At Wikimedia we are always looking to innovate – to try new things and see how they work. For instance, right now we’re re-thinking how we fill open positions in our newly formed Community Department. Rather than focus on traditional resources for hiring new talent, we have decided to put out a call to the broad, global audience that visits our projects. We’re focused on casting our net widely – in many languages and countries. Our goal is to find interesting people; people who have unique experience and skills and are interested in working with us.
In order to do this we’re going to try out a few different things, including the addition of a banner to our projects inviting people to Work at Wikimedia/Wikipedia. Keep an eye out for the banners. If you’d prefer to not see them, just click “hide” and it will disappear into the background. If you’re interested though, click through and you’ll find a form with the opportunity to tell us a little bit about yourself.
Here is some information from the Community Department outlining what they are looking to do with this call for submissions:
This year, the Community Department will be hiring for a series of important senior and entry level positions. All positions will involve collaborating and communicating with Wikimedia project contributors and users intensively and publicly, grappling with problems that no one has ever solved before, navigating technological and social challenges and opportunities, and dealing with a high level of complexity and uncertainty. Candidates should have extremely high levels of skill and comfort in communication (especially writing), qualitative and quantitative analysis, management and self-management. Candidates who are not already deeply immersed in online collaborative communities will have to show an aptitude for quickly gaining a deep understanding of our communities’ technologies, practices, traditions and culture — and to become trusted and productive members of the Wikimedia community and movement.
We are especially looking for:Current Wikimedia community contributors, readers and leaders, Insightful observers of Wikimedia and other collaborative communities, People with specialty skill sets (e.g. statistics, ethnography, and probably a lot other things we’ve never thought of), People belonging to language communities of new and growing Wikipedias and other Wikimedia projects, People with insight into reaching groups currently underrepresented in Wikimedia contributor communities. Ideal candidates for positions at Wikimedia Foundation’s Community Department:
Have a passion for online communities, self-organizing systems, open and collaborative enterprises, democratic and consensus based societies, and emergent and participatory governance structures — and desperately want to see them succeed and prove the cynics wrong. Have thought enough about this stuff to have their own opinions and theories on various problems and opportunities facing Wikimedia and other online communities. Are equally strong dealing with qualitative and quantitative knowledge and research. Are self-directed, self-motivated, efficient, upbeat, optimistic, and extremely good with people. Wikimedia Foundation staff face intense pressures in highly-demanding roles. While the Wikimedia Foundation team strives to be mutually supportive, it only works when each individual is self-driven to overcome the challenges they face. Are knowledgeable about software development processes and with database and web technologies. Are creative non-linear thinkers who will sometimes fight for seemingly crazy ideas by backing them up with logical argument and data. Are systems-thinkers who love to think about workflow and technology systems inside organizations. Are multilingual, especially in major world languages and languages with large or growing Wikipedias. Have insights and experience reaching groups currently underrepresented in Wikimedia communities.
If you are interested in submitting your information for consideration for our Community Department please visit this page and fill out the form.
Thanks for your interest!
-Daniel Phelps, Human Resources & Philippe Beaudette, Community Department
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