Application Guide
How to Apply for Pre-Crime Programme Manager
at Open Rights Group
🏢 About Open Rights Group
Open Rights Group (ORG) is a unique UK-based digital rights organization that combines grassroots activism with policy expertise to defend freedom of expression, privacy, and other fundamental rights online. Unlike many advocacy groups, ORG operates through a collaborative, coalition-building model that centers community voices, particularly those from over-policed groups, making it a powerful platform for systemic change. Working here means joining a dedicated team that punches above its weight in challenging state and corporate surveillance.
About This Role
This role involves leading ORG's 'Pre-Crime' programme, which focuses on challenging predictive policing and surveillance technologies in criminal justice and counter-terrorism. You'll manage the Safety Not Surveillance (SNS) Coalition—the UK's only coalition dedicated to banning AI-driven predictive policing—and develop policy positions to influence legislation. The impact lies in directly protecting marginalized communities from harmful surveillance while shaping national policy on emerging technologies.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with coordinating Safety Not Surveillance Coalition meetings, aligning grassroots partners on advocacy tactics, then drafting a policy brief on a new police AI deployment for submission to Parliament. In the afternoon, you could be interviewing community members about surveillance impacts for a media campaign, followed by internal strategy sessions with ORG's senior team to plan funding proposals. Remote work involves frequent virtual collaboration, with tasks split between coalition management, policy analysis, and public engagement.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Open Rights Group Is Looking For
- Has deep knowledge of predictive policing technologies (e.g., facial recognition, risk assessment algorithms), UK criminal justice policy, and the specific harms they inflict on over-policed communities (e.g., racial minorities, migrants).
- Proven experience in coalition management, ideally within digital rights, racial justice, or criminal justice reform, with ability to bridge grassroots organizations and national NGOs.
- Strong policy analysis skills, capable of translating technical details of AI/data systems into accessible advocacy materials for media, lawmakers, and community groups.
- A collaborative leader who aligns with ORG's values-driven culture, able to work with senior management to secure funding and expand the programme's reach.
📝 Tips for Applying to Open Rights Group
Explicitly reference ORG's Safety Not Surveillance Coalition in your application—show you understand its unique position as the UK's only anti-predictive policing coalition and how you'd strengthen it.
Highlight any direct experience with communities affected by over-policing or surveillance; ORG prioritizes centering lived experience, so mention partnerships or work with relevant grassroots groups.
Demonstrate knowledge of specific UK policies or technologies related to pre-crime (e.g., the College of Policing's guidelines on analytics, the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner's role) to show you can hit the ground running.
Tailor your examples to ORG's collaborative model—describe how you've built alliances across organizations, not just worked in isolation.
If you have grant-writing or fundraising experience, emphasize it; the role involves securing project grants, and ORG relies on this funding.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your understanding of the intersection between predictive policing, AI ethics, and racial/social justice in the UK context—cite specific examples of technologies or policies you've engaged with.", 'Experience in coalition-building or managing multi-stakeholder initiatives, particularly those that include grassroots and national organizations.', "How you've developed policy positions or advocacy campaigns that influenced decision-makers or media on technical issues.", "Your alignment with ORG's values (e.g., collaborative culture, centering marginalized voices) and how you'd contribute as a senior leader in a remote, part-time setting."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → ORG's Safety Not Surveillance Coalition—review its members, past campaigns (e.g., on live facial recognition), and public statements to understand its strategy.
- → ORG's recent reports or submissions on pre-crime topics (e.g., to Parliament or the UN) to grasp their policy positions and tone.
- → The backgrounds of ORG's senior management team and other programme leads, as collaboration is key; note their expertise and values.
- → UK-specific developments in predictive policing, such as the Policing Bill debates or local police force trials of AI tools, to show up-to-date knowledge.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using generic tech ethics language without tying it to UK criminal justice or ORG's focus on over-policed communities—avoid vague statements about 'AI bias' without specifics.
- Overemphasizing individual achievement; ORG values collaboration, so focusing solely on solo accomplishments may suggest poor fit for their culture.
- Ignoring the part-time, remote nature of the role—failing to demonstrate how you'd manage coalition work and policy development in a flexible, distributed setting.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Open Rights Group !