Postcapitalist Economic Systems Architect

Overview

“We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin

“There is no alternative.” — Margaret Thatcher on neoliberal capitalism

One Project is looking for a Postcapitalist Economic System Designer to co-create new and amplify emerging economic and governance systems that are equitable, ecological, and effective. You’ll work closely with our partner communities around the globe to imagine, model, simulate, realize and support new systems and promising experiments already underway. You’ll steward the effort to develop the technical mechanics of those systems, then partner with One Project’s design, engineering, and community engagement teams to prototype, iterate, and scale those systems as digital and social infrastructure.

Even as capitalism’s destructive effects on the planet and its people become more widely recognized, there remains an absence of rigorously-defined planetary alternatives. The debates of the 20th century that concluded there were no better options were based on technical and social assumptions that no longer apply in the 21st. We are inspired by the successes of noncapitalist economic approaches, many developed by indigenous and grassroots communities, to distribute resources and live more fulfilling lives. We aim to work in solidarity to evolve these into viable, global, democratic alternatives for a world in crisis and opportunity.

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About Us

One Project is a team who believes in a future that is free and fair, in which all can flourish.

We are inspired to break away from failed and oppressive economic systems. Our work is to help the world imagine what comes after capitalism, foster the collaborations needed to create it, and support the cultivation of new futures into being. We work both as an operating non-profit and a giving foundation for this work and the wider ecosystem in which it may thrive.

We begin with the radical notion that all human beings on the planet can have enough food, shelter, health care, access to information and education, meaningful work, and the conditions to lead a satisfying life of their choosing, rooted in equity and justice for all. Crucially, we believe this can happen as the natural world regenerates, making wildlife more abundant, the climate more stable, the air and water cleaner, and the ecosystem more self-sustaining.

While this may sound naive or idealistic, we believe that humanity can achieve this within our lifetimes. In fact, we must at least move substantially in this direction before the interwoven threats of ecological destruction, social instability, and unaccountable technology threaten to leave irreversible damage.

We cannot get there by relying on the same systems that have increased resource use to almost twice what the Earth can support over the last 50 years. We cannot leave billions of people living just barely above subsistence level and leave global existential risks unaddressed. We believe it’s time to address the root causes of these crises, before their symptoms overwhelm our planet and all of us.

That’s why One Project exists. We do this work in solidarity with people around the world who are rising to fight, to build, and to dream, and as part of a much wider movement — a movement that today comprises many parts and goes by many names. We find inspiration in those working among the solidarity economy, mutual aid, cooperatives, commoning, participatory democracy, and in broader movements for equality and justice around the world. In the words of the Zapatistas, the future we seek is “un mundo donde quepan muchos mundos” — one world where many worlds fit.

It’s in this space between crisis and opportunity, through cooperation, imagination, solidarity and practicality, we believe another world is truly possible, and it is what we are working for, together, at One Project. We hope you’d like to work on it, too.

What you’ll do

• Work in partnership with global communities, One Project’s R&D teams, and a network of experts & advisors to:
  • Create new and evolve existing formal economic models. Rigorously define how a sophisticated alternative to capitalism would equitably distribute resources, incentivize labor in alignment with human flourishing, and protect and regenerate the biosphere.
  • Develop and apply theoretical and empirical research in political economy.
  • Design a theory of value and metrics that (unlike GDP) reflect the genuine success of an economic system.
  • Prototype systems in the real world, measure success, and continuously improve them.
  • Collaborate with communities, organizations, and networks that are developing post-capitalist alternatives and support them by formalizing, modeling, and evaluating possibilities and impacts.
  • Design models (such as agent-based simulation and equation-based) to assess the validity and impact of the systems at scale.
  • Develop documentation and facilitate learning plans.

You might be the person for this role if you’ve…

• Developed theoretical and/or applied experience in operations research/management, applied economics, complexity economics, ecological economics / full-cost accounting, complex adaptive systems, systems thinking/engineering, supply chain engineering, agent-based simulation, mechanism design, matching market design, game theory, and related disciplines.
• Developed/cultivated human systems, social systems, institutions, communities, etc. or other forms of civic design.
• Designed/developed economic or other complex multi-party systems, in simulated and real-world settings.
• Applied philosophy or axiological principles in the development of formal systems.
• Explored the depths of existing mainstream and alternative, radical economic models and understand their respective pros and cons.
• Questioned what the fundamental operating mechanics of an economic system should be.
• Studied and / or helped build community postcapitalist systems, whether real-world examples (such as solidarity economics, commoning, participatory budgeting) or speculative visions (such as Afrofuturism, participatory economics, fully automated luxury communism).
• Felt inspired by projects like Chile’s Cybersyn, models like ParEcon, communities like Rojava, or the  grassroots mutual aid programs happening in your own neighborhood.

At One Project, we expect team members to:

• Cultivate humility, mindfulness, and a hunger to learn. They continuously develop both professionally and personally. They actively seek divergent perspectives and are excited to integrate multiple worldviews and epistemologies.
• Demonstrate clear verbal and written communication skills and the ability to articulate their rationale and approach.
• Have figuratively fallen flat on their faces in the profession at least once or twice, learned from those mistakes, incorporated them into their skillset moving forward, and mentored others from lessons learned.
• Understand the challenges of early-stage organizations and navigate ambiguity with grace.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role starts at $200,000. One Project offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Unlimited PTO and organization-wide holidays
• Paid parental and medical leave
• Retirement savings – 403b with 6% employer contribution
• Stipends for home office technology, equipment, and home internet
• Stipends and support for wellness and professional development

Working at One Project

One Project is committed to building a team that reflects the world we live in. Our goal is to foster an inclusive environment where all team members feel that they are equally respected and valued. We know the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply — we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

What You Can Expect from Our Hiring Process:

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated confirmation. If you are selected for an interview, you’ll hear from us within 2 weeks of submitting your application.

As part of our hiring process, we may ask to review examples of your work in addition to inviting you to participate in interviews. We strive to create a respectful, inclusive hiring process, and we will do our best to streamline the interviews while allowing you opportunities to get to know our organization and team. Our process may include:

• An initial phone or video interview
• A second video interview with our Head of Design
• A short interview assignment (candidates will be compensated for their time and work)
• Video interviews with 2-3 additional members of the team
• Reference checks