Open-Source Investigator (Ukraine) – Ukraine 8 views

ABOUT LAW

Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) is an independent non-profit association comprised of human rights lawyers and jurists united in our belief that those who have experienced human rights violations and international crimes should receive targeted, survivor-centred, gender-competent and trauma-informed support to access the justice they deserve. LAW’s team operates on the ground in conflict-affected contexts combining national and international expertise. We work directly with survivors and their communities, building their capacity to meaningfully engage with justice and advocacy processes. Alongside this, we provide technical assistance to strengthen justice institutions to ensure they are equipped to deliver justice and work with legislators to promote accountability and the rule of law.

Across 18 countries, LAW implements creative accountability and justice strategies, including strategic litigation at national, regional and international levels. LAW’s vision is “a world where all victims and survivors have access to justice, so that impunity is not a barrier to sustainable peace.”

THE ROLE

LAW’s Ukraine Programme advances justice for survivors of international crimes and human rights violations by collecting evidence and initiating strategic litigation cases, primarily in foreign courts under the principles of universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction. We also support Ukrainian authorities, including law enforcement and prosecutors, and work to strengthen a trauma-informed, do-no-harm approach at all levels.

We are seeking an experienced Open-Source Investigator to join its Ukraine based team on a full-time basis. You will embed directly with the Ukraine team and lead open-source investigations into core international crimes, building LAW’s in-house investigative capacity over time. Current areas of focus include torture and unlawful detention, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, conflict-related sexual violence, cultural crimes, and crimes against children.

MORE ABOUT THIS POSITION

Where? The position will be based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Flexible working arrangements and work from home can be considered for the right person.

Duration: This position is funded full-time with a 12-month contract. Subject to funding, an extension is possible.

Salary: Competitive rates of pay and benefits will apply.

More detail: The Open-Source Investigator will lead and conduct open-source investigations into core international crimes committed in Ukraine, producing analytical reports that form the backbone of LAW’s case files. The postholder will work on-site with the Ukraine team the majority of the time, integrating open-source investigation directly into case-building workflows and building LAW’s in-house OSINT capacity over time.

The postholder will perform duties in accordance with the responsibilities outlined below:

Investigations and Evidence Collection

• Conduct open-source investigations into alleged atrocity crimes in Ukraine, utilising a range of OSINT techniques to gather probative evidence, including corroborating witness evidence, geolocation, chronolocation, and perpetrator identification.
• Monitor and systematically collect relevant information from online media, social networks, official databases, satellite imagery, and other publicly available sources.
• Preserve and document evidence in accordance with international best practices, including the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations.
• Establish links between perpetrators and crimes, contributing to the contextual and structural elements of case files.

Case File Development

• Prepare clear, concise, and analytically rigorous reports of investigative findings for integration into case files and to inform litigation strategy.
• Work directly with LAW’s Legal Advisor and Litigation Officer to ensure open-source evidence meets legal standards and aligns with case theories.
• Support the development of investigation plans, including scoping priorities, identifying evidence gaps, and recommending approaches for addressing them.
• Contribute to the preparation of materials for submission to prosecutors under principles of universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction.

In-House Capacity Development

• Develop and document LAW’s internal OSINT protocols, workflows, and standards — creating institutional knowledge that outlasts individual assignments.
• Provide training and practical guidance to colleagues and partner organisations on open-source investigative techniques and tools.
• Evaluate and recommend new tools, platforms, and methodologies to strengthen LAW’s investigative capacity over time.
• Maintain up-to-date awareness of developments in OSINT practice, relevant technologies, and evolving best practices in the field.

Collaboration and Coordination

• Work on-site with the Ukraine team on a day-to-day basis, participating in team meetings, contributing to strategic discussions, and maintaining a close working relationship with legal colleagues.
• Liaise with partner organisations, external researchers, and co-filing NGOs as needed, coordinating evidence-sharing in a legally sound and ethically responsible manner.
• Support advocacy efforts by contributing investigative findings to briefings, reports, and other external materials, as directed by the Programme Manager.
• Attend and contribute to conferences, roundtables, and coordination mechanisms at national and international levels as required.

ABOUT YOU

• You must have the legal right to work in Ukraine.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (law, international relations, journalism, computer science, or similar).
• Minimum 5 years of demonstrated experience conducting OSINT-based investigations of atrocity crimes, human rights violations, or serious crime.
• Proven track record of locating and identifying information from publicly available sources, including data aggregators, social and news media, and primary source databases.
• Demonstrated experience of geolocation, chronolocation, and mapping techniques.
• Familiarity with the Berkeley Protocol and other international standards for digital open-source investigations.
• Excellent written and oral communication in English; fluency in Ukrainian is required.
• Extensive knowledge of the context and ongoing events of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
• Experience implementing a survivor-centred, trauma-informed approach to digital and online investigations.
• Willingness and ability to work on-site in Kyiv on a regular basis and to embed effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Flexible and familiar with the volatile and unpredictable nature of working in conflict environments.

Preferred/desired requirements:

• Proficiency with advanced OSINT tools such as Maltego, IBM i2, Hunchly, Shadow, or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of programming languages or scripting (e.g. Python) for data collection and analysis.
• Experience conducting financial investigations.
• Military expertise or knowledge of Russian command structures, equipment, and operational patterns.
• Knowledge of Russian is preferred.
• Experience with universal or extraterritorial jurisdiction cases, or prior work in legal accountability contexts is highly desirable.
• Experience providing training or capacity building to colleagues or partner organisations on OSINT methods.