Recruitment: Research and Journalism Director, Intelwatch
Intelwatch is a recently launched non-profit organisation based in South Africa and working internationally. We aim to promote democratic oversight of state and private intelligence agencies. We do this by monitoring and reporting on surveillance activities, raising awareness of the risks of undemocratic intelligence and surveillance activities, and advocating for progressive laws and policies that safeguard fundamental rights.
Intelwatch seeks to appoint a Research and Journalism Director to undertake this work. This is a one year long remote position with the possibility of renewal depending on performance in the role and if funds permit. Despite this being a remote role, applicants must have permission to work in South Africa or via consultancy.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Research and Journalism Director is responsible for, inter alia, leading the development of strategic research and journalism projects, managing journalism and research projects and conducting research and journalism, ensuring strategic communication, ensuring popular education and mobilisation materials are developed and maintained, and supporting national strategic partnerships.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The responsibilities of this role include, amongst others:
- Maintaining a knowledge of key environmental trends and developments impacting on Intelwatch and commissioning and conducting research on those issues.
- Identifying strategic research and journalism projects to support advocacy interventions.
- Identifying exploratory journalism and research interventions that fall within Intelwatch’s mandate.
- Identifying strategic research and journalism projects and implement them, either through managing commissioned researchers and journalists, or conducting research or journalism.
- Ensuring that clear messages are developed based on the research and journalism and consistently communicated in appropriate forms to appropriate audiences.
- Ensuring that Intelwatch’s research and journalism finds a wide audience, including audiences that are strategically important to changing policy and laws.
- Spearheading the development and use of a wide range of communication channels to publicise the findings of research and journalism.
- Ensuring that the research and journalism work of Intelwatch is well documented.
- Ensuring that Intelwatch responds timeously to developments impacting thematic areas.
- Developing popular education and mobilisation materials with relevant stakeholders, based on the research and journalism and ensuring that these are used in Intelwatch’s work.
- Maintaining a knowledge of and relationships with critical organisations whose work impacts on the research and journalism aspects of Intelwatch.
- Exploring and developing cooperation with relevant stakeholders.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
The ideal candidate will have the following:
- At least five years’ experience in senior positions in the non-profit field.
- A relevant degree (preferably post-graduate)
- A commitment to the principles underpinning Intelwatch’s work, including freedom of expression, democratic participation, and accountable governance.
- A strong track record in research, journalism, advocacy, coordination and capacity-building.
- Experience in stakeholder engagements.
- Experience in popular education
- Experience in developing, implementing and overseeing strategic research, journalism and advocacy campaigns and processes.
- Strong organisational management skills.
- Strong Strategic Communication skills
- Excellent communication skills.
TO APPLY
To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to [email protected] by 30 September 2025.
If you have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date, please consider your application as having been unsuccessful.
