Research Technologist

The Digital Investigations Lab within the Technology, Rights and Investigations Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a Research Technologist. The role, under the supervision of senior team members, will specialize in computer assisted reporting methods that involve the creative and ethical acquisition of data from online sources, as well as building out technical solutions to automate research, for instance software development, writing scripts, integrating open source tools within workflows. The Digital Investigations Lab conducts rigorous human rights investigations, working in partnership with Human Rights Watch’s thematic and regional researchers. This role is an opportunity for a technologist to join a team of passionate, solution-oriented researchers to enhance how they find, collect and process large amounts of information to conduct human rights investigations. This role would suit a creative technologist with systems administration experience who is excited about using technology to answer questions about some of the world’s most pressing human rights issues, from investigating automated decision-making systems, to exposing companies involved in illegal mining practices. This full-time position reports to the head of Open Source Investigations in the Digital Investigations Lab, part of the Technology, Rights and Investigations Division, and is expected to collaborate closely with HRW’s Information Security team and the office of the Chief Information Officer, along with other teams across the organization. This is a fixed-term position for one year. The successful candidate may have the option to work remotely. The position will preferably be based in one of HRW’s European offices (Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, London, or Stockholm) or remotely in an African or European timezone, but may be based in North or South America. We aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both the recruitment and onboarding of this position.

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.