Vacancies - Tech Against Terrorism

Be part of an inter-disciplinary team consisting of counter-terrorism experts and developers, all committed to responding effectively to the terrorist use of the internet.

Tech Against Terrorism enables the global technology sector to effectively tackle terrorist use of the internet whilst respecting human rights. We focus on smaller tech platforms who might not have capacity or capability to respond to this threat without support. We work closely with the United Nations, large tech firms, dozens of smaller tech platforms, democratic governments, and civil society. Currently, we are working on expanding our work with a number of commercial and publicly funded projects.

Current Roles

Latest

Archivist

Location: London, UK – hybrid home/in office.
Salary: £32,000 – £45,000
Length of contract: Fixed – 1 year with potential for extension
Application Closing Date: 1st April 2023

The Role

The successful candidate will join us as the first archivist to lead on building the archive of the Terrorist Content Analytics Platform (TCAP), an ever-growing database of verified terrorist content. The archive will focus first and foremost on material produced by designated terrorist organisations that we currently alert to tech companies when we detect it on their platforms.

The archivist work as part of the TCAP team and will bring best practice from the field of archiving to Tech Against Terrorism and support the creation of policies (such as access, and mental health protection), ethical frameworks, and security practices. They will also be responsible for the tagging, structuring, labelling, and sorting the content before it can be included in the archive. Finally, the archivist will support the expansion plans for the TCAP to help create the world’s largest archive of verified terrorist content.

Please be aware that this role involves exposure to violent, graphic and/or otherwise distressing content. Tech Against Terrorism will provides specialist training and support on both a group and 1-2-1 basis. Applicants are advised to take this into account when applying for this position.

The Terrorist Content Analytics Platform (TCAP) is our flagship tool that assembles the world’s largest database of verified terrorist content collected in real-time from verified terrorist channels on messaging platforms and apps. We then alert platforms to terrorist content to improve their ability to remove terrorist content. Developed by Tech Against Terrorism with initial support from Public Safety Canada, the TCAP is a secure online tool that automates the detection, analysis, and real-time alerting of verified terrorist content on smaller internet platforms. Once the TCAP has identified terrorist content, the platform alerts tech companies, in so doing helping smaller platforms make better content moderation decision.

This year, the second phase of TCAP will focus on building and releasing an archive of verified terrorist content.

Responsibilities

Bring best practice of the archiving profession to Tech Against Terrorism’s TCAP Archive by implementing frameworks, strategies, and tools for the responsible assembling, cataloguing, preserving and managing of the content.
Lead on the development of an ethical framework that guides the development and use of the TCAP archive
Categorise, label, and sort the content for the TCAP archive as well as recording the metadata in a consistent manner and with regard to best practice
Support the TAT team with the development of policies such as access, vetting, and mental health protection

Maintain up-to-date procedural guidelines for users using the Archive
Support the TCAP lead on deciding the future direction of the TCAP archive and further inclusion of material

Requirements

Demonstrated experience of working in archival institution, company archives, library, or other organisation

Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in relevant field
Fluent in Arabic (reading and writing)
Excellent writing skills and the ability to analyse and describe complex findings in impeccable English

Ability to develop and use appropriate record-keeping systems applicable to the archives
Ability to work meticulously with large volumes of information and deal with several jobs in progress at one
Ability to work independently with support from relevant teams at Tech Against Terrorism

Desirable:

Relevant experience of archiving graphic or disturbing content

Personal qualities

Meticulous and consistent: you are able to handle vast amounts of data and record those in a consistent manner.
Organisation, time management and attention to detail: you are well organised and are able to work on multiple projects to a very high quality
Problem solving: you are solution oriented and innovative in how you approach challenges and blockers
Analytical and innovative mindset: you identify gaps in existing processes and suggest improvements by regularly bringing new ideas
Communication: you have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and you communicate effectively and diplomatically with both colleagues and external stakeholders
Expertise: deep interest and demonstrated knowledge in the subject-matter of archiving.

Apply and further information

Platform Outreach Consultant

Location: London, UK – WFH except when travelling with team. The right to work in the UK is required.
Salary: Part-time pro-rated
Length of contract: Temporary – part-time
Application Closing Date: 10 March 2023

The Role

The Platform Outreach Consultant will be responsible for advising and assisting Tech Against Terrorism in reaching out to platform operators and decision-makers. The consultant will help devise effective outreach strategies. They will also work with the team to develop their professional outreach and engagement skills. The goal is to engage with the variety of platforms and infrastructure providers used by terrorists and influence their willingness to help prevent the spread of terrorism online and build strong influential relationships that allow us to further our mission.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement outreach strategies for engaging with platform operators and decision-makers including devising frameworks and workflows to support effective relationship-building with important stakeholders
Advise on the application of “human factors” principles in outreach efforts
Develop the team’s rapport-building skills to effectively engage with a variety of platforms, including those that may be considered unwilling to help
Plan and execute outreach activities, including presentations, workshops, and other forms of communication in collaboration with the Head of Communications
Monitor, analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of outreach efforts and make recommendations for continuous improvement

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. marketing, communications, psychology)
Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing outreach strategies
Experience working with technology platforms and an understanding of the principles of “human factors”
Detailed understanding of terrorist use of the internet and our stakeholders
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Proven record devising and running training programmes

Personal qualities

Organisation, time management and attention to detail: you are well organised and are able to work on multiple projects to a very high quality
Problem solving: you are solution oriented and innovative in how you approach challenges and blockers
Strong team player: you thrive working as part of a close knit team. You proactively seek solutions to problems in a contructive and collaborative manner.
Analytical and innovative mindset: you identify gaps in existing processes and suggest improvements by regularly bringing new ideas
Communication: you have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and you communicate effectively and diplomatically with both colleagues and external stakeholders
Expertise: deep interest and demonstrated experience in building outreach efforts

Apply and further information

Analyst, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)

Location: London, UK – Hybrid home/in office. For this role, the right to work in the UK is required.
Salary: £28,000-38,000, dependent on skills and experience
Length of contract: Permanent – Full Time
Application Closing Date: 24 March 2023

Tech Against Terrorism’s OSINT team works to track, analyse and disrupt terrorist and violent extremist exploitation across online platforms and services, including via our Terrorist Content Analytics Platform (TCAP). The OSINT team’s findings and analysis supports colleagues in our research and policy teams, and our intelligence output aims to inform effective and proportionate decision-making by our stakeholders.

The Role

The successful candidate will join the OSINT team in tracking, analysing and responding to terrorist and violent extremist use of the internet. We are looking to expand our capacity in line with projects we’re working on this year, and particularly build on our in-house language capacity with a candidate who understands Arabic.

The role will involve collecting, collating and analysing publicly available information at scale as well as drafting analytical reports. You will be responsible for conducting online investigations for a variety of our stakeholders including in the public and private sector, and IGOs.

Please note that this role involves exposure to violent, graphic and/or otherwise distressing content; specialist support and training is provided for everyone in the team on both a 1-2-1 and group basis. Applicants are advised to take this into account applying for this position.

Responsibilities

Work on our stakeholder reporting workstream, which provides intelligence analysis on terrorist and violent extremist use of the internet. This is with support and oversight from the OSINT manager.
Contribute to other OSINT projects for a diverse range of stakeholders including tech companies and public sector organisations; opportunity to lead on projects in future.
Quantitative and qualitative research, analysis and report drafting on terrorist and violent extremist use of the internet.
Assisting the OSINT manager with developing in-house policies and best practice.
Potential to represent Tech Against Terrorism as a speaker at conferences and events globally
Support the TCAP team with detecting, alerting and archiving terrorist content.
Carry out ad hoc investigations into specific tech platforms, terrorist entities, networks or incidents, and produce high quality reports based on your findings.
Administration including drafting project plans, proposals, financial reporting and invoices.

Requirements

At least one year of professional OSINT and Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) experience focusing on terrorism or violent extremism.
Undergraduate degree in relevant field (security, war studies, intelligence, etc).
Ability to read Arabic script is highly desirable, or willingness to upskill.
Excellent writing skills and the ability to analyse and describe complex findings in impeccable English.
Demonstrated experience using well-known OSINT and social media analysis tools, and the ability to describe advantages and disadvantages of each.
Excellent oral and written presentation skills.

Personal qualities

Organisation, time management and attention to detail: you are well organised and are able to work on multiple projects to a very high quality.
Problem solving: you are solution oriented and innovative in how you approach challenges and blockers.
Strong team player: you thrive working as part of a close knit team. You proactively seek solutions to problems in a constructive and collaborative manner.
Analytical and innovative mindset: you identify gaps in existing processes and suggest improvements by regularly bringing new ideas.
Communication: you have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and you communicate effectively and diplomatically with both colleagues and external stakeholders.
Expertise: deep interest and demonstrated knowledge in the subject-matter, including terrorist use of the internet, OSINT methodologies, operational security, intelligence writing style.

Apply and further information

Analyst, Terrorist Content Analytics Platform (TCAP)

Location: London, UK – Hybrid home/in office. For this role, the right to work in the UK is required.
Salary: £28,000-£36,000 per annum
Length of contract: 2 years with potential for extension, subject to funding
Application Closing Date: 10 March 2023

This year, the TCAP has won funding from multiple stakeholders, including 1.9 million from the Government of Canada. This funding will fund the second phase of TCAP which will focus on building and releasing an archive of verified terrorist content, further expand our alerting capacity, and develop technical tools to further support smaller tech companies with the detection of terrorist content.

The role:

Tech Against Terrorism is looking for two TCAP analysts to support the implementation of the expansion of the TCAP. The role includes open-source intelligence and analysis, as well as policy issues concerning technology, tech policy, terrorism, human rights, and digital rights. The role is well-suited for someone with subject-matter knowledge in Counter Terrorism, Security, Tech Policy, International Politics or a similar field.

Prior experience in open-source intelligence (OSINT) is highly desirable for this role. In particular we welcome applicants with demonstrable experience monitoring messaging and social media platforms for terrorist content. The successful candidates will work across the Research, Open-Source Intelligence and TCAP teams at Tech Against Terrorism and report to the OSINT and Research Managers.

Please be aware that this role involves exposure to violent, graphic and/or otherwise distressing content. Tech Against Terrorism will provides specialist training and support on both a group and 1-2-1 basis. Applicants are advised to take this into account when applying for this position.

Responsibilities

Work as part of the TCAP content sourcing team to identify, analyse and triage terrorist content on the internet.
This includes learning how to conduct Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and analyse how terrorist actors and groups use the internet
Contribute to devising policies for the expansion of TCAP alerts, its archive, and technical tools
Assisting on policy, outreach, and administrative TCAP workstreams
Supporting the organisation of (and background research for) TCAP office hours, webinars, and other events
Producing written products for internal and external use, such as OSINT briefs, the TCAP newsletters, and weekly readers’ digest
Monitoring and evaluation
Opportunity to assist the wider Tech Against Terrorism team on a range of projects involving countering terrorist use of the internet, tech policy, human rights, and the rule of law
Supporting the Tech Against Terrorism team with other administrative tasks as required

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in relevant field (security, war studies, intelligence, etc)
Ability to read Arabic or Urdu is highly desirable
Excellent writing skills and the ability to analyse or describe complex findings in impeccable English
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Strong knowledge of terrorist use of the internet and how to identify official material produced by these entities
Demonstrated experience in open source intelligence and analysis
Ability to work in our London office
Strong research skills and ability to identify key pieces of information in large amounts of material
Exceptional time management, organisational skills, and attention to detail
Engaging and motivated attitude and ability to take constructive feedback
Ability to work independently with limited supervision

Personal qualities

Organisation, time management and attention to detail: you are well organised and are able to work on multiple projects to a very high quality
Problem solving: you are solution oriented and innovative in how you approach challenges and blockers
Strong team player: you thrive working as part of a close knit team. You proactively seek solutions to problems in a contructive and collaborative manner.
Analytical and innovative mindset: you identify gaps in existing processes and suggest improvements by regularly bringing new ideas
Communication: you have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and you communicate effectively and diplomatically with both colleagues and external stakeholders
Expertise: deep interest and demonstrated knowledge in the subject-matter, including terrorist use of the internet, OSINT methodologies, operational security, intelligence writing style.

Apply and further information

Benefits at Tech Against Terrorism

The work we do is hugely impactful and engaging, but it’s our talented team which is our greatest asset; we take pride in providing a collaborative environment where everyone is encouraged and supported to do their best work.
You’ll experience a fun and thriving culture, with the following benefits as part of life at Tech Against Terrorism:

Friendly and supportive culture with all the benefits of working with private sector stakeholders while advancing the goals of an NGO
Generous monthly training & conference budget to help you upskill
Flexible working to support families and varying needs, including hybrid and flexible hours
Option to work abroad up to one month of every year
Top tier private healthcare
25 days holiday + bank holidays
Numerous perks, discounts, and rewards
Regular team-wide events held in-person and virtually
Top notch IT equipment
Cycle to work scheme
Pension contribution scheme
A fully stocked supply of breakfast, fruit, and refreshments for the days when you are in the office.

How to apply

If you are interested, please apply by clicking on the relevant links above and then submitting your CV and one-page cover letter.

Interviews will take place on a rolling basis. Due to the volume of applications we normally receive, please be aware that feedback times may vary.

For this role, the right to work in the UK is required.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with [email protected]

About Tech Against Terrorism

Tech Against Terrorism supports the global technology sector in responding to terrorist use of the internet whilst respecting human rights. We focus on smaller tech platforms who might not have capacity or capability to respond to this threat without support. We work closely with the United Nations, the large tech firms, dozens of smaller tech platforms, democratic governments, and civil society. Currently, we are working on expanding our work with a number of commercial and publicly funded projects.