Technical Program Manager (all genders)

The Sovereign Tech Agency's mission: to strengthen the foundations of an open and free digital world. We see open digital infrastructure as the roads and bridges of our digital society – essential for the flow of information, for government, industry, and innovation. At the heart of this infrastructure is free and open source software, which is indispensable for a democratic society and has established itself as the world's most successful software development model.

With a commission from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, we invest in critical open source software, develop programs and instruments that sustainably secure the open source ecosystem, and support the people behind the code. We are the only organization of our kind in Europe, and we are leading the way on how governments engage with digital infrastructure and open source technology. Our vision: digital resilience, technological diversity, and the safeguarding of digital public services. Together, we are shaping a sovereign digital future.

We are looking for a Technical Program Manager for the Tech & Investments team to contribute to the future growth of the Sovereign Tech Agency.

Are you an experienced project lead or project manager manager who loves working at the intersection of technology and project management? Do you also want your work to make a meaningful impact on society? Ideally, you have a technical background or comparable experience. You’re excited to work closely with a diverse set of global open source communities and support them in their work as much as you can.

We want team players who appreciate the benefits of working in a small, cross-functional team, as well as the effective use of modern, remote-first collaboration tools. We are constantly refining and iterating on our programs and processes: this is your chance to play an active role in shaping them.

Ultimately, managing different complex projects is something of a craft, and a well-organized workshop is just as important to you as well-maintained tools.

Your Tasks

• Screening proposals for the Sovereign Tech Fund based on formal and technical criteria
• Actively participating in discussions regarding investment decisions
• Communicating with potential open source projects and applicants
• Drafting service contracts in consultation with the projects
• Supervising and managing of projects before and during the commissioning process, particularly with regard to time, budget, and quality
• Representing the Sovereign Tech Fund at conferences and other events
• Networking with open source communities and other stakeholders
• Developing and managing further programs for the Sovereign Tech Agency's portfolio

Your Qualities

• Experience in software development, particularly in an open source environment, or experience in managing complex software projects
• Extensive knowledge and experience in project management or grants management
• Interest in the areas of open source, open source infrastructure, and software development
• Business fluent in German, able to create written documents in German
• Business fluent in English, to communicate with international partners and a multilingual team
• Team player: you enjoy collaborating with coworkers, active and open communication, and both giving and receiving feedback.
• Working independently: Your work is self-directed and proactive, utilizing modern collaboration tools

For us, your motivation is as important as your resume. We explicitly welcome applications that do not meet all requirements. We would also be happy to learn more about additional skills and attributes in your cover letter that are not listed here but are relevant to the position.

• Based on experience and qualifications, the annual compensation for this role is (at 40 hours per week) 63,000 to 80,000 Euro.
• Flexible and remote-friendly work arrangements for all family and life situations, from our office in Berlin-Mitte, from home, or in a hybrid model
  • Please note: we have one to two in-person team meetings in or around Berlin per year, and almost all meetings are scheduled during GMT +1 working hours.
• 30 days of vacation (based on a 5-day workweek)
• Support for your professional and personal development, including the opportunity to attend international conferences
• In our small, agile team, your perspective matters: we explicitly welcome you to contribute ideas and suggestions about how we can develop as an organization and to actively participate in shaping our future

We are a diverse team and welcome applications from BPoC (Black and People of Color), individuals with disabilities, people with migration backgrounds, and individuals from other groups underrepresented in technology development.

If you belong to these groups, please feel free to mention it in your application. However, we request that you refrain from including a photo of yourself or any information about your age, gender, marital status, or similar details in your documents.

Please send us your application with a cover letter and resume by email to jobs@sovereigntechfund.de.

We will confirm receipt of your documents by email and let you know the next steps. We will set up an introductory meeting as soon as possible, depending on your availability, either in person in Berlin or via video call. The position will remain open at least until 6 February 2025.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at jobs@sovereigntechfund.de.