Careers

We’re hiring! Join the GNOME Foundation team and help us build a world where everyone is empowered by technology they can trust.

Executive Director

The GNOME Foundation is a nonprofit organization that plays a crucial role in supporting and advancing the GNOME project, a global community-driven Free and Open Source software initiative. Our mission is to make personal computing accessible and trustworthy for everyone by building a diverse and sustainable free software personal computing ecosystem. The Foundation serves as the financial and organizational backbone of the GNOME project, enabling the community to focus on software development while we handle legal, financial, and promotional aspects.

We are seeking an Executive Director who is an experienced nonprofit professional with a passion for technology and a proven track record in fundraising, program delivery, and community engagement. You will be a visionary leader, capable of articulating and evangelizing a compelling future for GNOME and free software in personal computing.

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Leadership and Advocacy:
    • Develop and articulate a compelling vision for GNOME and free software in personal computing.
    • Serve as the primary advocate and evangelist for GNOME, effectively communicating its value and impact to diverse audiences.
    • Represent the GNOME Foundation to the press, partners, advisory board, sponsors, and the community.
  • Fundraising and Resource Management:
    • Lead fundraising efforts to support GNOME’s development, outreach, and educational initiatives.
    • Develop and manage relationships with donors, grant-makers, and corporate sponsors.
    • Oversee the allocation of resources to maximize the impact of GNOME’s mission.
  • Community Engagement:
    • Work closely with the GNOME community, including developers, contributors, and volunteers.
    • Foster a collaborative environment that encourages community participation and growth.
    • Ensure effective communication between the Foundation and the broader GNOME community.
  • Operational Management:
    • Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Foundation, including staff management and program delivery.
    • Demonstrate agility in addressing operational issues as they arise.
    • Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements for nonprofits.
  • Governance and Board Relations:
    • Work closely with the Board of Directors to agree and implement the Foundation’s strategic direction.
    • Provide regular updates and reports to the Board on the Foundation’s activities and performance.
    • Support the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities.

Required Skills and Experience

  • 5+ years experience in nonprofit or organizational management, with a strong track record in program delivery and mission impact.
  • Exceptional communication and persuasion skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to diverse audiences.
  • Proven experience in fundraising and partnership development, with a focus on growing organizational revenue.
  • Strong understanding of free and open source software ecosystems and values.
  • Experience working with and managing volunteer-driven communities.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively with remote and distributed teams.
  • Familiarity with corporate governance and experience working with a board of directors.
  • Agile management skills, with the ability to handle operational issues effectively as they arise.
  • Comfortable working with engineers, designers, and other technical professionals.
  • Excellent strategic thinking and planning skills.
  • English proficiency is required; additional languages are a plus.

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Prior experience in U.S. nonprofit sector management and compliance.
  • Extensive use of and advocacy for Free and Open Source Software.
  • Existing relationships within the open source and technology nonprofit sectors.
  • Experience in developing and managing program evaluations to demonstrate impact.
  • Background in technology-related fields or organizations.

Compensation

  • Base salary $120k-$150k, depending on experience
  • 30 days PTO (including Federal holidays)
  • Unlimited sick days
  • Comprehensive healthcare coverage for US applicants
  • 401(k) retirement savings for US applicants with a basic safe harbor match

How to Apply

Please apply via e-mail with a cover letter and a resume to careers+executive-director@gnome.org by October 15th, 2024. In your application, please include your vision for the future of GNOME and free and open source software in personal computing.

Note that we encourage everyone to apply, even if they feel that they do not meet all of the qualifications above. We expressly invite applications from women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ identifying persons, and other underrepresented groups in tech.

The GNOME Foundation is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity in our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

About the GNOME Foundation

The GNOME Foundation is a nonprofit organization that believes in a world where everyone is empowered by technology they can trust. We do this by building a diverse and sustainable free software personal computing ecosystem. The GNOME community is an influential social and technical contributor to the Free Software and Open Source software stack that continues to leave its mark on every piece of hardware that runs Linux across all technical market segments.

The GNOME Project was started in 1997 by two then-university students, Miguel de Icaza and Federico Mena Quintero. Their aim: to produce an open source and freely-accessible desktop environment. Since then, GNOME has grown into a hugely successful enterprise. Used by millions of people across the world, it is the most popular desktop environment for Linux operating systems. The desktop has been utilized in successful, large-scale enterprise, and public deployments, and the project’s developer technologies are utilized in a large number of popular mobile devices. The Foundation is a member-directed, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides financial, organizational, and legal support to the GNOME project, as well as pursuing impact-driven programs to drive our vision and mission.

The GNOME Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

GNOME provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.