Investigator

About the Organization

American Oversight is a nonpartisan nonprofit watchdog dedicated to protecting democracy, transparency, and accountability by enforcing the public’s right to government records. The organization uses public records laws, litigation, and open-source research to challenge abuses of power, threats to civil rights and liberties, and efforts to hide government misconduct.

Founded in 2017, American Oversight has worked on a range of high-profile public-interest matters involving federal, state, and local accountability. Its work has helped preserve records tied to major controversies, prompted records preservation policies, exposed political pressure campaigns, and revealed misuse of taxpayer resources and personal data.

The team’s mission is to uncover wrongdoing, defend marginalized communities, and demand transparency from powerful institutions and officials.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Investigations, this position sits on the Investigations team and plays a central role in identifying, developing, and executing high-impact investigations using public records and open-source intelligence. The Investigator will help uncover hidden information, surface underreported angles, and produce work that advances American Oversight’s priority issues.

This role calls for strong investigative instincts, sound judgment, and a genuine interest in public-interest issues such as immigration enforcement and civil liberties, along with a deep commitment to democratic values, transparency, and accountability.

What You Will Do

• Track news and other sources to spot emerging issues where investigations can create meaningful impact, and develop strategic ideas that use public records and open-source intelligence.
• Write precise, litigation-ready public records requests for federal, state, and local agencies to uncover decision-making, funding streams, and political influence.
• Review document releases carefully to find important facts, patterns, inconsistencies, and omissions, then turn those findings into clear, accurate, and useful insights, narratives, and partner-ready materials.
• Contribute to external engagement by participating in meetings, briefings, and background discussions with journalists, advocates, and allies.
• Work with government agencies on records requests, helping prioritize requests and coordinating closely with the Legal team to obtain responsive documents efficiently.
• Help organize and manage records so that incoming materials remain searchable, structured, and easy to use.
• Prepare public-facing materials such as blog posts, reports, talking points, and briefing documents that translate investigative findings into accessible and actionable content.
• Support special initiatives and cross-functional projects, bringing an investigative perspective to organizational priorities.
• Take on other related responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 2 years of post-graduate experience in government investigations, investigative journalism, policy research, or a similar field requiring deep investigative analysis.
• Strong interest in American Oversight’s mission and a commitment to public-interest advocacy.
• Well-developed problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities, including the capacity to connect disparate information and identify creative solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences and produce polished, accurate work.
• Strong project and time management skills, including the ability to handle multiple priorities, timelines, and stakeholders independently.
• Good judgment and decision-making skills, with the ability to weigh options, anticipate outcomes, and recommend mission-aligned actions.
• Strategic thinking skills, including the ability to identify key issues, evaluate risks and benefits, and adjust plans to meet objectives.
• A collaborative, team-oriented approach and willingness to support colleagues proactively.
• Awareness of current news, the political environment, and the ways public records shape reporting and accountability.
• Comfort working in or contributing to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong technology skills and the ability to learn new platforms quickly, with proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and file-sharing tools.

Preferred Experience

• Exposure to or interest in immigration enforcement, civil liberties, or closely related policy areas.
• Familiarity with federal FOIA and public records requests.
• Experience using publicly available datasets or other information sources to support accountability work.
• Experience with case/document management tools such as Airtable or DocumentCloud, and/or data analysis and visualization tools.

What We Offer

• A remote-first working environment.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous paid time off.
• Paid office closure from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day.
• A 403(b) retirement plan with up to 4% employer match.
• Flexible scheduling aligned with core business hours.
• Summer Fridays.
• Reimbursement of up to $100 per month for internet service and personal device use.
• A professional development stipend.
• A $400 per year home office stipend.
• Commuter benefits.

Location

This is a remote role, though occasional travel to the Washington, DC office may be needed for team meetings and staff retreats. The DC office is available as an optional workspace.

Compensation

The salary range for this full-time exempt role is $62,000 to $78,000 per year, depending on experience.

Timeline

Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by Wednesday, May 6 to receive priority consideration. Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis after that date until the role is filled.

Inclusive Workplace Commitment

American Oversight is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. The organization does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, disability, medical condition, family care status, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Candidates are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet every preferred qualification.