Associate Director (Open Source Analysis)

OSAT Associate Director

In this role, you will:

• Support the development and delivery of World Services’ Open‑Source Analysis capability.
• Assist in managing the delivery of open‑source research and analysis across multiple projects.
• For a single large programme, be directly involved in shaping insights‑driven strategy and strategic recommendations for the wider business.
• Line‑manage one or more analysts, senior analysts or equivalent specialist team members.
• Assist and support the Head of Insights and Analysis Director in the management of the Open‑Source Analysis Team, especially when it comes to devolving direction and instruction to the team, and in returning fused, proofed and quality‑assured written outputs.
• Help to make World Services communications strategies more evidence‑based, effective and reflective of the broader information environment.
• Lead the preparation of timely, relevant analyses, briefings and strategic recommendations verbally and in writing for all levels of the agency.
• Lead on open‑source analytical workstreams, providing specialist expertise for the organisation in investigative OSINT, verification, geospatial analysis, imagery analysis and digital collection methodologies.
• Help to guide the work of the Insights function and add open‑source analytical expertise to its output.
• Develop team members – and the company’s broader institutional capability – to deliver the above kinds of output to the appropriate standard.
• Assist in the financial and operational reporting, planning and management of the Open‑Source Analysis team when required.
• Provide thought leadership across World Services and externally.
• Deliver a strong capability within World Services, and by doing this give the agency a competitive advantage.
• Ensure that Open‑Source Analysis becomes a commercially viable part of World Services, with costs covered through billing.
• Provide open‑source analytical recommendations to account teams and support the Strategy and Insights teams in turning these into effective communications and audience strategies.
• Contribute to the agency’s high‑level thinking on how to approach problem sets through open‑source evidence, verification and fused insight.
• Support the planning and oversight of OSAT workflows, including collection planning, source validation, verification, preservation, fusion and reporting.
• Ensure that OSAT outputs are generated within legal, ethical and security parameters, with appropriate attention to source handling, preservation and confidence assessment.

You’ll bring:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience: must have strong expertise in open‑source analysis, investigative OSINT, digital research, or a related analytical discipline.
• Impeccable written and spoken English and the ability to present findings orally and in writing.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to convert qualitative and quantitative data and desk research into clear and concise briefings.
• Ability to consume and process a large amount of information in short time periods.
• Understanding of the information environment, including traditional broadcast and online media, social media, niche online spaces, and misleading or coordinated information activity.
• Experience of using research to guide strategic recommendations, ideally in relation to communications, outreach, audience understanding or targeting.
• Experience of planning, directing or quality‑assuring open‑source collection, verification and analytical workflows.
• An entrepreneurial attitude.
• The ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders and diverse teams, in the UK and around the world.
• Some understanding of open‑source monitoring and investigative tools would be desirable, including tools used for entity analysis, geospatial research, media verification and source preservation.
• Awareness of operational security considerations and protocols would be desirable.
• Awareness of data protection, legal and ethical considerations relating to open‑source investigations would be desirable.
• Knowledge of strategic communications, influence analysis, and the role of open‑source analysis within wider insight generation would be desirable.

What We Offer

• Cultural stimulation allowance – £250 per person per year.
• Half days off before bank holidays.
• Emergency care days for dependants.
• Up to 5 days volunteering leave per year to work for a registered charity.
• Up to 10 days special emergency leave per year.
• Season Ticket loan.
• Payroll Giving Scheme.
• Thursday drinks to unwind and socialize.
• An annual Summer and Christmas party.
• Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion sees us offer inclusive bank holidays.

M+C SAATCHI GROUP has pledged its commitment to create a company that values difference, with an inclusive culture. As part of this, M&C Saatchi Group continues to be an Equal Opportunity Employer which does not and shall not discriminate, celebrates diversity and bases all hiring and promotion decisions solely on merit, without regard for any personal characteristics.

All employee and candidate information is kept confidential according to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).