Senior Journalist, Investigative, Mandarin Desk (Taipei)

Senior Journalist, Investigative

Radio Free Asia's Mandarin Desk is seeking a Senior Investigative Journalist based in Taipei to produce policy-moving investigations and exclusives. The Senior Investigative Journalist reports directly to the Editor in Charge of the Mandarin Desk in Taipei and works closely with the U.S.-based Investigator Editor and the data and OSINT teams. All investigations carry a dual byline shared by the Mandarin Desk and the Investigations Desk.

The ideal candidate has strong investigative skills, can trace documents and money and build a complete evidence chain, and can incorporate analysis from the data and OSINT teams to produce deeply reported, legally defensible journalism. The candidate must also show strong awareness of source protection and sound judgment on sensitive stories involving state-level adversaries.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Pitch and carry out high-impact investigations in line with the investigative agenda set by the Mandarin Desk Editor in Charge and the Investigative Editor. Coverage may span any area of public interest related to China and the wider Chinese-speaking world, including but not limited to politics and governance, human rights, corruption, transnational repression, supply chains and labor, the environment, technology, and China's overseas influence. Lead investigations from assignment, research, reporting, and verification through writing and publication, ensuring sourcing depth, documentation rigor, and methodological transparency
• Build a complete evidence chain, ensuring every allegation is supported by documents or multiple sources, and give subjects an opportunity to respond before publication
• Research and analyze primary documents and data, including government documents, court records, corporate and financial filings, procurement records, and leaked materials
• Work with the Data Journalist, OSINT Editor, and Data Editor from the assignment stage to incorporate their data, OSINT, and forensic analysis into investigations
• Follow the dual-byline policy, producing investigations jointly with the Investigations Desk and ensuring the Mandarin Desk is fully credited
• Work with the Standards Editor and Legal on pre-publication review to ensure stories meet legal and editorial standards
• Build source protection, identity management, and risk assessment into every investigation from assignment through publication, in close coordination with the Safety Director and editorial leadership
• Work with the video and social media teams to present investigative findings across platforms
• Build and maintain source networks in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and diaspora communities, including exiles, dissidents, whistleblowers, academics, and NGOs
• Contribute to cross-border and cross-outlet collaborative investigations, and to projects with other RFA language services as needed

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or above in journalism, international relations, political science, law, or a related field, or an equivalent minimum of 8 years of professional journalism experience
• At least 5 years of experience covering and producing investigative reports
• Demonstrated record of leading or contributing to high-impact investigations through publication; a portfolio of published work is required, including at least one investigation that exposed wrongdoing and led to demonstrable impact (e.g., official inquiries, policy changes, or corporate responses)
• Strong command of investigative methods, including document and financial research, source cultivation, verification, and evidence documentation
• Ability to work with data and OSINT specialists and incorporate their analysis into investigative reporting
• Sound editorial, ethical, and legal judgment, including the ability to assess publication risk, source protection, and story defensibility under pressure
• Strong awareness of source protection and the physical and digital security risks involved in sensitive reporting
• Ability to read and assess primary sources in Chinese, including government documents, court records, corporate filings, and leaked materials
• Exceptional written and spoken Mandarin, with a strong command of the political and cultural vocabulary used in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan
• Independent and self-directed, able to communicate effectively and meet deadlines when collaborating remotely across time zones

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive Experience working with sources inside mainland China
• Extensive Experience working with exiled, diaspora, or at-risk source communities, including the specific trust and protection challenges they present
• Familiarity with cross-border collaborative investigation models
• Prior experience at a recognized investigative unit
• Experience with video, podcast, or interactive storytelling formats
• Familiarity with CMS platforms and multi-platform publishing workflows
• Professional working proficiency in English, especially for communicating with the U.S.-based team

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

This position is hybrid, with three days in-office and two days telework weekly. Some flexibility in work hours required to accommodate international time zones.