Work With

The Department of Imaginary Affairs

Working With DIA is a

Practice

At the Department of Imaginary Affairs, we understand our work as practice.

Everything we do is an ongoing practice of learning how to show up for ourselves, for one another, and for the communities we work with.

We don’t approach our work as something “perfect”, but as something to continually refine. This means we value reflection as much as action, curiosity as much as expertise, and growth as much as outcomes.

Working with DIA means:

  • Treating skills like facilitation, communication, and collaboration as practices, not fixed competencies
  • Making space for learning, feedback, and adjustment
  • Prioritizing sustainability, care, and accountability over urgency and burnout
  • Engaging in shared responsibility rather than top-down direction

Whether you are joining us in a role, collaborating on a project, or partnering with us in a more embedded way, you’re entering a working relationship rooted in intentionality, trust and practice.

Our Way of Working

We organize our work using a governance structure inspired by sociocracy, which is a system designed to support equity, clarity, shared power, and thoughtful decision-making.

Rather than relying on rigid hierarchy, our approach emphasizes transparency, defined roles, and consent-based processes that help work move forward while honouring the people doing it.

This structure shapes how we collaborate internally and how we work with partners.

What is a Sociocracy

Sociocracy is a governance model that supports collaborative, equitable decision-making within organizations.

At it’s core, sociocracy is built around:

  • Content-based decision-making, decisions move forwards unless there is a reasoned objection
  • Clear roles and domains so responsibility is visible and shared
  • Structured feedback and reflections to support continuous learning
  • Distributed authority, rather that centralized control

Sociocracy helps organizations remain adaptable while maintaining accountability, especially in complex or values-driven work.

More information about Sociocracy:

Free Introduction to Sociocracy – Sociocracy.Academy®
Sociocracy: Thinking Smarter Together | John Buck | TEDxUMD

What That Means in Practice at DIA

In practice, this means:

  • Decisions are made through consent, not majority rule or hierarchy
  • Roles and responsibilities are clearly named, revisited, and adjusted as work evolves
  • Feedback and reflection is built into our processes
  • Power is shared intentionally, even in small teams

Because DIA is currently a small organization, our sociocratic like structure is lightweight and evolving. We use the principles of sociocracy to guide how we work, rather than enforcing a rigid system before it’s needed.

Growing Into our Structure: Bubbles & Partnerships

At this stage, DIA is composed of a small core team. As we take on collaborations, and partnerships, we treat these working relationships as distinct spaces of practice rather than folding everything into a single organizational structure.

We currently refer to these as “bubbles”, temporary or semi-permanent work groupings that:

  • Have a clear purpose and scope
  • Establish shared agreements about decision-making and communication
  • Align with DIA’s broader values and governance principles

As DIA grows, these bubbles may evolve into more formal bubbles within our organizational structure. For now, they allow us to work collaboratively and responsibly while remaining flexible and attentive to the needs of each partnership.

This approach ensures that partners understand how decisions are made, how responsibilities are held, and how collaboration is structured from the outset.

Careers & Opportunities

We work with people in a variety of ways through roles, contracts, collaborations, and partnerships.

Below you’ll find current and past opportunities to work with DIA. Even when they aren’t active openings, we welcome conversations with people who feel aligned with our values and ways of working.

Board Member Call 2024

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The Department of Imaginary Affairs (DIA) is seeking passionate and committed individuals to join our…

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