Research Assistant, IPS

at  One Earth Future

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY:

For over a decade, we at One Earth Future (OEF) have worked to prevent armed conflict and promote stability through creative and inclusive problem-solving. As an operating foundation, OEF leverages its core funding and overseas development assistance to achieve the flexibility and scale needed to solve problems in places suffering from fragility and seemingly inescapable conflict. With offices in Colorado, Colombia, Somalia, Austria and Washington, DC, we position ourselves as a partner of choice for governments, implementers, and donors working to prevent conflict, promote sustainable development, and enhance local governance in some of the most difficult places on the planet.

Our core competencies include:

• Design and management of innovative financial solutions
• Public and private sector capacity building
• Stakeholder engagement and partnership facilitation
• Conflict risk modeling and analysis
• Peace negotiation and diplomatic engagement

Click Here to learn more about our strategic plan and impact goals.
Our portfolio of international peace and security projects (IPS) specializes in identifying, monitoring emerging threats, and offering insights into developments that could impact international stability. We aim to spotlight critical developments that risk escalating into major conflicts, with a keen focus on issues potentially triggering strategic armed conflicts, including the risk of nuclear weapon use.

Join our dynamic team, where we tackle challenges through a unique, sequential approach structured across four specialized offices:

• Assessment and Distribution: This office focuses on our monitoring, meticulously gathering data, and crafting comprehensive informational briefs essential for our mission.
• Prediction and Foresight: This office specializes in advanced forecasting, working with leading entities to evaluate potential risks and prepare for future conflicts through expert predictive analysis.
• Engagement and Networks: This office is crucial in enhancing our capacity to proactively address risks through developing diplomatic channels and strategic alliances.
• Research and Analysis: Serving as our knowledge hub, this office conducts comprehensive research and analysis, ensuring we are equipped with the latest insights and in-depth understanding.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND COMPETENCES:

• Education: Advanced degree in a relevant field (i.e., political science, public policy, international relations, nuclear science & engineering, data science); additional relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of this requirement.
• Experience: Entry-level position; any previous experience in think-tanks, NGOs, government, or international organizations is a plus.
• OSINT: Basic knowledge of open-source information analysis techniques and tools.
• Communication Skills: Good English writing and oral communication skills.
• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with IT tools, including knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Interpersonal skills: Excellent ability to interact effectively with colleagues, stakeholders, and partners.
• Ethical Conduct: Deep commitment to upholding ethical standards and moral conduct in all professional endeavors.
• Teamwork & Independence: Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Open-Source Analysis Expertise: Experience in any of the following specialized areas of open-source analysis is preferred:
• Applying OSINT techniques to analyze issues of nuclear or radiological risks, proliferation, arms control, or disarmament.
• Satellite imagery (electro-optical, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), multi-/hyperspectral) and geospatial data analysis, with a foundation in relevant processing software and techniques.
• Analyzing and countering disinformation through open-source intelligence, employing critical analysis to identify and mitigate the spread of false information.
• Technical & Data Management Skills: Proficiency in programming languages like Python, Java, R, and others useful for data analysis and automation is desirable. Similarly, knowledge of AI/ML technologies, Large Language Models (LLMs), information management, and database design is a significant plus.
• Analytical Skills: Understanding of qualitative or quantitative analysis of international security issues is desirable.
• Specialized Knowledge: Knowledge of issues related to nuclear non-proliferation, radiological security, or other international security topics, is desirable.
• International Security Topics: Knowledge of regional or international geopolitical developments is desirable.
• Project Management: Basic project and grant management knowledge is desirable.
• Event Coordination: Experience in contributing to project events, including assisting in planning and logistics for workshops and tabletop exercises, is desirable.
• Language Skills: Proficiency in an additional official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) or any other language pertinent to key areas of strategic conflict, in particular, Ukrainian, is desirable.
• Global and Cultural Experience: Proven track record of effectively working across international boundaries and cultural contexts, employing culturally sensitive and appropriate approaches is desirable.

As a Research Assistant within the Office for Research and Analysis, you will support sophisticated research projects aimed at understanding and mitigating potential strategic conflicts and international security issues. You will assist in the development and execution of projects with data collection, analysis, and reporting, employing methods such as basic satellite imagery analysis, trade data interpretation, and technical and policy analysis. By contributing to OEF’s comprehensive research and analysis efforts, you will play a vital role in our mission to prevent strategic conflicts, including those that could escalate to nuclear weapons use.
Reports to:
Manager, Office for Research & Analysis
Job Type:
Salaried; Full-time; Contingent Upon Funding (contract through 30 September 2025; potential for renewal, based on funding)
Compensation:
We offer competitive compensation commensurate to the applicant’s skills and experience. The hiring range for this position is EUR 29,000 to 36,000 gross per year.
Applicants meeting the requirements below should expect to receive an offer at the lower level of the range. The higher range is reserved for exceptional candidates.
Location: Vienna, Austria
The role will be based in our Vienna, Austria, office. OEF Austria, a recognized International Non-Governmental Organization, welcomes applicants from across the world and can issue work permits to successful candidates regardless of their nationality and immigration status.
The office operates on a hybrid in-office/work-from-home model.
Travel: 5-10% internationally

Primary Responsibilities:

• Research & Analysis: Contribute to analytical products, under the guidance of senior staff.
• Data Support: Assist in gathering and analyzing data to support research projects.
• Report Assistance: Help in the creation of analytical reports, ensuring clarity, conciseness, and relevance for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Project Management Assistance: Assist in data collection for project execution, expenditure tracking, and reporting.
• Event Coordination Assistance: Contribute to project events, assisting in planning, logistics, and reporting for workshops, tabletop exercises, etc.
• Project Development: Contribute to research project conceptualization, planning, execution, reporting, editing, and communication of findings.
• Collaborative Work: Work closely with analysts, project leads, and external partners to ensure a synergistic approach to research and analysis.
• Team Support: Assist with team administrative and information management tasks to ensure the efficient operation of research activities.
• Additional Responsibilities: Undertake further project duties, as requested.