Analyst

Strategic Intelligence

Cape Town

Who we are

S-RM is a global intelligence and cyber security consultancy. Since 2005, we’ve helped companies, governments and private individuals solve some of their most complex challenges. From our offices in London, New York, Washington DC, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Singapore and Cape Town, we deliver critical insights from every country across the world.

We’ve been able to do this because of our outstanding people. We’re committed to developing bright, curious, driven individuals who want to think critically, solve complex problems, and achieve success.

But we also know that work isn’t everything. It’s about the lives and careers it helps us build. We’re immensely proud of this culture and we invest in our people’s wellbeing, learning, and ideas every day.

We’re excited you’re thinking about joining us.

Working in Strategic Intelligence at S-RM

Amid challenging geopolitical circumstances, the need for relevant, accurate, timely, and actionable intelligence is growing. Within our Strategic Intelligence practice, we help our clients stay abreast of and respond to changing global and local dynamics in a way that enables business and opens new opportunities.

We provide intelligence and advice which helps organisations do business across the globe and in some of the world’s most challenging environments. This includes everything from identifying market opportunities, to forecasting political change, monitoring legal environments, assessing security threats and analysing economic trends.

We’re driven by a deep curiosity in how the world really works. Every day we seek to develop our expertise in how governments, societies, and companies operate and influence the world around them.

But whilst we have our individual areas of expertise, to answer these complex questions we have to work together. We have so much to learn from one another, and our project teams are designed to bring out our best whilst also creating opportunities for everyone to contribute and grow.

To do this, we don’t get too hung up on hierarchy. Everyone’s ideas are considered equally and we’re happy to give significant responsibility to those who deserve it.

If that sounds like your kind of team, we’d like to hear from you.

The role

As an Analyst, you’ll play a vital role in supporting the Strategic Intelligence team. Your open-source intelligence research will underpin key projects for our most important clients. You’ll be exposed to a wide range of work as you build your expertise and experience in the team.

Your work will include:

  • Contributing to our flagship Global Security Insight (GSI) intelligence platform by writing daily alerts on political violence and security developments globally, and maintaining country risk reports;
  • Supporting and leading client projects through in-depth research on geopolitical, macro-economic, commercial, political and security affairs globally;
  • Providing research, writing and design support for client proposals and presentations;
  • Publishing articles and thought leadership pieces.

The role will be based in our Cape Town office, however we have flexible working arrangements available.

What we're looking for

We think candidates with the following experience and qualifications are likely to succeed as Strategic Intelligence Analysts.

That said, if you don’t think you meet all of the criteria below but still are interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks every box – we’re looking for candidates that are particularly strong in a few areas and have some interest and capabilities in others.

We’re looking for people who are:

Adaptable: you should be excited about adapting your research, analytical and writing skills to a range of projects. If you’re as interested in sustainability regulations in central Asia as you are in elections in Europe and inflation rates in America, that’s a good sign.

Analytical: your curiosity should extend beyond what’s happening in the world to how the world really works. You want to understand the impact of events on people and companies and are interested in implementing methodologies and frameworks to do that.

Collegiate: you share your expertise but appreciate how much you have to learn from others. You enjoy having your ideas challenged and working out how best to work as a team to solve problems.

We’re looking for the following experience and qualifications:

  • Honours degree, or higher, that preferably included international relations, political science, security studies, economic or macro-economic elements, development studies or similar fields;
  • Excellent writing and verbal communications skills in English;
  • Knowledge and interest in global developments relating to several relevant subject areas such as geopolitics, macro-economics, and security affairs;
  • Relevant professional experience servicing private sector clients is desirable but not essential. Relevant commercial experience may include (but is not limited to) work within the intelligence sector, political risk, investigative journalism, and similar industries;
  • Working knowledge (reading and writing) in international languages such as Arabic, Mandarin, French or Portuguese is desirable but not essential.

The jobholder will need to have the following key personal skills and attributes to perform successfully in this role:

  • Clear interest in the relevant subject areas pertaining to the role;
  • Astute analytical ability;
  • Creative mindset and eagerness to contribute to new ways of thinking;
  • Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise among competing tasks;
  • Eagerness to discover new areas and a self-starting learner;
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a close-knit team with multiple priorities.

The role will be based in our Cape Town office. The successful candidate must have permission to work in South Africa by the start of their employment.

Our benefits

We offer thoughtful, balanced rewards and support to help our people do their best work and live their lives outside it, this includes but is not exhaustive of:

  • 23 days holiday per year in addition to public holidays (+1 day for every year of service up to a maximum of 30 days in total);
  • Hybrid working and flexible working hours;
  • Matching pension contribution up to 7% (up to a maximum of 14% combined), and financial education;
  • Life Insurance 4X annual salary.

Parental Support:

  • Fertility treatment leave – 5 days of leave per cycle of treatment per year;
  • Maternity leave – 26 weeks of full pay followed by 13 weeks of half pay;
  • Paternity leave – 6 weeks of full pay.

Various Health and Medical Benefits including:

  • Medical insurance (taxable benefit) for you and your family;
  • Virtual GP for you and your family members that live in the same household;
  • EAP programme for you and your immediate family;
  • Free access to the world-famous mindfulness app

The role will be based at our Cape Town office. However, we have flexible working arrangements available.

The application process

To apply for this role, please email your CV and cover letter to recruitment@s-rminform.com. Applications which do not include a CV and cover letter will not be considered.

In addition, please submit two writing samples on a topic(s) of choice no longer than 1,500 words each.

The application process will include:

  1. A preliminary call which will be a chance for you to find out more about S-RM and the role.
  2. Two written assessments, to be completed sequentially, to evaluate your suitability for the role.
  3. One interview discussing your previous experience and broader competencies.

We nurture a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion and we are dedicated to developing a workforce that displays a variety of talents, experiences and perspectives.