Digital Methods Consultant

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.

Why work for ISD? 

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. 

Location 

Ideally based in Germany; however, other locations will also be considered.

Contract type 

Fixed-term consultant contract until 30 June 2027, for a maximum of 50-65 days during this period.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

ISD is committed to promoting diversity throughout its workforce and aims for its team to be truly representative of all sections of society. We make a concerted effort to ensure our workplace, employment policies and organisational culture creates an inclusive, positive and progressive environment in which all members of our team are treated with dignity and respect. For further information about this policy or our recruitment practices, please email [email protected]. 

 
We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, carers, and people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. 

Consultancy Purpose 

We are seeking a Digital Methods Consultant to design and oversee the digital research and survey components of the project, working alongside the qualitative analysts to:

a) Operationalise the narrative salience and relative traction frameworks across Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube in the three target countries (Brazil, India, and South Africa)

b) Translate ethnographic findings into structured survey instruments

c) Oversee survey design, fielding, and analysis with local partners

The consultant will need to be available to start as soon as possible, for a maximum of 50-65 days until 30 June 2027. The consultant will be expected to fully integrate with the project team on working days and keep regular working hours (9am – 5pm CET).

To view full consultancy terms of reference, please click here.

Key responsibilities include:

Digital research methods & data collection oversight (35%)

• 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.

Survey design, fielding & analysis (45%)

• 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.

Triangulation, reporting & stakeholder support (20%)

• 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.

The ideal candidate 

The ideal candidates will combine methodological rigour in digital research methods with hands-on experience in survey design, fielding, and analysis.

Please review our  consultancy terms of reference for essential criteria, and keep in mind that no candidate will meet every requirement in the advert. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified, but you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to hear from you. 

How to apply

Applications should be submitted by 7th June 2026. ISD reserves the right to conduct interviews and make appointments prior to the stated deadline. Applications may be submitted in English.
 

If you have any further questions about this vacancy or want to speak to a member of our recruitment team, please contact [email protected].