Bellingcat is Hiring: Open Source Investigator and Trainer (Conflict)

Are you an expert on military weapon systems, warfare, military affairs or armed conflict monitoring?

We are looking for an open source investigator and trainer to join our Human Rights and Conflict Monitoring Team. You will conduct open source investigations on a variety of topics for publication on Bellingcat’s platforms and in collaboration with external partners. You will also work as a trainer to teach digital investigative techniques to journalists, scholars, human rights researchers and other participants in our workshops.

The position is fully remote, with occasional travel to/within the United States, Canada, Latin America, Africa, and Europe.

Who We Are

Bellingcat is an independent international collective of researchers, investigators and citizen journalists using open source and social media to probe conflict, corruption, crimes, misinformation, disinformation, extremist groups and many other topics. We received numerous awards for our research and publications that uncover facts about events of public interest. Our community (which includes staff, contributors and volunteers around the world) works in a unique field where technology, forensic research, journalism and the advancement of justice and accountability come together.

Who You Are

The ideal candidate should have experience planning and conducting open source investigations, both as an individual and as part of a team. You can demonstrate your record tracking and writing about warfare, weapon systems or armed conflict in different regions using open source methods and publishing your findings to editorial standards. You must have excellent skills in discovering, verifying and presenting open source information in a clear, precise and accurate manner for a wide audience. You must also have an interest in teaching these investigative methods to others in both an in-person and webinar format through our training workshops.

You are enthusiastic about working for an international nonprofit organisation that uses publicly available data and open source analysis to investigate a variety of topics that are in the public interest and which advance transparency and accountability.

Responsibilities

Conduct rigorous, accurate and ethical open source investigations, both independently and as part of our Human Rights and Conflict Monitoring Team, to Bellingcat’s rigorous professional and editorial standards
Contribute to research planning and identification of innovations to increase the quality and caliber of investigations
Present factual findings to our audience – readers and viewers- in a clear, compelling and methodologically sound manner
Collaborate with colleagues who conduct investigations with techniques such as weapons identification, remote sensing and data analysis and carry out technical review of their reporting
Train a wide spectrum of participants on investigative techniques and methodologies in both an online (webinar) and in-person format
Maintain a high level of operational and personal security, including an understanding of cyber-hygiene and potential threat actors
Occasionally travel (approx. 4 trips per year) for training workshops, presentations and conferences
Be prepared to travel in Europe for occasional (1-2 trips per year) staff retreats and training sessions, as we are based in the Netherlands. Travel may also include trips to other parts of the world
Perform other research tasks as required

Education, Experience and Skills

Education: The candidate must have a level of education which allows for clear communication, assessment and organisation of information. Academic degrees are not required, but any formal education in fields that accentuate the required skills for this role (such as in conflict studies, journalism, etc.) are a plus.

Experience: The candidate should be able to demonstrate a track record of work and publications about war or conflict in different regions using open source methods and meeting stringent editorial standards. The candidate must have a record of conducting and presenting effective, rigorous, innovative and ethical open source investigations. Bellingcat has strict editorial standards and expects them to be met at all times. The candidate will work with Bellingcat’s editors to present and publish their findings adhering to these standards. Any teaching experience is a plus, but not required.

Required Knowledge and Skills

Demonstrated knowledge of armed conflicts, warfare, military affairs as well as human rights is required
Demonstrated knowledge of one or more of the following military weapon systems: small arms & light weapons (SALW), armored fighting vehicles (AFVs), artillery and rocket systems, aircraft and aerial systems, naval warfare systems, missile & air defense systems, electronic and cyber warfare, nuclear, chemical & biological weapons.
Experience and track record covering war or armed conflicts in existing or nascent conflict regions
Demonstrated knowledge conducting human rights investigations and humanitarian frameworks (e.g., International Humanitarian Law, Refugee Protection, etc)
Experience planning and conducting online open source investigations for publication with the aim to reach as wide an audience as possible.
Track record of open source/investigative publications in an environment that operates to professional editorial and ethical standards
Commitment to follow Bellingcat’s editorial and research standards
Ability to uncover and pitch important open source stories that generate impact and inform Bellingcat’s global audience
Ability to clearly communicate methods and conclusions verbally, in writing and in graphic formats
Ability and willingness to work and collaborate with fellow investigators and editors
Ability to prioritise tasks and manage a busy workload
Experience investigating in partnership with international media organisations
In-depth understanding of major social media platforms
In-depth understanding of visual verification techniques
The ability to work collaboratively and respectfully in a multicultural team with people from diverse backgrounds in different time zones is required
Fluency in English

Additional Desired Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Experience in teaching or training, whether it be for digital investigative techniques or other topics relevant to Bellingcat’s work.
Language in existing or nascent conflict regions
Experience in public presentations in a conference setting
Experience with 3D computer graphics software tools such as Blender is desired but not essential
Military experience would be a plus but not essential

What We Offer

Bellingcat is a fully remote international team with a flat organizational structure and defined responsibilities and teams. Our distributed model of work encourages initiative, a high degree of responsibility and ownership of both your successes and challenges. We value and reward the drive for excellence and don’t put up with the bare minimum. The position is based on full-time (40 hours per week) employment with an initial one-year contract (three months probation period), with possibility for extension. The gross annual salary (based on 1fte) is within the framework of the non-profit sector – between EUR 56,100 and EUR 67,700 depending on experience and track record. Benefits include 25 days of paid vacation days per year (based on 1 fte), plus national holidays depending on your country of residence, wellbeing budget, training opportunities and others.

How To Apply

Bellingcat is committed to a diverse working environment. Our team is international, from a wide range of backgrounds and we always welcome and appreciate new perspectives and life experiences. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, origin, religion, age, gender or sexual orientation. We value formal education and practical experience in the field equally.

Please use this form to submit your application. The deadline to apply for this role is April 06, 2025 23:59 Central European Time. Given we expect to receive a high number of applications, it will not be possible to respond to all applicants. Applicants will be subjected to reference checks and additional vetting as determined by our hiring committee. This is a fully remote position. You must be legally authorized to work without restrictions in the country from which you would be working if offered this role.