Senior Digital Methods Manager and Capacity Building

About the Digital Analysis Unit

ISD’s Digital Analysis Unit (DAU) is a central hub for digital methodologies and technology within ISD. Working closely with analysts and managers in the research team, the DAU is responsible for overseeing research methodologies across ISD projects, selecting appropriate tools and technical partnerships, providing internal training and upskilling, and ensuring standardized research practices across various projects and entities.

In collaboration with strategic technology partners, the DAU leverages data analytics, natural language processing, open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques, and rigorous ethnographic research to enable ISD researchers to gain real-time insights into extremist, hate and terrorist networks, movements, and online narratives. It also supports ISD’s efforts to identify instances of covert content manipulation, identity deception, and misleading behaviours with the goal of countering the spread of false information. Additionally, it provides empirical evidence to guide ISD’s policy work on assessing the effectiveness of social media platforms’ policy enforcement, content moderation, and other responses to online harms, as well as the impact of platform systems, such as algorithmic recommendations, on users and the online environment.

About the role

The Senior Digital Methods Manager plays a central role within the organization, supporting the Head of the Digital Analysis Unit (DAU) in unit management and overseeing its operational aspects. Tasks include the creation of internal resources for methods upskilling and standardization, including maintaining and innovating the existing 360° digital methods training program. Additionally, they assume responsibility for methodological oversight of selected research projects across the organization that involve digital research, ensuring high standards and actively engaging in the execution of complex analyses.

Key responsibilities include:

• Support ISD research teams in accessing and interpreting data from a range of sources.
• Regularly liaise with technology partners and members of the Digital Analysis Unit (DAU), including scoping new tools and integrating new capabilities.
• Contribute to the scoping and design of 2-3 digital analysis projects annually, including assessing the feasibility of research questions.
• Oversee research methods, activities, and outputs for 2-3 digital research projects simultaneously.
• Support the Head of the Digital Analysis Unit in the day-to-day operational management of the Unit.
• Manage ISD’s organizational access to analytical tools and platforms, including both commercial and bespoke tools for digital analysis.

To view a full job description for this role, please click here.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A degree level education in a related field (political, social or computer science, international relations, security studies). A Master’s degree is desirable.
• Demonstrable experience of project and/or program delivery, with proven ability to manage complex and large projects involving external partners.
• Experience in designing and overseeing the methodology for digital research projects investigating online information operations, extremism, and/or hate speech.
• Proven ability in developing internal resources and conducting training programs.
• Line management experience.
• Strong working use of digital analytics techniques, including social listening and network analysis (Gephi).
• Advanced knowledge of the social listening tools Brandwatch and CrowdTange.
• Proficient use of data visualization softwares, such as Tableau and Flourish.
• Fluent, high quality oral and written communication skills in English.

Please review our job description for essential criteria, and keep in mind that no candidate will meet every requirement in the advert. If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified, but you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you.

We are currently hiring for another position within the same department, that requires a similar range of knowledge and experience. Should you wish to apply to both roles, we welcome you to apply to both this position, as well as the other: Senior Digital Methods Manager and Technical Lead.

The offer

Location: This is a permanent position which can be based remotely in one of three countries where ISD has a legal entity: United Kingdom, Germany and United States. Remote working outside of these locations is not possible and we unfortunately cannot support visa applications for this role.

Annual salary: UK: £45,000 – £60,000, Germany: €60,000 – €90,000, US: $85,000 – $110,000

Benefits: More information on our benefits can be found here.