Investigator

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in District of Columbia.

📋 Description

• Monitor news and track various sources to pinpoint emerging issues where American Oversight’s investigations can have the most significant impact.

• Develop strategic, litigation-ready public records requests directed at federal, state, and local agencies to reveal decision-making processes, funding flows, and political influences.

• Perform thorough reviews of document productions to uncover key facts, patterns, inconsistencies, and gaps; analyze documents contextually to reveal unreported insights and emerging trends, synthesizing findings into clear, accurate, and strategically valuable outputs such as newsworthy narratives that further government accountability or actionable insights that empower partners’ advocacy and litigation.

• Assist American Oversight’s external engagement by participating in meetings, briefings, and discussions with journalists, advocates, and allies.

• Engage proactively with government agencies regarding public records requests, prioritizing tasks and collaborating closely with the Legal team to ensure timely and effective acquisition of responsive materials.

• Aid in document processing and information management, ensuring that incoming records are organized, searchable, and accessible.

• Create public-facing materials — including blog posts, reports, talking points, and briefing documents — that translate investigative findings into clear, contextualized, and actionable narratives, as needed.

• Participate in organizational initiatives and special projects as required, applying an investigative perspective to emerging priorities and cross-functional efforts.

• Perform other assigned duties.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 2 years of post-graduate experience in government investigations, investigative journalism, policy research, or a related field that involves in-depth investigative research and analysis.

• A strong interest in American Oversight’s mission of government accountability and transparency, with a commitment to public interest advocacy.

• Proficient skills in the following areas: Problem Solving and Critical Thinking, Communication, Project and Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Strategic Thinking, and Collaboration.

• A solid understanding of and fluency in relevant news developments, the political landscape, and how public records can influence news reporting, government actions, and accountability.

• Experience working in and/or a desire to contribute to environments committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Self-motivated, collegial, and capable of working independently as well as collaboratively in a dynamic environment.

• Strong technological skills with the ability to quickly learn, adapt to, or test new platforms or technologies (e.g., AirTable).

• Proficient in Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint); Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) and file-sharing platforms (Dropbox).

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous paid time off.

• Paid office closure from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day.

• 403(b) plan with up to a 4% employer match.

• Flexible scheduling policy aligned with core business hours.

• Summer Fridays.

• Up to $100/month reimbursement for internet services and personal devices.

• Professional development stipend.

• $400/year home office stipend.

• Commuter benefits.