Junior Investigator- Zaporizhzhia Project

About Project Expedite Justice

Project Expedite Justice (PEJ), founded in 2016, is a United States-based NGO with 501(c)(3) charitable organization designation.

PEJ's mission is to use all available legal options to seek justice for individuals inadequately protected under the law, who cannot access legal resources, and who are exploited by governments, corporations, or others.

PEJ applies a novel, victim-centered approach to addressing mass atrocities. PEJ's 3-step model includes training, mentoring, and providing independent legal consulting. We partner with and train local lawyers and investigators to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence according to international legal standards. Without evidence, there can be no accountability. We further build local capabilities and advance the justice process through case-specific mentoring and strategic guidance to local legal practitioners and investigators. Finally, we partner with local NGOs, pro bono law firms, and legal clinics to represent victims of international crimes and serious human rights abuses in court or alternative judicial mechanisms.

PEJ has projects in several countries. Our inclusive team includes people working remotely from Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and the US. We are deeply committed to increasing opportunities for lawyers and other human rights defenders from the global majority or Global South to participate in international rule-of-law-based nonprofit work. People from countries in the global majority are encouraged to apply for this role.

The Opportunity: Junior Investigator– Zaporizhzhia Program

The Junior Investigator will support the Senior Investigations Coordinator and broader team in gathering, reviewing, and organizing information related to pillage, appropriation, targeted attacks, environmental damage, and sanctions violations committed in Zaporizhzhia. The role includes open-source research, data consolidation, preliminary analysis, and coordination with legal team members to integrate investigative findings into case files.

This is a full-time consultancy requiring excellent investigative instincts, strong attention to detail, familiarity with open-source methods, and the ability to work independently.

The contract is for six months, requiring full-time commitment to the project, with the potential for extension depending on project needs and budget.

Key Deliverables:

• Structured investigative notes, data summaries, and information packets related to pillage and appropriation in Zaporizhzhia.

• Consolidated evidence files linking documentary, testimonial, and open-source materials.

• Contributions to investigative timelines, perpetrator mapping, and property appropriation patterns.

• Inputs for oblast-specific reports and investigative briefings.

• Documentation supporting legal submissions and sanctions packages.

Key Responsibilities:

Information Collection and Analysis

• Conduct open-source investigations, including review of photos, videos, satellite imagery, media reports, and company records.

• Support the collection and organization of field information, interviews, and partner-supplied material.

• Participate in field missions to meet counterparts and witnesses.

• Document patterns of pillage, re-registration of businesses, and transfer of assets to Russian companies.

Investigative Support

• Assist the Senior Investigations Coordinator in preparing investigative summaries, chronologies, and evidence packets.

• Help verify, cross-check, and consolidate information from multiple sources.

• Support the development of perpetrator profiles, including actors in military, political, and corporate structures.
  

Collaboration With Legal and Analytical Teams

• Work closely with legal staff to align investigative findings with legal theories of liability.

• Assist with preparing materials for sanctions submissions and accountability efforts.

• Participate in internal coordination meetings and present updates as needed.
  

Documentation and Data Management

• Ensure accurate logging, cataloguing, and secure storage of investigative materials in accordance with PEJ SOPs.

• Maintain organized and traceable evidence packages for use in legal processes.
  

Organizational Engagement and Reporting

• Participate actively in PEJ team meetings and project discussions.

• Contribute legal content to donor reports, project proposals, newsletters, and public-facing materials.

• Maintain organized and secure case files and legal documentation in accordance with PEJ SOPs.