Policy Development Senior Manager; GNSO

Primary Location Los Angeles

Department 0510 - Policy Development Support

The Policy Development Senior Manager (GNSO) independently leads staff support for complex GNSO and cross-community policy development initiatives from inception through Board consideration, serving as a senior staff resource to community leaders and ICANN org. The role provides strategic guidance on policy development processes, facilitates consensus-building among diverse global stakeholders, and develops substantive policy recommendations, reports, and other policy documentation on issues of significant complexity and organizational importance.

Working with a high degree of independence, the Policy Development Senior Manager leads multiple concurrent policy initiatives, anticipates emerging policy and governance issues, and collaborates across ICANN to support informed policy development and effective organizational coordination. Following adoption of policy recommendations, the position serves in an advisory role during implementation, providing guidance to help ensure implementation remains faithful to the intent of community-developed recommendations.

The position serves as a recognized subject matter expert in ICANN's multistakeholder policy development processes and contributes to the continuous improvement of Policy Development Process.

• Lead staff support for complex GNSO and cross-community policy development processes from initiation through Board consideration.
• Serve as a primary staff advisor to Working Group Chairs and community leaders, providing strategic guidance on policy processes, procedural matters, meeting planning, consensus-building approaches, and effective working methods.
• Research, analyze, and synthesize complex policy, technical, legal, operational, and governance issues, developing reports, recommendations, briefing materials, issue papers, and other substantive policy documentation.
• Facilitate discussions among diverse global stakeholders to advance consensus on complex and often contentious policy issues while preserving the integrity of ICANN's multistakeholder model.
• Develop strategic options and procedural approaches that help community working groups navigate complex policy questions, competing stakeholder interests, and consensus-building challenges.
• Exercise independent judgment in advising community leaders and ICANN org on complex procedural, governance, and policy issues where precedent may be limited and stakeholder interests may conflict.
• Collaborate with colleagues across ICANN throughout the policy development lifecycle to ensure policy recommendations are well understood and operational considerations are appropriately considered during policy development.
• Following Board adoption of policy recommendations, collaborate with implementation teams and subject matter experts by providing policy expertise and guidance to help ensure implementation reflects the intent of community-developed recommendations.
• Represent Policy Development Support in ICANN Public Meetings, webinars, workshops, and other community engagement activities, presenting complex policy issues to diverse global audiences.
• Identify opportunities to improve policy development processes, tools, and working methods, contributing to the strategic evolution and continuous improvement of Policy Development Processes.
• Mentor and provide guidance to less experienced Policy Development staff, fostering knowledge sharing and professional development across the team.
• Lead special projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Expert knowledge of ICANN's multistakeholder model, the GNSO Policy Development Process, and Internet governance.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead highly complex policy development initiatives involving diverse international stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of DNS policy issues and their technical, legal, commercial, and public interest implications.
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex technical and policy issues into clear recommendations and written materials for diverse audiences.
• Outstanding facilitation, diplomacy, and consensus-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes and build alignment among stakeholders without formal authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including…