Overview

SumOfUs is a leading organization in the digital campaigning space, and we’re hiring a Software Developer to help build a world-class technology platform that supports our mission to fight corporate power and increase corporate accountability. Join us if you’d love the opportunity to combine your passion for writing quality software with your passion for building a more just and sustainable global economy.

You’ll be joining at an exciting time. Our freshly rebuilt digital campaigning platform is entirely open-source, and we’re working hard to make it the best toolkit available for online grassroots campaigners. You’ll have lots of space to learn and be inventive while you design and deliver features and contribute to architectural discussions.

You will:

  • Work both independently and cooperatively, taking initiative to learn and develop your skills
  • Write maintainable and elegant code that’s easy to read.
  • Test the software you write for reliability and robustness.
  • Help administer the continuous delivery pipeline and infrastructure serving millions of members.
  • Embrace criticism of your own code, and contribute to code reviews.
  • Partner on projects and be a considerate collaborator when working with others.
  • Be an effective technical and non-technical communicator.
  • Practice continuous learning of different programming paradigms and new technologies.
  • Work effectively across the whole technology stack
  • If you’re looking to collaborate with a small team of developers to empower digital campaigners and grassroots organizations to achieve positive social change, this is the job for you!

Who we’re looking for:

Most of all, we’re looking for someone who’s excited to perform the role described in detail above.

There’s a number of “Big Pluses” that will be real assets to your application for this role. We wouldn’t expect any candidate to tick all of these boxes, but an outstanding candidate might tick several of them. These “Big Pluses” are:

  • Familiarity with the technologies we use – Ruby on Rails, Javascript, Docker, or AWS.
  • Contributions to open source projects or experience building community around them.
  • Proficiency in multiple programming languages
  • Knack for building responsive user interfaces that are beautiful and intuitive to use.
  • Experience building mobile apps and websites.
  • Experience with campaigning, advocacy, or non-profits.
  • Familiarity with the business and campaigning models of big digital social change organizations and platforms – perhaps GetUp in Australia or Campact in Germany or even Avaaz or Change.org globally.
  • Prior experience working on a remote team.
  • Experience living or working in multiple regions of the world.
  • Fluency in at least one non-English language.

There are’s also a number of logistical requirements for the role:

  • Ability to travel internationally 2-3 times per year.
  • Fluency in English.
  • Located in or willing to move to a timezone that allows for easy engagement with SumOfUs staff and technical providers based mostly in Europe and the Americas (we currently work with team members who are based in timezones between Vilnius, Lithuania and Vancouver, Canada.)

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation is competitive for the advocacy sector and will be determined based on a combination of experience, seniority and the region you live in. For some context: This position in a major UK city like London would likely pay in the range of GBP 40,000 – 50,000. In Buenos Aires, this role would likely pay in the range of ARS 800.000 – 1.000.000.

We offer a total of 39 paid days off, including both vacation and your national holidays (plus additional sick leave and carer’s leave), contributions to retirement, and the ability to work from home and set your own hours. We cover 100% of a private health insurance premium for employees and dependents who live in countries without public insurance. We also offer great benefits like time off and money for professional development, paid maternity/paternity leave, and others. Bottom line: you can be assured we treat our staff fairly, if only because we campaign against corporations that don’t.

A diverse workforce is a successful workforce.

SumOfUs is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunity to all applicants for employment and employees and do not discriminate because of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, personal appearance, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, genetic information, or political affiliation. Equal employment opportunities will be provided in employment, recruitment, selection, compensation, benefits, promotion, demotion, layoff, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.

People from communities that traditionally experience discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity or immigration status; women; people with disabilities; and LGBT people are especially encouraged to apply.

Ready to Apply?

Please use the form here to send a resume or CV in English. Instead of writing a traditional cover letter, answer these three questions in English (no novels — keep it concise):

  • Why are you applying for this job? (Suggested word limit: 125);
  • What’s one idea, big or small, that you have for how technology can be used to advance social progress? (Suggested word limit: 200)
  • List which of the characteristics under “Big Pluses” you believe you match, with a few words of explanation if that’s useful (but keep it short!);
  • A brief description of where you heard about this job posting;
  • (optional) A link to your Github, blog, or portfolio website

The application deadline is Wednesday, 27 April 2016, at 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time. But we will begin processing applications on a rolling basis before then, and if we find an awesome candidate we may move ahead — so get your application in soon!

We’re also currently hiring for a Senior Software Developer. Check out sumofus.org/jobs for full position descriptions.

If you have questions about this or other jobs, please feel free to email us at jobs@sumofus.org.

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About SumOfUs.org

We are a fully remote, fast-growing non-profit startup, with about thirty employees and millions of active members just a few years after launch. Our mission is to rein in corporate power and build a fairer global economy. It’s pretty ambitious, but we’ve already won some pretty great campaigns. For example, we helped get over 100 companies (from H&M to Adidas) to sign an accord protecting the lives and working conditions of workers in the Bangladesh garment industry; we helped push several huge multinational food corporations to commit to eradicating conflict palm oil from their supply chain; we've been one of the leading voices fighting bad trade treaties like the EU-US TTIP and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

We have a strong and supportive internal culture that combines the best of the lean startup space with the best of the global activism world. Workers’ rights and the comfort of our minority staff are a priority for the organization’s leadership, for our anti-oppression team, and for our employees’ union. You can find our topline cultural principles here. In addition to our small but growing tech team, our global non-technical team is tech-savvy and excited about new technology.