Chief Impact Officer

Life at GDI - Creating a world free of disinformation and its harms.

Disinformation has become a business. Today’s internet business models reward engagement above all else. These models monetise attention without considering the quality of the content garnering that attention, or the harm that may result. There is a robust and growing community of industry, policy, and civil society advocates pressing for reform of this ecosystem, they all need data to inform their actions.

The Global Disinformation Index was born out of this need for data, specifically the need for transparent, independent neutral disinformation risk ratings across the open web. Thus, GDI was established in 2018 as a not-for-profit entity built on the three pillars of neutrality, independence and transparency.

At GDI, you’ll be surrounded by people who want to improve everything and support everyone around them. Our team are passionate about our mission, experts in their fields and are collaborative problem solvers.

We continually strive to model the following behaviours in our interactions with others:

- Positivity: Problem solver, not problem raiser.

- Responsibility: Make it your problem - if it’s not right, fix it.

- Trustworthy: Make sure others can depend on you - If you say you are going to do it, do it.

- Respect: treat everyone, especially those with whom we disagree, with courtesy and respect.

The Role

To establish a broad network of partners that use GDI data and intelligence to disrupt and downrank disinformation. The Chief Impact Officer (CIO) will work closely with the CEO and CTO to identify and cultivate partnership opportunities with commercial companies and other civil society organisations. Additionally, the CIO will also support the work of GDI’s policy team.

The CIO’s primary responsibility is to broaden adoption of GDI’s data and intelligence among advertising technology companies and platforms. GDI’s risk rating data can inform decision-making across the technology sector, guiding advertisers and tech companies in their choices about which content to monetise and algorithmically promote. This role will also focus on identifying opportunities for GDI to partner with technology companies in other relevant sectors - e.g. generative AI. The CIO will oversee the Partnerships Manager in maintaining and expanding relationships and revenue from GDI’s existing licensees. Furthermore, the CIO will play a significant role in GDI’s communications strategy and oversee the work of the Communications Strategist.

Main Responsibilities:

• ADOPTION

• Striking commercial and non-commercial deals globally to provide data to companies making choices about which content to monetise or algorithmically promote.

• Identify new opportunities in brand safety, online advertising, social media, generative AI sectors which would benefit from GDI risk rating data.

• IMPACT

• Maximise the application of our data within licensee companies to inform their choices across all their products. including enabling advertising revenue to high quality, low risk news sites.

• Work with the Partnerships Manager to establish methods for measuring impact and identifying gaps in application of GDI data.

• PRODUCT

• Work closely with the CTO and Product Lead to develop GDI’s product-market fit within ad tech and develop a go-to-market strategy for generative AI and other verticals.

• STRATEGY

• Collaborate with the CEO on mid-/long-term strategy to position GDI as the gold standard in news risk rating.

• To facilitate the adoption of GDI data as a signal in algorithmic monetisation and ranking.

• Explore options for future direction of GDI, such as becoming an ISO standard.

• COMMUNICATION

• Support the Communications Strategist in developing GDI’s communications plan, with focus on content that enhances conversations and relationships with prospective and existing partners.

• TEAM

• Build the partnerships team to enhance GDI to continue to service licensees and other partners.

• NEUTRALITY

• Collaborate with the Chairperson, co-founders and other leadership team members to ensure GDI upholds its neutrality across all external interactions.

• Identify key licensee needs in terms of neutrality of their data partners.

• Work with the broader team to establish processes and documentation that support GDI’s neutrality pillar.

• POLICY

• Work closely with GDI’s policy team and provide ad tech expertise in policy-related discussions.

• Participate in working groups related to EU legislation, such as the Code of Practice on Disinformation.

• INDUSTRY

• Represent GDI within the ad tech industry by participating in industry events, initiatives and trade bodies.

Experience and Qualifications

• Required

• Minimum 10+years experience in the digital advertising industry with a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the ecosystem.

• Proven track record of identifying and closing deals, balancing impact with revenue maximisation.

• Minimum 5+ years of successful team leadership experience.

• Ability to generate ambitious yet realistic sales forecasts.

• Dedication to GDI’s mission, vision, and values.

• Technological curiosity to gain sufficient understanding how GDI’s methodology and technology can be applied to achieve our organisational goals.

• Highly proficient use of CRM systems such as Salesforce.

• Experience working in a global, asynchronous organisation.

• Fluent in English (written and spoken). Strong writing skills

• Preferred

• Fluency in other languages (in addition to English).

• Working knowledge of disinformation and its effects.

Location - Virtual/remote team. European or east coast US time zone preferred.

Reporting to - CEO (based in the UK)

Direct Reports - Partnerships Manager, Communications Strategist, Data Analyst

A place to be your authentic self

We are virtual by design to access a rich diversity of skills, expertise, experiences, and perspectives. Our commitment to neutrality is unwavering – across all of our work around the globe. Our employees are central to our mission and to our impact and we know that having varied perspectives helps generate better ideas to solve the complex challenges.