Digital Sovereignty Policy Assistant

Open Rights Group; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Parental leave

9% pension contribution

Training and development budget

26.5 days paid annual leave

Laptop provided

Job summary

Open Rights Group is seeking a Policy Assistant to research and develop policy positions on digital rights, platform regulation, and open standards. The role prioritises strong analytical skills over prior knowledge and invites candidates with diverse backgrounds to contribute to UK policy.

You may be an academic transitioning to policy or hold a policy background with tech interest. UK Parliamentary familiarity is a plus, and we value inclusive collaboration.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous policy research in digital rights.
• Analytical thinker with a keen interest in technology policy.
• Experience engaging with policymakers and parliamentary procedures.

Responsibilities

• Policy research on open source, procurement, and EU comparisons.
• Draft public-facing policy documents, briefings and reports.
• Outreach to policy-makers including Senedd and Holyrood.
• Feed research into campaigning and grassroots activism.
• Support coalition-building with cross-sectoral partners.
• Draft or edit blog posts and other communications.
• Assist with external events and brief press quotes.

Skills

Researcher

Policy analysis

Open source

Engage policy-makers

Job description

Deadline for Applications:
Monday 9 November 2026, 9am.

Interview Dates:
W/C 23 and 30 November 2026

Open Rights Group (ORG) is a digital rights campaigning organisation. We want to tackle the power of Big Tech and ensure that the UK can reduce its dependence on tech giants, through competition measures such as requiring Open Source and open standards. A Policy Assistant will help us research and develop our policy positions, on this and other topics, such as platform regulation, Pre-Crime and Migrant Digital Justice.

• Salary
  £25,507 (4 days per week, equivalent to £31,883 full time). Salary band allows annual increases based on performance to £29,574.
• Benefits
  Flexible working; parental leave; 9% pension contribution; generous training and development budget; 26.5 days paid annual leave (including any public holidays) and additional time off in December when office is closed; company-provided laptop.
• Location
  Nationwide (home-based/remote). Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.
• Duration
  Permanent

ORG is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that a diverse and inclusive team working in a supportive environment is vital to the success of our work. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from marginalised and racialised groups, including people of colour and other ethnic minorities, people who identify as LGBTQIA, and disabled people.

What we’re looking for

Above all else, we need a passionate and effective researcher. And as regards the rest, we’re more interested in your skills, rather than your knowledge.

You might be an academic in this space with the potential to step into a policy role.

You might have a policy background with an interest in technology.

You might have a highly analytical mind and have a demonstrated commitment to digital rights.

You might have significant work experience at the crossroads of technology and policy.

You might have experience of UK Parliamentary procedures, and a good understanding of how to creatively engage policy-makers.

You might have something else: inspire us!

What the job will involve:

• Policy research: for example on the use of open source and procurement, and comparative work with EU policy success in this area, or Freedom of Information requests to establish what AI companies are selling to the police or education authorities.
• Drafting policy documents: including public-facing documents such as briefings, consultation responses and reports.
• Outreach to policy-makers: including helping with engagement with the Senedd and Holyrood.
• Feeding into our campaigning work: through collaboration with our Campaigns Manager, to ensure that our policy research is fed into our campaigning and grassroots activism.
• Coalition building: helping other team-members to expand our coalition of cross-sectoral allies.
• Comms outputs: such as drafting or editing blog posts summarising policy submissions and campaign materials.
• Some public communications : such as drafting press quotes, and helping ORG at external events.

What we’re like

ORG is a vibrant digital rights campaigning organisation. Founded in 2005, we have over 2,000 members and 10 local groups across the UK.

We uphold human rights like free expression and privacy. We condemn and work against repressive laws or systems that deny people these rights.

We campaign, lobby, go to court – whatever it takes to build and support a movement for freedom in the digital age.

Our remote team is spread across the UK. We’re a supportive, flexible group with high standards. We’re innovative and agile. You’ll work hard but be rewarded by the impact you collaboratively achieve.

We take staff well-being seriously and meet up regularly for in-person work and social events.

Length and Salary

The Digital Sovereignty Policy Assistant will be employed on a permanent basis following successful completion of a six-month probation period.

The annual salary for the position at appointment is £25,507 for 4 days per week (equivalent to £31,883 for 5 days a week), less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance. As mentioned above, the position is home-based, though travel into London and elsewhere for in-person events is required.