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
Germany (preferred), other locations will be considered.
Contract type
Fixed-term consultant contract until 30 June 2027, for a maximum of 65-85 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 lead the digital research and survey components of two parallel research projects, each under its own consultancy contract with its own timeframe and volume. Working alongside the qualitative analysts, the consultant will pull and prepare public social media data, run quantitative analyses, and design and oversee representative surveys.
Project 1 — Information manipulation targeting Germany's economic interests (German Federal Foreign Office).
A 14-month project examining manipulated narratives about Germany — as an economy, employer, trading partner, and destination for skilled labour — circulating in Brazil, India, and South Africa, combining digital ethnography with representative surveys (~1,000 respondents per country).
Estimated volume of work for Project 1: an average of 50-60 days over the project timeframe, starting as soon as possible until 30 June 2027.
Project 2 — Climate disinformation and its impact on public discourse in Austria (BMLUK).
A study mapping the climate-disinformation ecosystem across X, Facebook, Telegram, and Reddit — identifying key actors and narratives and tracing their move from fringe to mainstream — paired with a representative online survey (CAWI) of ~1,000 Austrians measuring how exposure shapes attitudes to climate policy.
Estimated volume of work for Project 2: approximately 1.5–2 days per month (around 15–25 days in total), from July 2026 to March 2027, subject to confirmation of the project start date.
To view full consultancy terms of reference, please click here.
Key responsibilities include:
Digital research & data collection (35%)
• Collect public social media data via platform research APIs and other tools, and troubleshoot platform-specific access constraints.
• Operationalise the narrative salience and relative traction frameworks, ensuring measurement is consistent and defensible across contexts.
• Run quantitative analyses of spread, engagement, and cross-platform diffusion; contribute to actor and narrative mapping.
• Maintain keyword lists, actor lists, and codebooks, documented for reproducibility and audit.
Survey design, fielding & analysis (45%)
• Translate qualitative findings into structured survey instruments, retaining a common core for cross-country comparability (Project 1) and supporting German-language instruments (Project 2).
• Specify sampling, weighting, translation, and cognitive pre-testing requirements, and develop quality-assurance protocols for fielding.
• Manage local survey partners, including tendering and contracting support (Project 1).
• Lead analysis of weighted survey data, including subgroup analysis and basic inferential statistics, and ensure data handling complies with applicable data-protection and ethical standards.
Triangulation, reporting & stakeholder support (20%)
• Triangulate survey findings with qualitative evidence to produce policy-relevant insights.
• Contribute methodological and analytical sections to each project's core deliverables.
• Support validation/roundtable sessions with stakeholders, presenting methods and findings accessibly.
• Flag methodological risks to the project lead and contribute to adaptive course-correction.
The ideal candidate
The ideal candidates will combine methodological rigour in digital research methods with hands-on experience in survey design, fielding, and analysis, and will have strong proficiency in German to work effectively in this role.
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 14th July 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].
Skills Required
- Methodological rigour in digital research methods, including social media data collection via platform APIs and troubleshooting access constraints
- Hands-on experience in survey design, fielding, sampling specifications, weighting, translation and cognitive pre-testing
- Proven experience analysing weighted survey data, including subgroup analysis and basic inferential statistics
- Strong proficiency in German (spoken and written) to support German-language instruments and analysis
- Maintain keyword/actor lists, codebooks and documentation for reproducibility and audit
- Experience managing local survey partners, including tendering and contracting support
- Knowledge of data protection and research ethics, and ability to ensure compliance during data handling
- Experience operationalising narrative salience and relative traction frameworks and running quantitative analyses of spread, engagement and cross-platform diffusion
What We Do
Founded in 2006, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) is a leading global 'think and do' tank dedicated to understanding and innovating real-world responses to polarization, hate, and extremism. ISD combines anthropological research, expertise in extremist movements, and advanced digital analysis to track hate and disinformation online. It provides policy advisory support, training, and data-driven solutions to governments, cities, and community influencers worldwide to counter cross-border threats and promote social cohesion.
