Digital Methods Consultant

ISD

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

ISD is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organisation dedicated to safeguarding elections, freedom, national security, public safety and individual rights by reversing the rising global tide of polarisation, extremism, foreign interference and authoritarianism. Combining research and analysis with government advisory work and the design and delivery of training, education and communications programs, ISD works to implement real-world, evidence-based responses to these challenges. ISD is not your ordinary think tank. We turn research into action that changes the world. Our insights don't gather dust on shelves - they power the fight to protect democracy and human rights on the front lines. We're committed to delivering real change, from the grassroots to the highest levels of global institutions. And we're looking for passionate individuals who share our commitment to making a difference. Join us and be part of an organisation that's making an impact. ISD's Guiding Principles of integrity, collaboration, agility and courage define who we are as a team and an organisation. These principles reflect our culture and guide the way we work and the choices we make.

Requirements

Methodological rigour in digital research methods
Hands-on experience in survey design, fielding, and analysis

Nice To Haves

Experience with Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube
Experience working in Brazil, India, and South Africa
Experience translating ethnographic findings into survey instruments
Experience with data protection requirements and ethical standards

Responsibilities

Support the qualitative analysts in collecting public social media data, including via platform research APIs and other appropriate tools, and troubleshoot platform-specific access constraints as they emerge.
Operationalise the narrative salience and relative traction frameworks set out in the project design, ensuring measurement is consistent and defensible across the three country contexts.
Contribute to the actor and narrative mapping during the initial ethnographic phase, and oversee the methodological consistency of the three-month longitudinal monitoring phase.
Maintain project-specific keyword lists, actor lists, and codebooks, and ensure these are documented for reproducibility and audit.
Translate qualitative findings from the ethnographic phases into structured survey instruments, in coordination with the project research team.
Specify sampling, weighting, translation, and cognitive pre-testing requirements and develop quality-assurance protocols for fielding.
Manage relationships with local survey partners in India, Brazil, and South Africa, including tendering, contracting support, and ongoing oversight.
Lead the analysis of weighted survey data, including subgroup analysis and basic inferential statistics, to assess correlations between exposure to manipulated narratives and economic perceptions, trust, and migration intentions.
Ensure survey data handling complies with applicable data protection requirements and ethical standards.
Triangulate quantitative survey findings with qualitative ethnographic evidence to produce robust, policy-relevant insights.
Contribute methodological sections and analytical content to the project's two core deliverables: the Monitoring Report and the Impact Assessment.
Support the preparation and delivery of the validation roundtable with German ministries, economic stakeholders, and business associations, including by presenting methodological choices and findings in accessible terms.
Escalate project challenges and methodological risks to the project lead in a timely manner, and contribute to adaptive course-correction where needed.