LinkedIn Is Hiring a Crowdsourcing Program Manager
If you're an early adopter in need of a new career, LinkedIn is hiring a Program Manager of Crowdsourcing. The fairly straightforward job description paints a picture of how LinkedIn intends to inject crowdsourcing: In a big way. This gives further validation to the crowdsourcing model, in the sense that it's a valuable work process that can be used across all industries & any size business - Valuable enough for a well-known & growing corporation to create an entire position for it.
The goal of LinkedIn's future Crowdsourcing Program Manager is to get LinkedIn crowdsourcing quickly & correctly. They'll "organize & scale crowdsourcing initiatives throughout the organization." Which departments will be engaged is left open, but it does mention their projects include data collection & evaluation. Also important is establishing best practices, & knowing the pros & cons of internal vs external crowds.
Ultimately this new employee will be responsible for the success or failure of LinkedIn's crowdsourcing efforts.
The job won't come easy as "Extensive experience organizing & executing crowdsourcing projects" is a requirement, which narrows the pool down to whoever's been on top of the crowdsourcing game for the past couple years, which I estimate includes 50 currently employed individuals. What's yet to be known is what LinkedIn considers "extensive experience organizing & executing crowdsourcing projects."
I'm hopeful they'll find someone talented, & when they do, I'm hopeful Daily Crowdsource will be their homepage. Experience has shown me if LinkedIn's employees are open to innovation, change, & new work processes (which I imagine a growing tech company would have), crowdsourcing should be a welcomed addition.
Competition may not be too fierce as only 40 people have clicked to apply since the job was posted two weeks ago (Job Seekers can apply here).
What's fascinating is how LinkedIn's working to stay ahead of others by creating this new position. I've only seen a similar postion at Nokia, where they have a Head of Crowdsourcing.