Intelligence and Field Investigation Specialist

Position description

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is a 501(c)(3) independent, international, non-profit advocacy organization based in Washington DC, with proven records of triggering and affecting systemic change to protect the Earth’s environment. For more than three decades, EIA has established unique methods to drive change – including pioneering the use of undercover investigative techniques to expose environmental crimes. These crimes include illegal trade in endangered wildlife, illegal logging and associated trade in illegal timber, human rights and environmental violations in the extractives sector, and the trade in both climate-damaging and ozone layer-depleting gasses.

Position Description

EIA-US is seeking a talented and highly motivated Intelligence and Field Investigation Specialist to join one of the world’s most creative and effective investigative teams to support cutting-edge investigations on key global environmental crimes. In close collaboration with campaign leads, they will be responsible for preparing, developing, implementing, and evaluating investigations in diverse geographies and contexts. This pivotal position will be at the interface of multiple teams and expertise including data analysts, campaigners, technology specialists, and communication in order to bring unprecedented evidence related to major environmental crimes to the public. Frequent and sometimes urgent travel to remote areas is a core requisite for this position. 

Main Activities and Responsibilities

• Conduct open-source research on targeted issues, individuals, or entities.
• Produce rigorous intelligence reports and manage intelligence records.
• Produce analysis-driven outputs, including but not limited to, subject and company profiles, intelligence alerts and summaries, intelligence assessments, graphical outputs such as network diagrams and commodity flow charts, and maps.
• Work closely with teammates to plan, carry out, and evaluate field and remote investigations. 
• Produce rigorous investigation reports and assist in the preparation of confidential or public-oriented outputs, including reports, briefs, and blogs.
• Coordinate risk assessments and planning for field trips and contribute to developing security and risk mitigation procedures and implementing risk mitigation processes and measures, as applicable.
• Travel, sometimes on short notice, in support of investigations and development of relationships with sources and partners.
• Assist in planning and reviewing campaign reports and other outputs, such as law enforcement guidance.
• Actively engage and participate in liaising efforts with government, law enforcement, and civil society personnel on intelligence collection, verification, analysis, and sharing.

Essential Qualifications

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in advocacy, investigative journalism, government, or business, conducting field research, field investigations, and/or relevant field operations.
• Four-year degree in environmental studies, international policies, journalism, or related fields.
• Experience identifying, cultivating, and interviewing primary sources for investigative purposes.
• Proven experience in field investigation and, in particular, undercover investigations, with demonstrated ability to perform and make decisions under changing and stressful conditions.
• Demonstrated experience in using open-source investigative methods.
• Ability to travel frequently, up to 40 percent of working days, sometimes to challenging environments.
• Proficiency in Chinese, Hindi, and/or Vietnamese, including capacity to conduct meetings in one or more of these languages.  
• Detail-oriented, methodic and creative with excellent analytical skills and critical thinking.
• Ability to work independently and at the same time be a remarkable team player.
• Strong sense of ethics and integrity, commitment to safety and security.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.

 Desirable Skills

• Ability to examine and analyze public records, data and financial documents from an investigative perspective.
• Experience with databases, trade network analysis, or other relevant analytical software programs; or experience with geospatial analysis.
• Experience tracking financial flows and/or investigating opaque investment systems, etc.
• Prior working experience or knowledge of the forest, wildlife, climate, or extractive industries campaigns.
• Professional working proficiency in additional language skills, such as French, Spanish, or Portuguese, is a plus.
• Experience working or traveling abroad.
• Photography or videography experience is a plus. 
• Currently authorized to work legally in the United States on a full-time basis.

Commitment to Inclusion, Racial Justice and Anti-oppression

EIA strives to integrate values of equity, fairness, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability into our work, which includes reflecting our commitment for racial justice in our programmatic work and our organizational structure and values. We are seeking candidates who have a commitment to engage in this ongoing process and work with us to create an inclusive work environment and world.

EIA is an equal employment opportunity committed to workforce diversity. All employment decisions at EIA are decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business need.

This is a full-time position with an estimated starting salary range between $63,000 and $71,000, commensurate with experience. EIA offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance coverage, 401K, paid time off (vacation, sick and personal leaves), disability benefits, workers’ compensation, professional development Support, flexibly hybrid working arrangement, cell phone monthly allowance, commuter monthly allowance.

EIA will favorably be looking at candidates who could join our Washington, D.C.-based office, but EIA is open to hiring the best candidate if based elsewhere.

Application instructions

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