Investigator, Government, Government Administration

This position is actively accepting applications.

American Oversight is a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that advances truth, accountability, and democracy by enforcing the public's right to government records.

We use multiple tools, backed by aggressive litigation, to fight attacks on democratic institutions, threats to civil rights and liberties, abuses of power, and erosion of government transparency.

We expose and disrupt these attacks, and the officials and networks behind them, by forcing the government to turn over records officials would rather keep secret.

• Shut down Trump's bogus "voter fraud" commission.
• Revealed the Trump-sanctioned pressure campaign on the Ukrainian government by forcing the Trump administration to turn over records initially withheld from Congress.
• Uncovered rampant preventable deaths of immigrants in federal custody.
• Unmasked taxpayer-funded sham "audits" of the 2020 election.
• Obtained the fake electors' forged certificates submitted by fake electors during the 2020 election.
• Exposed networks of election denialists and subverters around the country.
• Halted the impeachment of a newly elected state supreme court justice in Wisconsin.
• Blocked state election board members in Georgia and Wisconsin from taking anti-democratic actions in secret.
• We are committed to fighting threats of democracy at the federal, state, and local levels, using time-tested and innovative tools to expose misconduct, defend against attacks on marginalized communities, and demand accountability.
• At American Oversight, we know that the abuse of government power is not just bad policy — it’s a dangerous betrayal of the public trust.

• www.americanoversight.or g
  
  About the Role:
  
  Reporting to the Director of Investigations, American Oversight is seeking an Investigator to join our team. To confront these challenges, American Oversight seeks a highly motivated and tenacious Investigator with an unyielding commitment to integrity, transparency, and accountability.
• The Investigator will use public records and open-source intelligence to pursue rigorous, high-impact investigations into government corruption, abuses of power, and the erosion of democratic norms — helping to expose misconduct, strengthen accountability, and safeguard democratic institutions. The ideal candidate will bring sharp investigative instincts, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to transparency, accountability, and the core principles of democracy.

• Monitor news and track other sources to identify emerging issues where American Oversight’s investigations can have the greatest impact, and proactively propose strategic, high-impact ideas that leverage public records and open-source intelligence.
• Craft strategic, litigation-ready public records requests to federal, state, and local agencies aimed at exposing decision-making, funding flows, and political influence. Analyze complex government documents and draw upon available information to identify unreported insights and emerging trends.
• Synthesize findings into compelling narratives, with a focus on accuracy, newsworthiness, and the broader implications for government accountability.
• Support American Oversight’s external engagement by contributing to meetings, briefings, and background conversations with journalists, advocates, and allies.
• Communicate proactively with government agencies regarding public records requests, triaging priorities, and working closely with the Legal team to ensure timely and effective pursuit of responsive materials.
• Support document processing and information management, ensuring incoming records are well-organized, searchable, and accessible. Draft public-facing content — including blog posts, reports, talking points, and briefing materials — that distills investigative findings into clear,…