Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Investigator

at The Midas Project

🏢 About The Midas Project

The Midas Project is a watchdog nonprofit that monitors, investigates, and reports on the practices of leading AI companies to ensure transparency, privacy, and ethical standards are maintained. Unlike typical tech watchdogs, Midas focuses specifically on AI governance, safety commitments, and influence campaigns, making it a unique player in the AI accountability space. Working here means directly contributing to holding powerful AI corporations accountable at a critical moment in tech history.

About This Role

As a Senior Investigator, you will conduct deep-dive investigations into AI companies, uncovering conflicts of interest and influence campaigns, and then write articles that expose your findings. You'll dig into corporate disclosures, legal filings, and regulatory documents to compare companies' public commitments against their actual behavior. This role is impactful because your work will inform policymakers, journalists, and the public, and help shape the ethical standards of the AI industry.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve poring over SEC filings and lobbying disclosures to trace connections between an AI company and political influencers, then drafting a section of an exposé. You might also fact-check a freelance writer's piece, collaborate with the team on an investigation strategy, or jump on a call with a source. The work is deeply research-intensive, but you'll regularly see your findings published and sparking important conversations.

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🎯 Who The Midas Project Is Looking For

  • Proven experience in investigative journalism, corporate research, or policy analysis, with a portfolio of published investigations or reports.
  • Strong ability to synthesize complex information from legal filings, regulatory documents, and corporate disclosures into clear, compelling narratives.
  • Familiarity with AI governance, safety frameworks, and the tech policy landscape, including key players and current debates.
  • Excellent fact-checking and editing skills, with experience supporting and mentoring freelance writers.

📝 Tips for Applying to The Midas Project

1

Showcase your investigative chops by including links to 2-3 published investigations you've led, especially any related to tech, corporate accountability, or policy.

2

Demonstrate familiarity with The Midas Project's existing work: reference specific articles or investigations they've published and explain how your skills would build on them.

3

In your resume or cover letter, highlight experience with legal filings, lobbying disclosures, or regulatory documents (e.g., SEC filings, FEC reports, or congressional lobbying databases).

4

Explain how you would approach comparing an AI company's published safety commitments against its actual behavior—provide a brief example or methodology in your application.

5

Since the role is remote, emphasize your ability to work independently, manage long-term investigations, and collaborate with a distributed team.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter should emphasize: 1) Your track record of conducting investigations that led to tangible impact or exposure. 2) Specific knowledge of AI companies and their governance, safety practices, or lobbying activities. 3) Your ability to write engaging, evidence-based articles that translate complex findings for a general audience. 4) Your experience with fact-checking and editing, and how you've supported other writers in maintaining accuracy and ethical standards.

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read The Midas Project's recent investigations and reports to understand their focus areas, tone, and methodology.
  • → Research the AI companies they monitor (e.g., OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic) and their recent governance, safety, and lobbying activities.
  • → Familiarize yourself with key AI safety frameworks (e.g., NIST AI RMF, EU AI Act) and how companies claim to comply.
  • → Look into the backgrounds of The Midas Project's team and advisors to understand their expertise and approach.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through an investigation you led from start to finish: how you identified the story, gathered evidence, and wrote it up.
2 How would you investigate a claim by an AI company that its model is 'safe'? What sources would you check and what red flags would you look for?
3 Discuss a time you compared a company's public commitment to its actual behavior. What did you find and how did you report it?
4 How do you stay current on AI policy, governance, and lobbying? What sources do you rely on?
5 Describe your approach to fact-checking a complex investigative piece. How do you ensure accuracy and handle pushback from subjects?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention The Midas Project's specific mission or your alignment with it.
  • Failing to provide concrete examples of past investigations or research—vague claims of 'experience' won't cut it.
  • Ignoring the fact that this is a nonprofit watchdog role: avoid language that suggests you're more interested in corporate PR or tech industry hype than accountability.

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: October 23, 2026

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to The Midas Project!

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