Associate Director, Open Source Analysis

Role Overview

• Support the development and delivery of World Services’ Open-Source Analysis capability.
• Assist in managing the delivery of open-source research and analysis across multiple projects.
• For a single large programme; be directly involved in shaping insights-driven strategy and strategic recommendations for the wider business.
• Line manage one or more analyst, senior analyst or equivalent specialist team members.
• Lead the preparation of timely, relevant analyses, briefings and strategic recommendations verbally and in writing for all levels of the agency, from senior management to staff on the ground.
• Lead on open-source analytical workstreams, providing specialist expertise for the organization in investigative OSINT, verification, geospatial analysis, imagery analysis and digital collection methodologies.
• Help to guide the work of the Insights function and add open-source analytical expertise to its output.
• Develop team members – and the company’s broader institutional capability – to deliver the above kinds of output to the appropriate standard.
• Provide thought leadership across World Services and externally.
• Ensure that Open-Source Analysis becomes a commercially viable part of World Services, with costs covered through billing.
• Contribute to the agency’s high-level thinking on how to approach problem sets through open-source evidence, verification and fused insight.
• Support the planning and oversight of OSAT workflows, including collection planning, source validation, verification, preservation, fusion and reporting.
• Ensure that OSAT outputs are generated within legal, ethical and security parameters, with appropriate attention to source handling, preservation and confidence assessment.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years relevant experience: must have strong expertise in open-source analysis, investigative OSINT, digital research, or a related analytical discipline.
• Impeccable written and spoken English and the ability to present findings orally and in writing.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to convert qualitative and quantitative data and desk research into clear and concise briefings.
• Ability to consume and process a large amount of information in short time periods.
• Understanding of the information environment, including traditional broadcast and online media, social media, niche online spaces, and misleading or coordinated information activity.
• Experience of using research to guide strategic recommendations, ideally in relation to communications, outreach, audience understanding or targeting.
• Experience of planning, directing or quality-assuring open-source collection, verification and analytical workflows.
• An entrepreneurial attitude.
• The ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders and diverse teams, in the UK and around the world.
• Some understanding of open-source monitoring and investigative tools would be desirable, including tools used for entity analysis, geospatial research, media verification and source preservation.
• Awareness of operational security considerations and protocols would be desirable.
• Awareness of data protection, legal and ethical considerations relating to open-source investigations would be desirable.
• Knowledge of strategic communications, influence analysis, and the role of open-source analysis within wider insight generation would be desirable

Benefits

• 27 days holiday per year
• Pension contributions
• Private healthcare
• Discounted dental insurance
• Enhanced maternity/parental leave
• Cultural stimulation allowance
• £250 per person per year
• Half days off before bank holidays
• Emergency care days for dependants
• Up to 5 days volunteering leave per year to work for a registered charity
• Up to 10 days special emergency leave per year
• Season Ticket loan
• Payroll Giving Scheme
• Thursday drinks to unwind and socialize
• An annual Summer and Christmas party
• Learning opportunities around D&I
• Targeted mentoring programmes
• Opportunity to participate in several active Employee Led Networks and associated events
• Personal development required to set someone up for success