Investigator
Job Title: Investigator
Salary: £34,000 (pro-rata, 4 days per week)
Benefits: Flexible working; parental leave; 7% pension contribution; generous training and development budget; 25 days paid annual leave plus public and bank holidays and additional time off in December when office is closed; company-provided Macbook.
Location: Nationwide (home-based/remote). Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. Candidates from the EEA will be considered.
Duration: Permanent
Deadline for Applications: 9am on 8 December 2021
Interview Dates: 13 and 14 December 2021
Start Date: ASAP
Role
Are you an experienced investigator or researcher who is committed to turning your research and the evidence gatheredskills into advocacy, litigation and campaign strategies that can secure real change in government and corporate policy and practice?
Do you have experience working with issues of technology, data protection and human rights? Are you passionate about addressing the ways in which these issues affect vulnerable, marginalised and minority communities across the UK? Do you want to utilise your investigative skills to centre the voices and lived experience of those communities in the fight for social change?
ORG is recruiting an experienced investigator to develop an innovative research strategy within our Sector Support programme. You will be responsible for delivering research and evidence-gathering for our litigation, advocacy and campaign strategies, as well as supporting partner engagement and collaboration.
ORG is an equal opportunity employer, but we strongly welcome applications from disadvantaged and under-represented groups.
About the Open Rights Group
ORG is the UK’s premier data and digital rights campaigning organisation. Founded in 2005, we have over 20,000 members and supporters and 10 local groups across the UK. Our remote team is spread across the UK with a small office in Scotland.
We uphold human rights like free expression and privacy. We condemn and work against repressive laws or systems that deny people these rights.
- We DEFINE emerging harms and abuses through our research and investigation
- We MOBILISE our members and supporters across the UK through our public campaigns
- We PERSUADE allies and adversaries through our policy advocacy
- We CONFRONT threats to our fundamental rights through our litigation
We campaign, lobby, go to court – whatever it takes to build and support a movement for freedom in the digital age. We work across three main areas:
- Combating Big Tech and Platform Power
- Combating State Intrusion into Rights Online
- Promoting the Rights of Vulnerable, Marginalised and Minority Communities against Digital Threats
How to Apply
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter (no longer than 2 sides of A4) setting out how you are suited to the role by emailing recruitment@openrightsgroup.org by 9am on 8 December 2021.
Please ensure that your email has the subject heading ‘Investigator’ and that all attachments are sent in PDF format.
Interviews for short-listed candidates will be held online.
Key Responsibilities
- Gather evidence and other information to support ORG’s policy, campaign and litigation strategies to promote the rights of vulnerable and marginalised people against digital threats.
- Deploy a range of investigative and research techniques including open-source research, Freedom of Information requests, Subject Access Requests, focus groups, interviews and consultation with external partners.
- Identify, research, monitor and document data exploitation policies and data discrimination practices of government and industry
- Unearth new instances of injustice and abuse and support the team to identify and pursue related litigation opportunities.
- Work with colleagues and ORG partners to centre the voice and lived experience of marginalised individuals and communities in our campaign, policy and litigation strategies.
Person Specification
| CRITERIA | Essential | Desirable |
| Degree or equivalent experience in law, human rights, political science or international relations. | x | |
| Proven experience of conducting high-quality research and investigations relating to human rights and technology. | X | |
| Experience devising and implementing strategies to build an organisation’s research and investigative methodology | X | |
| Extensive experience in identifying, researching, monitoring and documenting data exploitation policies and practices of government and industry | X | |
| Proven experience working with colleagues and diverse stakeholders to creatively apply your research and investigative findings to the development of fresh campaign, policy or litigation strategies. | X | |
| Ability to conduct research interviews and engage with a range of stakeholders including marginalised groups | X | |
| Capable of researching and analysing complex rights issues in a rigorous and efficient manner | X | |
| Demonstrable knowledge of privacy and data protection issues and/or concerns raised by techniques such as automated profiling and automated decision-making | X | |
| Strong interpersonal skills in liaising, communicating and engaging with colleagues and external audiences from diverse backgrounds | X | |
| Proactive and self-motivated individual capable of managing multiple relationships and working to deadline | X | |
| Experience of working with a small team | X | |
| Ability to work with stakeholders including from within the legal community and with partner organisations and coalitions. | X | |
| Knowledge of UK policy and advocacy processes relating to technology and human rights. | X |
Key Contacts
The Investigator will be directly managed by the Head of Policy and Litigation.
They will work within our Sector Support programme alongside our Immigration Policy Manager and Policy Manager (Sector Support).
Length and Salary
The Investigator will be employed on a permanent basis following successful completion of a six-month probation period.
The annual salary is £34,000 pro-rata for 4 days per week less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance. The position will be home-based, though regular travel into London will be required.
Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. Candidates from the EEA will be considered.
ORG is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that a diverse and inclusive team working in a supportive environment is vital to the success of our work. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as well as from LGB, Trans and non binary candidates.