and manage the ORFG Coordinating Committee, and collaborate with the committee to determine the ORFG’s strategic priorities, in partnership with SPARC’s Executive Director.
- Plan and facilitate regular monthly member meetings as well annual in-person member gatherings.
- Liaise with existing and prospective ORFG members to better understand the tools and resources necessary to develop, launch, and oversee funder open research policies and practices.
- Coordinate the development of these tools and resources, in conjunction with the ORFG members and other key constituencies.
- Lead ORFG community building efforts to support members, the wider funder community, and others in the research ecosystem committed to (or interested in) open.
- Manage regular communications and updates within the ORFG membership.
- Identify and fill gaps in the ORFG’s suite of community-curated web resources (e.g., reading list, guide to open infrastructure tools).
- Cultivate, mentor, and coordinate grassroots leaders within the funder community to improve understanding and adoption of open policies and practices.
- Represent the ORFG at industry events, on social media, and in other appropriate venues.
- Support and manage the ORFG Coordinating Committee, and collaborate with the committee to determine the ORFG’s strategic priorities, in partnership with SPARC’s Executive Director.
Position Qualifications
Education and Experience:
- 8 years or more of relevant professional experience, preferably with direct experience working with the scholarly research ecosystem at philanthropies, universities/libraries, not-for-profit organizations, and/or government agencies
- Direct engagement with open science, open access, open data, scholarly communication, and/or research infrastructure projects
- Deep knowledge of the scholarly research ecosystem
- Experience working with distributed teams to develop and execute projects and programs, preferably including community building or management
- No specific degree is required, but a bachelor’s degree or equivalent level of coursework or training is preferred
Skills and Abilities:
- Demonstrated leadership skills
- Excellent organizational skills, including attention to detail, time management, and project planning
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including significant experience with group facilitation
- Ability to manage key communications functions, such as content creation and social media management
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a virtual team
- Familiarity with Google Suite and/or Microsoft Office and the capacity to quickly and independently learn to use new software applications and tools
- Motivation to advocate for SPARC’s mission and the ORFG’s objectives
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Fluent in written and spoken English; other languages are a plus
Additional desirable qualifications that will set qualified candidates apart:
- Knowledge of grant making processes, language, and oversight
- Experience in community building, coalition building, and/or growing member organizations
- Experience with policy advocacy
Studies have shown that people marginalized by racism and/or sexism are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every listed qualification. If you are unsure if you meet the listed requirements but believe you can perform the job as described, we encourage you to apply.
How to Apply
Please complete the application form to apply for the position. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply by January 15, 2025. Candidates not selected to advance in the process will be notified by February 1, 2025. The position is available to start immediately after an offer is made, with a target start date on or before March 1, 2025. Email [email protected] with any questions or requests for accommodations.
Please note that our offices will be closed from December 23, 2024 through January 3, 2025. We will respond to any inquiries you send during that time frame the week of January 6, 2025.
Hiring Statement
The Open Research Funders Group (ORFG) is an initiative of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), which is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. NVF is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. NVF’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.
E-Verify
NVF participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.