Senior Analyst – MENA Focus

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Maryland.

📋 Description

• Oversee and evaluate political, security, and socio-economic changes throughout the MENA region.

• Analyze Arabic- and English-language media, news sources, social platforms, official statements, and other open-source information environments.

• Monitor activities of violent extremist organizations and non-state armed groups, including aspects of organization, propaganda, communications, governance, operations, and regional connections.

• Discover new narratives, participants, platforms, and threats within online ecosystems.

• Utilize structured analytical techniques to evaluate intricate information and uncover patterns and relationships.

• Lead and contribute to daily, weekly, monthly, flash, and deep-dive analytical reports concentrating on the MENA region and violent extremist organizations (VEOs).

• Translate and evaluate Arabic-language documents and source materials.

• Engage in client-facing discussions, briefings, and respond to ad hoc research inquiries.

• Cultivate and maintain subject-matter expertise in assigned countries, actors, organizations, and thematic areas.

• Identify and suggest new actors, entities, channels, and outlets for inclusion in ExTrac's research framework.

• Validate and assess sources in their original language.

• Ensure coverage aligns with intelligence requirements and identify opportunities for expanding or deepening coverage.

• Assist in taxonomy and tagging decisions that structure MENA and violent extremism data.

• Collaborate with research and data teams to translate analytical judgments into structured data.

• Support the Team Lead in reviewing and ensuring the quality of analytical outputs.

• Mentor junior analysts on research methodologies, analytical standards, and source validation.

• Assist other ExTrac teams with projects and deliverables.

• Aid in developing research methodologies, monitoring frameworks, and analytical processes.

• Incorporate AI systems and AI-assisted workflows into analytical practices.

⛳️ Requirements

• Minimum of five years of professional experience in intelligence analysis, geopolitical risk, disinformation analysis, strategic communications, international security, international relations, or a related area.

• In-depth subject-matter knowledge of the MENA region, including key political and security figures and regional dynamics.

• Practical understanding of VEOs, their online ecosystems, communication strategies, narratives, and operational activities, acquired through direct analytical experience.

• Proficiency in written Arabic, encompassing Modern Standard Arabic and local dialects, along with familiarity with slang.

• Capability to monitor, analyze, and translate Arabic-language content from various sources.

• Proven experience applying structured analytical methodologies to complex information environments and online ecosystems, including OSINT, network analysis, narrative analysis, sentiment analysis, or other quantitative and qualitative methods.

• Excellent written communication skills with a history of producing concise, high-quality, policy-relevant intelligence and analytical reports under tight deadlines.

• Hands-on experience in curating source coverage, identifying and verifying online sources, assessing affiliations, and maintaining structured datasets to defined standards.

• Experience in proofreading, editing, and ensuring quality in analytical products.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to work independently while managing multiple concurrent workstreams and competing priorities.

• High attention to detail and the ability to discern significant developments amidst high volumes of information.

• Skill in clearly communicating complex political, security, and extremist-related developments to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

• Comfort with integrating AI systems into workflows to enhance outputs and efficiency.

• Solid understanding of legal and ethical considerations related to intelligence collection, open-source research, and data management.

• Desirable: experience leading analysis on international security, violent extremism, terrorism, or influence and disinformation ecosystems aligned with state and non-state actors.

• Desirable: experience researching VEOs and extremist online activity across platforms such as Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, RocketChat, and TikTok.

• Desirable: familiarity with data science, AI-enabled research tools, or advanced OSINT platforms.

• Desirable: proficiency in additional relevant languages like French, Farsi, Turkish, Kurdish, or Russian.

• Desirable: knowledge of the PHIA Yardstick.

• Desirable: experience in developing analytical methodologies, research frameworks, monitoring requirements, data schemas, or taxonomies.

• Desirable: experience mentoring junior analysts, reviewing analytical outputs, or leading small analytical projects.

• Legally authorized to work in the United States.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive salary based on skills and experience.

• Medical health insurance.

• 401(k) plan.

• $500/year education budget.

• More costly educational items, such as conferences, covered with managerial approval.

• 33 days of leave throughout the year, inclusive of national holidays.

• Mission-driven purpose with advanced technology in a rapidly growing company.