Open Knowledge Belgium (non-profit/vzw/asbl), as local chapter of Open Knowledge International, is an umbrella organisation for various open knowledge and open data initiatives in Belgium. We strive for a world in which knowledge creates power for the many, not the few and proactively promote openness through projects and events, to the general public as well as to experts in the field.

As a grassroots organisation we consist of people, mainly volunteers, passionate about openness, using advocacy, research, technology and projects to unlock information, enabling people to use and share knowledge.

We are looking for a business development coordinator. We need you if you have a passion for everything open, and can infect other people with your enthusiasm. Our organization consists of plenty of people with ideas, and we know there are many partners out there that like to support or work with us. We need you to turn those ideas into projects. You know how to open doors, get the right people together and keep them on the right track.

You will be supported by our general manager who keeps the organization afloat. You will be their partner in daily operations, such as following up on projects, event organisation, communication & design.

You will be working with and on our activities that focus on the Open Belgium conference, open summer of code, open recognition, linked open data, OpenStreetMap, HackYourFuture Belgium, bike data project. We offer an exciting and dynamic environment where you can be at the forefront of impactful open projects and develop new skills that are vital in the global civic tech and open community.

 As Business Developer & Project manager, you:

• Have at least 0 to 3 years of professional experience in business development and/or project coordination. To put it differently, you have started a project from scratch, coordinated a real-life project or or created an engaged community professionally or as part of your free time, hence the 0.

• Are not afraid to tackle complex projects and will search for the best solution

• Have a relevant professional network or know how to build one

• Identify and leverage open knowledge opportunities and projects

• You’re not afraid to write proposals yourself that are innovative and push open knowledge ahead.  

• Are able to plan, keep deadlines and manage the project budgets

• Are not afraid to take decisions which concern various stakeholders

• Like to work both autonomously and within teams

• Can effectively communicate written and verbally to the general public.

• Know how to lead and facilitate and engage a community of passionate people both online and offline

• Communicate fluently, both written and verbally in Dutch or French and English

• Know how to communicate about technical stuff (open data / open source)

• Have some experience with local and/or European funding and grants

• Ideally, you are able to act as a representative for our various activities

You’ll be in charge of:

• Finding partners and starting projects for Open Summer of Code and the wider Open Knowledge network

• Spotting opportunities in the Belgian political landscape, as well as making sure you know about funding opportunities from Belgian en European funds

• Setting projects up for success: you are able to find and coach the people that can take over from you to turn projects into realities.

• You’ll be the ambassador to our organization and expand our network

You may assist in tasks such as:

• Managing the volunteers of the organisation and it’s working groups, as well as be a point of contact regarding questions.

• Managing the online channels of the organisation or helping working group leads to manage theirs. Combined we have over 7500 followers on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

• Organizing events such as the Open Belgium conference with 300+ participants spread over 2 days

• Daily operations of the organisation

What does an Open Knowledge Belgium employee look like?

• You are eager to strive for a world where knowledge is open, free and accessible for all

• You have a passion for open knowledge, open data and open source

• You’re a team player and like to work with volunteers

• You’re not afraid to go abroad and meet people of the international community

• You’re ambitious and motivated to take Open Knowledge Belgium to the next level

• You don’t necessarily want to reinvent the wheel, but rather want to find out what works and what doesn’t.

• You are not just an employee but are willing to be an ambassador of open knowledge

We can offer you:

• A competitive full-time indefinite employment contract

• Flexible working hours

• Meal vouchers

• Health insurance benefits

• Compensation for commuting via public transport

• Open-minded and very motivated colleagues who want to make a difference

• You have a say in what direction the organisation moves to

• You’ll be working in a leading tech environment with international network

• Desk in our office at BeCentral, the vibrant digital campus at Brussels Central Station

• Working with dedicated hardworking volunteers

Interested?

Send your resume and motivation letter to astrid@openknowledge.be. The deadline is Friday 4th February 2022 , 22:00 GMT+1. Suitable candidates will be invited for a personal conversation

Open Knowledge Belgium vzw/asbl does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status and sexual orientation in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, and partners