Consultant Research Analyst (multiple languages)

ISD is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to safeguarding human rights and reversing the rising tide of polarisation, extremism and disinformation worldwide.

Why work for ISD?

ISD is not your ordinary think tank. We turn research into action that changes the world. Our insights don't gather dust on shelves - they power the fight to protect democracy and human rights on the front lines. We're committed to delivering real change, from the grassroots to the highest levels of global institutions. And we're looking for passionate individuals who share our commitment to making a difference. Join us and be part of an organisation that's making an impact.

ISD's Guiding Principles of  integrity, collaboration, agility and courage  define who we are as a team and an organisation. These principles reflect our culture and guide the way we work and the choices we make.

Location

Ideally based in the UK, Germany, or other European countries with the ability to work within a European time zone.

Contract type

One year fixed-term consultant contract at a minimum with possibility of extension.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

ISD is committed to promoting diversity throughout its workforce and aims for its team to be truly representative of all sections of society. We make a concerted effort to ensure our workplace, employment policies and organisational culture creates an inclusive, positive and progressive environment in which all members of our team are treated with dignity and respect. For further information about this policy or our recruitment practices, please email vacancies@isdglobal.org.

We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, carers, and people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

Consultancy Purpose

For the delivery of a new project, ISD is seeking to engage multiple research consultants to contribute to the analysis and write up of regular reports monitoring Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines’ (VLOPSEs) compliance with the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), with a focus on the following areas: online gender-based violence (OGBV), risks to civic discourse and electoral disinformation, illegal hate speech, and/or terrorist content. Analysis will be conducted across the following European languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech and Slovak. The project is expected to start in December 2024. Consultants will be expected to be available for a minimum of 12 months, for a total of 110 days, or an average of 10 days per month.

Please note that these consultant positions are subject to the awarding of funding and will be a one year fixed-term contract at a minimum, with possibility of extension.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the creation of seed and keyword lists (in the selected language) in collaboration with ISD’s Digital Analysis Unit.
• Oversee the regular monitoring, classification, and flagging of relevant content across social media platforms, leveraging proprietary tools (training provided) and supplementing this with manual analysis when necessary.
• Conduct original research on the online spread of online gender-based violence (OGBV), hate speech, terrorist content, and electoral disinformation, using both qualitative and quantitative digital research methods (tools and training provided).
• Contribute to the development of quarterly research briefings on the following areas: OGBV, threats to civic discourse and electoral disinformation, hate speech, and terrorist content.
• Support the delivery of additional ad hoc and regular research briefings as needed (scope to be defined at the contracting stage).
• Regularly collaborate with other analysts to ensure a comprehensive and cohesive approach, recognising that this work cannot be conducted in isolation.
• Attend weekly team meetings, inception sessions, and ad hoc trainings. Responsibility

To view a full job description, please click here.

The ideal candidate

The ideal candidates will have demonstrable professional experience in social media research with expertise in online manipulation, electoral disinformation, extremism, hate speech, OGBV and/or terrorism. We are looking for analysts who have working proficiency in at least one of the following languages: German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czeck and Slovak. 

Please review our  job description for essential criteria, and keep in mind that no candidate will meet every requirement in the advert. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified, but you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to hear from you.

How to apply

Please submit your application by 5pm on the 22nd November 2024. ISD reserves the right to interview and appoint candidates prior to the advertised closing date.

If you have any further questions about this vacancy or want to speak to a member of our recruitment team, please contact vacancies@isdglobal.org.