The document defines the process for appointing, evaluating, and renewing individuals whom we hire through Open Collective contracts or pay for a specific job to be done in one of our official programs at AsyncAPI. You can learn more about them in the list of people and assets in the AsyncAPI doc.
The goal of this policy is to ensure alignment, transparency, accountability, and measurable impact from funded roles within the project.
Volunteer roles and maintainership are not governed by this policy.
Appointment
Paid initiative or program lead roles may be created when the Governance Board identifies a need for dedicated leadership to achieve specific strategic objectives.
Each role must have:
- A clearly defined scope
- Expected deliverables
- Defined duration
- Approved budget
Tenures are typically for twelve calendar months from appointment date.
Selection Process
When a role is opened, the Governance Board must conduct a selection process that includes:
- Publishing a public issue or discussion for a call for candidates.
- Collecting applications or nominations.
- Evaluating candidates using predefined criteria.
- Selecting the candidate through the Governance Board's decision.
Eligibility
- Priority is given to members of the AsyncAPI Technical Steering Committee (TSC) and Maintainers.
- Individuals with unresolved Code of Conduct violations or conduct issues are not eligible.
Evaluation Criteria
Candidates may be evaluated using a scoring framework such as:
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Member of the Technical Steering Committee | 30% |
| Relevant experience performing similar work | 20% |
| Past contributions to AsyncAPI (code, documentation, community leadership) | 30% |
| Prior leadership or community involvement (Experience leading teams, initiatives, or communities) | 10% |
| Communication & collaboration ability (Ability to work with contributors and maintainers) | 10% |
The final score is out of 100. Selection decisions should be guided by this weighted score alongside Governance Board discussion.
Responsibilities
Initiative and Program Leads are responsible for:
- Leading the initiative or program according to its defined scope
- Coordinating contributors and community members
- Delivering agreed objectives and milestones
- Maintaining transparency in progress and outcomes
Leads must ensure that work is conducted openly and aligned with the project’s governance and community standards.
Reporting Requirements
To maintain transparency and community awareness, initiative leads must provide regular updates.
Progress Updates
Leads are expected to publish regular written updates, such as:
- Monthly or quarterly blog posts.
- Community updates summarizing progress on Community WG meetings.
- Key achievements and challenges.
These updates should communicate:
- Work completed
- Current status
- Upcoming priorities
- Community opportunities to contribute
Annual Report
At the end of the Tenure, the lead must submit an annual report summarizing:
- Achievements and deliverables
- Impact and outcomes
- Lessons learned
- Recommendations for the future
Review Process
The Governance Board conducts a performance and objectives review every six months in the first week.. Reviews assess:
- Completion of agreed objectives
- Quality and consistency of reporting
- Impact on the project or community
- Collaboration with maintainers and contributors
- Alignment with project values, community goals, and conduct standards
The Governance Board is entitled to perform any additional reviews at any time.
Evaluation and Renewal
Appointments are not automatically renewed. Renewal and appointment review begin three months before the end of the tenure. Final performance reviews and compensation adjustments are conducted two to one month before the end of the tenure.
Following this, the Governance Board may decide to:
- Renew the appointment for another term.
- Renew with revised scope or expectations.
- Conclude the engagement
All decisions must be documented and communicated transparently.
Conflict of Interest
Members involved in the selection or renewal process must disclose any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when appropriate.
Amendments
This policy may be amended by the Governance Board as the project's needs evolve.
