About Lie Detectors:
Lie Detectors (https://lie-detectors.org) is an independent and award-winning media literacy organisation in Europe whose remit is to counter the corrosive effect of online disinformation and online polarization on democracy. It realises its mission by empowering young people and teachers to tell fact from fake online and understand how professional journalism works, by analysing impact and trends in media literacy work and by informing policy debates in the fields of education policy and digital rights.
Lie Detectors is composed of a motivated and competent team of 20 staff and a community of more than 400, currently active in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Switzerland, with operations due to begin in further countries in 2025.
See coverage of Lie Detectors work in the Financial Times, BBC, Spiegel Online, German broadcaster ZDF, the European Business Summit as well as feedback from Lie Detectors’ journalist community.
The role of the Managing Director at Lie Detectors:
As Lie Detectors keeps growing and evolving, it is now looking for a dynamic and visionary Managing Director to join its leadership team. The Managing Director will play a pivotal role in the operational and programmatic management of the organisation, as well as in its strategic direction by supporting and gradually taking over the responsibilities from the CEO and Founder of Lie Detectors.
The position offers a unique opportunity for a senior professional and experienced organisational leader who wishes to turn their skillset to immediate management and the long-term development and executive leadership of a thriving organisation in a rapidly evolving field.
Key responsibilities:
Organisational and Team Management
- Ensure the organisational structure, staffing, decision-making processes and governance to enable the realisation of the mission and strategy. Gradually, take full responsibility for overseeing the overall Operations of Lie Detectors.
- Lead, mentor and develop a diverse team of professionals to achieve organisational objectives.
- Oversee day-to-day operations (including direct oversight of the operations team in line with strategic plan, co-writing of contracts, responsibility over the organisation’s budget and strategic plan), streamline processes, identify areas for improvement, and implement best practices to enhance organisational effectiveness.
- Ensure effective internal communication, collaboration and coordination across all teams and country programmes within the organisation.
- Regularly monitor and evaluate progress of the organisation’s mission and goals.
- Develop and foster positive and transparent relationship with the Board of Directors (in collaboration with the CEO), providing regular updates, insights, and reports.
- Help design and prepare materials for Board meetings to enable the Board to fulfil its responsibilities to ensure the programmatic and financial health of the organisation.
Leadership Development
- Collaborate closely with the CEO to understand organisational goals and develop strategies to achieve them. Over time, assume increasing leadership responsibilities, including overseeing the interplay of the Senior Management Team (SMT), driving the organisation’s strategic direction with the aim of taking Lie Detectors to the next level.
- Build a trust-based and transparent relationship with the CEO to ideate together, bounce off ideas and advance the organisation’s vision and mission through actionable plans.
- Inspire and motivate the highly qualified team at Lie Detectors, by nurturing a collaborative and high-performing work environment and strengthen talent retention by promoting professional growth and advancement opportunities.
- Be a natural go-to person for the team members and provide guidance and support in a non-judgmental and empowering manner.
- Foster a participatory and mission-driven culture and a positive, inclusive and productive work environment.
Fundraising and Financial Management
- Work closely with the CEO and operations team to develop a strategic approach to budget forecasting, resource allocation, and financial reporting.
- Identify opportunities for cost savings, revenue diversification (e.g. public procurement) and ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations.
- Ensure transparent and accountable use of funds in alignment with the organisation’s mission.
- Take lead on strategic financial management planning post 2026 (new strategic plan): financial independence of individual country programmes, new revenue streams, efficient cost management.
- Working hand-in-hand with the CEO, exercise overall accountability for the annual budget, ensuring the Operations Director has proper fiscal accounting and controls and ensures all legal and fiduciary compliance.
- Gradually take over the management of the donor relations (including writing reports to funders, taking responsibility for funders communication) and ensure long-term financial health and stability of the organisation post 2026 through strategic advance planning.
Programme Design, Implementation and Evaluation
- Support the CEO in overseeing the design, implementation and evaluation of educational programmes, trainings, workshops, and resources. Gradually, take over full responsibility for overseeing the smooth and efficient running of the programmes, including decision-making around new programmes being opened or terminating non-sustainable programmes.
- Develop in-depth knowledge of the individual country teams and programmes and implement ongoing target-setting and performance management processes for each country programme.
- Support and advise the country teams to ensure dynamic, top-quality training and curricular design to advance digital and media literacy.
- Continuously assess program effectiveness and make improvements based on feedback and outcomes.
- Lead the Management Team to shape the strategy for scaling the work and impact of the organization throughout Europe and in other geographies as agreed.
Ideal candidate profile:
Qualifications and skills:
- Proven experience in non-profit leadership, with a track record of successfully managing and growing organisations internationally. Strong management approach and background a must.
- Strategic acumen, ability to grasp opportunities and drive organisational growth on multiple levels (staff, self-sustaining financing, organisational management, and governance).
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, financial reporting, and fundraising.
- Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. Business, Non-Profit Management, Communications) or equivalent experience (e.g. in a start-up environment).
- Deep understanding of the multiple communities Lie Detectors addresses, including media, education, researchers, and policymakers.
- Excellent judgment, interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
- Knowledge of media landscape, digital technology, and emerging trends.
- Ethical and principled leadership with a commitment to transparency and accountability.
