Information Operations Analyst

Kwaan Bear IT Solutions is seeking an Information Operations Analyst to provide advanced analytic and open-source research support for high-priority public diplomacy campaigns and country portfolios. The analyst identifies, tracks, and assesses adversarial propaganda and influence operations; maps how narratives and communities move across digital platforms; and turns complex findings into clear, actionable reporting for technical and non-technical audiences. This role also strengthens the capabilities of public diplomacy practitioners through training, practical guidance, and expert consultation on artificial intelligence and open-source research methods. Responsibilities Provide analytic support to specific, high priority public diplomacy campaigns/countries to advance the Department’s efforts to counter adversarial propaganda and influence operations. Identify and track emerging themes, adversarial narratives, and messaging patterns across mainstream and alternative media. Evaluate the lifecycle of a narrative-from inception to viral spread to eventual decline. Perform Link Analysis and Social Network Analysis (SNA) to identify key influencers and bot clusters. Map the flow of information across platforms (Twitter/X, Telegram, Reddit, etc.) to visualize how communities interact. Occasionally provide context, data and expertise in advance of Bureau Principals’ engagement with U.S. government interagency partners, foreign government counterparts, Congress, the private sector, academia, and civil society. Provide capacity building and training for PD practitioners to help them identify, understand and counter foreign adversarial propaganda and influence operations. Participate in the design of synchronous and asynchronous training for non-expert staff. Draft materials, guides and references for non-expert staff. Serve as an expert consultant on how PD practitioners can use AI to identify, understand, and counter foreign adversarial propaganda and influence operations. Support the REU’s efforts to roll-out open-source research services to the field by providing support to specific PD sections at their request. Conduct deep-dive investigations using advanced open-source techniques (Geolocating, metadata analysis, archival research). Synthesize fragmented data from public records, digital footprints, and technical telemetry into cohesive reports. Identify and utilize industry standard open-source databases and tools. Coordinate with interagency partners to grow R/PPR’s open source research Capabilities

Master’s degree in International Relations, Data Science, Political Science, Communication Journalism, or a related field or a bachelor’s degree with commensurate experience 4 years of experience in intelligence analysis, digital forensics, investigative journalism, or strategic communications. Strong analytical and research skills with a demonstrated ability to analyze complex information and data. Proficiency in SNA tools (e.g., Gephi, NodeXL, Maltego), social listening platforms (e.g., Brandwatch, Meltwater, Talkwalker), and open-source research frameworks. Basic experience with geospatial research and modeling of information and threat networks. Ability to translate complex network graphs and data sets into clear, executive-level visual reports (Tableau, Power BI, or similar). Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts to a non-technical, multicultural audience. Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Experience developing reproducible workflows using quantitative analysis software such as R, Python, or Stata. Experience using innovative AI capabilities for open source research in the information space.