American Oversight is looking for a curious and diligent researcher to join our team and help expose government misconduct and abuses of power. We’re a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that promotes truth, accountability, and democracy by enforcing the public's right to government records.
From the federal Freedom of Information Act to state transparency laws, we file carefully crafted records requests to extract information from the government, and if officials fail to respond as required by law, our team has the expertise to take them to court and enforce the public’s right to hold our leaders accountable. American Oversight has obtained and published more than one million pages of emails, memos, calendars, text messages, and other records.
American Oversight’s Research and Investigations team is the engine of our research and investigative work. Researchers closely follow developments in their areas of focus, design investigations with an eye for impact, work with our legal team to craft targeted public records requests, and dive into government documents looking for new information. The job requires a great news sense, a strong sense of mission, and an ability to quickly and cleanly parse large amounts of information.
Job Responsibilities
Specific tasks will shift day by day with our work and the news cycle, but in a typical week, you will:
Qualifications
Researchers have come to American Oversight from a variety of professional backgrounds, including government service, journalism, campaign research, law, policy analysis, and government oversight. We welcome candidates from any professional background who display the skills needed to be a successful researcher.
The essential qualifications for a researcher include:
Additional Information
American Oversight is proudly an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse team. We are dedicated to finding the best candidate for the job. Our hiring process is centered on assessing candidates with diverse lived experiences. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described. If you are unsure of whether you meet the qualifications of this position, or how this would be determined, please contact us to discuss your application.
How to Apply
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, with a first-round review by February 17, 2023.
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