Program Manager: Resilience (all genders)

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Who we are:

The Sovereign Tech Agency is an organization dedicated to the digital sovereignty of the economy and society. Our mission is to strengthen the foundations of our digital autonomy and secure open digital technologies as the critical infrastructure of the 21st century. Open digital infrastructure is the backbone of the digital world. It is essential for the flow of information, for government, for business, and for innovation, much like roads and bridges in the physical world. The most effective strategy for building this infrastructure is open source software: it is the bedrock on which our digital society is built - powerful, collaborative, and democratic.

With a commission from the German Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation, we invest in critical software components, develop programs, and create structures that sustainably strengthen the open source ecosystem, including the people behind the code.

Our work is unique: we are leading the way on how governments engage with open digital infrastructure and laying the groundwork for how modern societies ensure resilience, technological diversity, and public digital services. Together, we are building Europe’s digital future – open, secure, and sovereign.

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for a Program Manager: Resilience to contribute to the future growth of the Sovereign Tech Agency. In this role, you will take hands-on ownership of one of the organization’s key programs for protecting critical open source infrastructure. Through the Sovereign Tech Resilience program, we maintain relationships with expert service providers in the following domains:

• Software security audits
• Supply chain management
• Bug bounty programs
• Memory safety improvements
• Post-quantum encryption readiness
• Technical debt mitigation

For example, for a software security audit, we connect open source maintainers with security specialists who will scope and conduct the audit in partnership with the project team. Our job is to ensure we invest where we can have the greatest impact, that the work is performed at a high level of quality, and that open source projects are ready to act on any resulting findings. Applications for the program are reviewed through a single platform. In addition to responding to these applications, we also proactively reach out to critical open source projects, and connect participants in our other programs (e.g., fellowships) to expert partners.

We are looking for a Program Manager with a technical background who can balance the high operational requirements of a program in motion with an impact-oriented, strategic lens.

Your Tasks:

• Lead and strategically manage the Resilience program. Design and run the program’s day-to-day processes.
• Organize application reviews, reject ineligible applications, and guide projects to completion.
• Optimize internal workflows for tracking projects and reporting outcomes.
• Represent the program’s goals at events, conferences, and to stakeholders and external partners.
• In partnership with the communications team, position the Resilience program publicly in the context of key policy and technology developments (e.g., relation between cybersecurity to digital sovereignty; helping maintainers deal with the flood of AI-generated security reports).
• In partnership with the Director of Programs and the Director of Technology, plan future strategic program activities and competitive tenders.
• Coordinate with technologists and other program leads to connect other projects in the Sovereign Tech ecosystem with the Resilience program (e.g. priority projects identified through scouting or prior investments from the Sovereign Tech Fund).

Your Qualities:

• Absolute Requirement: Technical familiarity with Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and the workflows of maintainers.
• Program Management Experience (or highly suitable comparable experience). We are looking for someone with a strategic, programmatic mindset, not solely project management skills.
• Experience in cybersecurity or a technical compliance context is a major plus.
• Business fluent in German and English. Our working language is English, so you must be able to communicate clearly and succinctly in English.
• You’re a team player and enjoy collaborating with coworkers, active and open communication, and both giving and receiving feedback.
• You’re organized, self-directed, and proactive, working effectively with modern collaboration tools.

Your motivation, attitude, and vision are as important as your resume. Even if you don’t fit all requirements, we welcome your application.

What we offer:

• Based on experience and qualifications, the annual compensation for this role (at 40 hours per week) is 73,000 to 85,500 Euro aligned with the TVöD-Bund wage agreement for the public sector.
• This position is based in Berlin. We are open to a hybrid from-home/in-office work arrangement, with a minimum in-office presence of two days a week. o We have four in-person team meetings in or around Berlin per year; almost all meetings are scheduled during GMT +1 working hours. o Employment under German law; work and residence must be in Germany
• 30 days of vacation (based on a 5-day work week)
• Support for your professional and personal development, including the opportunity to attend international conferences
• Initial two-year term with the goal of converting subsequently to an open-ended contract
• In our small, agile team, your perspective matters: we explicitly welcome you to contribute ideas and suggestions about how we can develop as an organization and to actively participate in shaping our future.

Diversity and Inclusion:

We are a diverse team and welcome applications from BPoC (Black and People of Color), individuals with disabilities, people with migration backgrounds, and individuals from other groups underrepresented in technology development. If you belong to these groups, please feel free to mention it in your application. However, we encourage you to refrain from including a photo of yourself or any information about your age, gender, marital status, or similar details in your documents.

How to apply and the next steps:

Please send us your application including your resume in English or German using this form. https://www.sovereign.tech/jobs/program-manager-resilience

We will confirm receipt of your documents by email and let you know the next steps. We will set up an introductory meeting as soon as possible, depending on your availability, either in person in Berlin or via video call. The position will remain open at least until 7 September 2026.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at jobs@sovereign.tech.