Research Fellowship

Documented Investigations; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance with vision & dental

Life insurance & disability coverage

Three months paid parental leave

Generous sick & vacation time

401k/Roth with employer match

Job summary

Documented is seeking early-career research fellows to support investigations into threats to our democracy. The fellowship is 18 months, full-time, with a salary of $55,000 to $65,000, commensurate with experience. Location is virtual, with Washington D.C.

preferred. Fellows will join a team of experienced researchers and learn to translate findings into clear, compelling narratives across memos and articles.

Qualifications

• Strong interest in U.S. politics and democracy.
• Experience with investigative methods (LexisNexis and databases).
• Experience contributing to an investigative project or publication.
• Ability to work with large datasets and organize documents.

Responsibilities

• Support investigations into threats to democracy and expose special interests.
• Translate research findings into clear, compelling narratives.
• Work collaboratively and independently in a fast-paced team.
• Contribute to published investigations and briefs.

Skills

Interest in US politics

Investigative research methods

Data analysis

Writing and narratives

Collaboration and independence

Tools

LexisNexis

Campaign finance databases

Ethics and lobbying disclosures

Job description

Research Fellowship
Location: Virtual, Washington D.C. preferred
Experience: 2 years relevant experience
Term: 18 months, full time
Salary: $55,000 to $65,000, commensurate with experience.
Role & Responsibilities
Documented is seeking early-career research fellows to support our investigations into threats to our democracy. You would be joining a team of experienced researchers who are committed to exposing the ways in which organized special interests are undermining our elections, attacking fundamental rights, eroding protections for marginalized communities, and weakening a free and fair judiciary.
About Documented:
Documented is a nonpartisan investigative watchdog and journalism project that conducts original investigative research to expose how organized special interests are undermining our democracy. Founded in 2017, Documented has carried out groundbreaking, award-winning investigations into the funding, strategies, and networks of powerful actors working to weaken the pillars of our political system. Our investigations have revealed the secret internal training videos of Project 2025 and played a central role in exposing how far-right political operatives are working to reshape the judiciary and legal system in order to advance an extreme political agenda through the courts. Documented's work has appeared in co-bylined and co-branded investigations with outlets including ProPublica, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone. Our research has also been featured in front-page stories in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker, and highlighted in broadcast reporting from CBS Mornings, NPR, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. For more on our work, see our About Us page.
Role & Responsibilities
Research Fellows will take on a variety of roles to support the Documented research team as we expand our democracy work. The exact job responsibilities are fluid day to day, and require creative thinking and both collaborative and independent work.Over the course of 18 months, this fellowship offers an opportunity to learn, grow, and develop new research skills while gaining insight into a wide range of issues. Ideal candidates will demonstrate flexibility and curiosity, with a willingness to learn and apply new research methods.
You might be a great candidate if you have the following demonstrable knowledge, skills, and/or experience. We will consider paid and unpaid work experience:

• Strong interest in U.S. politics, particularly the groups, donors, and individuals working to undermine our democracy.
• Some experience in methods of investigative research, such as LexisNexis, state and federal campaign finance databases, and ethics and lobbying disclosures.
• Experience contributing to an investigative research project and/or publication, including (but not limited to) journalism, campaign strategy, and academic or legal research.
• Experience working with large datasets or organizing and analyzing documents.
• Ability to work collaboratively with allies and teammates and flexibly respond to changing priorities, as well as the self-motivation to work independently when needed.
• Ability to stay organized and on top of multiple projects, databases, and large collections of interrelated documents.
• Ability to work collaboratively with teammates and flexibly respond to changing priorities, as well as self-motivation to work independently.
• Ability to translate research findings into clear, compelling narratives, writing clearly and persuasively across a variety of formats, including memos and news articles.
• Willingness to dive in, make mistakes, learn quickly, and have some fun. Our team will be here to support you.

We are a family-friendly organization. We offer a generous and competitive benefits package, including health insurance with vision and dental care; life insurance and disability coverage; three months paid parental leave; generous sick and vacation time and a 401k/Roth investment plan, including an employer match. It is preferred that candidates will be in the Washington DC area, but exceptional candidates located elsewhere will also be considered.
Documented is committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of our country, and an equitable and inclusive environment that values team members’ unique skills and perspectives. We strongly encourage applications from members of marginalized communities that have been disproportionately affected by ongoing threats to democracy to apply, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, and the non-binary, LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities.
Please note the qualifications listed in our job descriptions are only guidelines. We encourage candidates who meet some, not necessarily all, of the requirements listed to apply. We value transferable skills, including academic, unpaid, and volunteer experience. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.
Documented is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Documented will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, including a writing test, applicants may request these needs in their application.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
Please direct questions to [e-mail].