The Free Software Foundation (FSF), a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) charity with a worldwide mission to protect computer user freedom, seeks a motivated and organized Boston-based individual to be our full-time outreach and communications coordinator.

Reporting to the executive director, the outreach and communications coordinator works closely with our campaigns, licensing, technical, and operations teams to plan, write, edit, publish, and promote high-quality, effective materials, both digital and printed. These materials are a critical part of advancing the FSF’s work in support of the GNU Project, free software adoption, copyleft licensing, and freedom on the Internet; and against Digital Restrictions Management (DRM), software patents, and proprietary software. Nearly every publication from the FSF goes through this public-facing position, tying together our work across various constituencies.

Examples of job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Stewarding the online publication and editing process for all departments, including copy editing, formatting, posting, maintaining materials on our Web sites, and sending out email messages to our contact lists;
• Producing and improving our monthly email newsletter, the Free Software Supporter;
• Editing and building materials like our biannual printed Bulletin and our annual report;
• Promoting our work and the work of others in the area of computer user freedom on social media platforms;
• Writing articles and contributing to audio-video materials;
• Helping to produce fundraising materials and assisting with our fundraising drives;
• Cultivating the LibrePlanet community, by means of the wiki, coordinating with local groups, as well as networking with speakers and potential audiences for our annual conference;
• Working with and recruiting volunteers, translators, and interns; and
• Managing a press list, press releases, and other materials and distribute to media, stakeholders, and community partners.

The position’s job functions are rooted in a mix of external outreach, project management, writing, substantive copy editing, as well as contact database management and direct mail. Ideal candidates are creative multitaskers that have at least one to three years of work experience in copy editing, writing, outreach, and free software; proficiency and comfort with professional writing and publications preferred. They have a general interest and desire to continuously develop knowledge of the technical, philosophical, and licensing aspects of software freedom.

Because the FSF works globally and seeks to have our materials distributed in as many languages as possible, multilingual candidates will have an advantage. With our small staff of 14, each person makes a clear contribution. We work hard, but offer a collaborative and fun work environment at an office located in the heart of downtown Boston. The FSF is a mature but growing organization that provides great potential for advancement; existing staff get the first chance at any new job openings.

Benefits and salary

This job is a union position that must be worked on-site at the FSF’s downtown Boston office. The salary is fixed at $56,200/year and is non-negotiable. Other benefits include:

• Full family health coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield’s HMO Blue program;
• Subsidized dental plan;
• Four weeks of paid vacation annually;
• Seventeen paid holidays annually;
• Weekly remote work allowance;
• Public transit commuting cost reimbursement;
• 403(b) program through TIAA with employer match;
• Yearly cost-of-living pay increases (based on government guidelines);
• Healthcare expense reimbursement budget;
• Ergonomic budget;
• Relocation (to Boston area) expense reimbursement;
• Conference travel and professional development opportunities; and
• Potential for an annual performance bonus.

Application instructions

Applications must be submitted via email to . The email must contain the subject line “Outreach and communications coordinator.” A complete application should include:

• Cover letter;
• Resume;
• Two recent writing samples;
• Two or more edits you would suggest to this job posting;
• Links to published works online (optional); and
• Three professional references.

All materials must be in a free format (such as plain text, PDF, or OpenDocument). Email submissions that do not follow these instructions will probably be overlooked. No phone calls, please.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To guarantee consideration, submit your application by September 24, 2021.

The application window is open.

The FSF is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or application for employment on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state or local law. We value diversity in our workplace.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. We are based in Boston, MA, USA. More information about the FSF, as well as important information for journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.