Open Source Investigations Specialist

Position description

The Human Rights Center (HRC) is a multi-disciplinary research, investigations and training center housed within UC Berkeley School of Law that works with departments across campus to apply innovative technologies and scientific methods to investigate war crimes and other serious violations of human rights. Based on our findings, we recommend policy measures to protect vulnerable populations and hold perpetrators accountable. We train students and practitioners around the world and provide them with the skills and tools necessary to document human rights abuses and turn this information into effective action.

Building on its longstanding work in the field, the Human Rights Center launched an Investigations Lab in 2016 to strengthen the use of new and emerging technologies in human rights research and practice. The Lab was the first university-based organization of its kind through which students, faculty and staff work in teams to conduct open source investigations and support the work of human rights researchers, journalists, and lawyers. Students are trained to find and verify publicly-available information online that is relevant to potential violations of human rights, international criminal law and humanitarian law. Each year, an impressively diverse cohort of approximately 25-50 students work with the Lab. In addition to project-specific partnerships that are developed each semester, we collaborate with ongoing partners through HRC’s membership in Amnesty International’s Digital Verification Corps and the UC Network on Digital Fact-Finding.

The Open Source Investigations Specialist helps to shape and oversee the research conducted in the center’s Investigations Lab, and provides professional-level research and related support to HRC’s and its partners’ investigations. The Investigator works closely with the Lab’s co-founder/faculty director, as well as other members of the Human Rights Center team, including but not limited to the Investigations Lab Manager and Training Manager. The Open Source Investigations Specialist also works with external practitioners, policymakers, and other academics to promote evidence-based policies as well as practice-focused research and investigations.

The Open Source Investigations Specialist’s work will include designing, implementing and reporting on original studies and methodological advancements that add to existing knowledge about ways that digital technologies can be used to enhance the efficiency and efficacy of human rights investigations. Outputs may include workshops, blog posts, social media threads, reports, white papers, book chapters, amicus curiae briefs, implementation tools, practitioner papers, and other appropriate means for sharing and advancing information relative to digital open source investigations. 

The Open Source Investigations Specialist is expected to stay informed about the latest digital open source investigation methodologies, conduct research and publish his/her research findings–including guidance for the digital open source investigations community. The Open Source Investigations Specialist may be expected to travel domestically and internationally for field work, conferences, research, trainings, workshops and other meetings.

The Open Source Investigations Specialist may conduct training of students and practitioners in close coordination with the Human Rights Center’s Training Manager, as well as speak as an expert on investigations-related findings and methods with the media, funders, and other strategic partners.

The Open Source Investigations Specialist is expected to provide investigations support to teams of researchers, including professional research staff and students. The Open Source Investigations Specialist may also work alongside diverse independent contractors who may be hired to provide additional research, training and other support.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent international degree

Preferred qualifications

• Minimum three years of work experience related to digital open source investigations
• Experience in human rights, international law, cybersecurity and/or related research
• Familiarity with the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations
• Intermediate to advanced understanding of digital open source investigation methods and knowledge of digital open source investigation ethics
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of physical, digital and psychosocial security
• Working understanding of international law and/or practice
• Familiarity with basic coding languages (such as Python or other)
• Familiarity working with visual media, including media production and/or Adobe Suite
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to think creatively and independently on problem-solving
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups to achieve results and to work well as part of a team in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to design, implement and oversee complex investigations
• Ability to mentor graduate and undergraduate students
• Facility in Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian or another language, in addition to English

Application instructions

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