Local Assistant to the Media & Social Media Expert - Social Media Monitoring & Digital Research

Local Assistant to the Media & Social Media Expert - Social Media Monitoring & Digital Research

DT Global is shaping a future where sustainable development and innovation empower individuals, communities, and nations. We work in partnership with local stakeholders to foster inclusive prosperity, social equity, and environmental stewardship. Our global team of 2,500 staff and experts work in over 90 countries to solve complex problems in the peacebuilding, governance, economic development, environment, and human development sectors. With a track record of technical excellence and more than 60 years of international development experience and relationships, we deliver innovative solutions that transform lives.

Purpose of the Assignment

Under the direct supervision of the Media & Social Media Expert, the assistant will support the implementation of a selective and structured social-media monitoring operation and contribute to analysis of the online electoral environment. The role combines digital research and hands-on monitoring with analytical interpretation. The assistant will work closely with the Expert and the second assistant and will provide practical input on monitoring tools, searches and workflows as the methodology is adapted to the South African context.

Main responsibilities

• Monitor selected political actors, accounts and election-related narratives across agreed platforms.
• Support platform research and maintain actor/account lists, search routines and monitoring configurations.
• Collect and code online content in a structured way and maintain monitoring logs, datasets and evidence archives.
• Collect and organise URLs, screenshots and other documentary evidence and flag developments that may require further analysis.
• Support targeted investigations of misleading or harmful content, harassment, political advertising and other relevant cases or narratives.
• Carry out basic data cleaning and descriptive analysis and prepare simple tables or summaries where useful.
• Use and test social-listening or monitoring tools adopted by the mission and contribute practical suggestions on searches, workflows and feasible areas of analysis.
• Contribute to concise analytical summaries and to contextual interpretation of online developments, including links with traditional or local media where relevant.
• Support other media, research and monitoring tasks when required by the needs of the small mission team.

Candidate profile

• Relevant academic or professional background in media/communication studies, digital research, political science, information integrity, data-oriented social research or a related field.
• Experience with social listening, social-media monitoring, fact-checking, OSINT, digital research, media monitoring or comparable work would be a strong advantage.
• Comfort working with structured information, spreadsheets/CSV files, coding or monitoring logs; advanced statistical or programming skills are not required.
• Ability to learn new monitoring tools and workflows quickly and apply them reliably in day-to-day work.
• Ability to work independently once tasks and procedures have been agreed, while collaborating closely with the Expert and the other assistant.
• Strong analytical judgement, initiative, reliability and attention to detail, including the ability to distinguish relevant electoral content from routine online noise.
• Excellent English. Knowledge of additional South African languages and familiarity with particular regional or local online environments would be an advantage.
• Availability for an intensive short-term assignment beginning in early October 2026.

Please send your application to ***email_hidden***, before Monday October 5th. When applying, please submit CV in EU format.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.