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Lead Investigator 🔥


The States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan organization focused on the critical role states play in election protection, is hiring a Lead Investigator.

Reporting to Senior Counsels, the Lead Investigator will help the States United legal team build the factual record to support legal actions to bring accountability to individuals and entities who are attempting to undermine our democracy. This role will be responsible for identifying, collecting, and analyzing information from a variety of sources, with an eye toward identifying violations of state and federal law, including those concerning elections and those that regulate nonprofits and other entities. The Lead Investigator will also identify, collect, and analyze information to determine threats to election processes. 


About the Organization: 

The States United Democracy Center is a new and growing nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. We focus on connecting pro-democracy state and local officials, law enforcement leaders, and other partners across the U.S. with the tools and expertise they need to safeguard our democracy. During the 2020 election, then as the Voter Protection Program, we quickly became a go-to resource for state leaders, the press, and partner organizations. By bringing together current and former governors, secretaries of state, attorneys general, and law enforcement leaders for the first time, we helped build a nonpartisan firewall against those trying to undermine democracy. Now as States United, we support these partners in protecting the integrity of elections, holding those who seek to undermine democracy accountable, and preventing acts of political violence.


Responsibilities include:

  • Strategically evaluate litigation goals with States United attorneys and outside partners and recommend a range of investigative strategies to accomplish those goals.
  • Lead investigative efforts with an eye toward violations of state and federal laws and regulations, including those governing elections or regulating nonprofit and business entities, and potential disruption of elections.
  • Independently identify new subjects to investigate.
  • Identify, collect, review, and synthesize publicly accessible information from a variety of sources, including news media, social media, and government agencies; information obtainable via public records requests; and business/nonprofit registration and tax filings.
  • Interview witnesses, subjects, and other individuals possessing relevant information.
  • Draft reports, analyses, affidavits, and visual aids for litigation, to brief state and local government officials, and for internal use.

Minimum Requirements:

  • 5+ years of investigative experience plus 1+ years leading and managing investigations.
  • Substantial experience in an investigative or research role.
  • Ability to collect, interpret, synthesize, and present complex and/or disparate data (e.g. financial data, tax filings, responses to public records requests, news media, and social media posts).
  • Ability to ascertain relationships between complex entities and analyze the legal and regulatory implications of public filings.
  • Excellent research, oral communication, and interviewing skills.
  • Excellent written communication skills, including attention to detail, concision, clarity and ability to produce high-quality written work products. Ability to explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner.
  • Team player who can partner and collaborate with attorneys, other team members, and external partners. 
  • Excellent judgment and critical thinking skills with an ability to creatively develop and execute thoughtful solutions to complex problems.
  • Excellent project management skills and ability to effectively prioritize and mobilize appropriate resources to accomplish objectives.
  • Display a positive attitude, show concern for people and community, demonstrate presence, self-confidence, common sense, and good listening ability. 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (preferably with coursework involving both quantitative and qualitative analysis) or equivalent knowledge demonstrated through relevant work experience.
  • Experience investigating complex legal violations with a government agency, nonprofit, or private investigatory firm OR experience as an investigative journalist investigating complex topics and relationships.
  • Experience with laws governing elections or laws governing nonprofit entities.
  • Experience preparing affidavits or other materials used in litigation.
  • Experience with public records requests and using research databases (such as Clear, Accurint, or TLOxp) and other publicly accessible data sources.

We encourage individuals to submit their application for consideration even if 

they believe they do not have any of the preferred qualifications.


Compensation + Benefits:

Annual salary will be between $85,000 and $100,000 and commensurate to experience.

States United Democracy Center offers generous benefits including 100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental plans plus matching retirement plans.

Our offices are located in Boston, MA and Washington, DC.

This position will include flexibility to be remote.


States United Democracy Center is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

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