China Data & Operations Lead

Datenna tracks China's dual-use technology development from academic research to military procurement. We provide governments with open-source intelligence (OSINT) on China's economic, technological, and defense landscape. Our platform helps analyze China's defense industrial base, assess technology transfer risks, and identify emerging research trends.

The Role:

Lead Datenna's China intelligence operations from source discovery to client delivery. You'll build and scale a team of China specialists (~10 FTE across US and Netherlands) who serve as the bridge between raw OSINT sources and client intelligence needs—owning the full lifecycle of what sources we track, how we ingest them, and how we help clients extract value.

This is an integrated function combining three interconnected capabilities:

• Data Operations: Identifying and evaluating sources, partnering with engineering on ingestion strategies, establishing data governance frameworks, and ensuring quality control across our intelligence pipeline

• Research: Conducting in-depth analysis, producing intelligence deliverables, scoping custom research projects, and translating complex findings into actionable insights for clients

• Client Success: Managing onboarding and training, driving product adoption, and serving as trusted advisors to help clients extract maximum value from our platform and research services

All team members share a core competency: deep China research expertise combined with OSINT methodology.

Reports to: Chief Data Officer
Location: Netherlands (Eindhoven) OR USA (Washington DC area) with quarterly travel between offices

Key Responsibilities:

Intelligence Operations Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a cohesive team of China researchers and client-facing specialists across two countries

• Define and execute Datenna's China data strategy: source identification, quality evaluation, ingestion priorities (in partnership with Data Engineering), and continuous improvement

• Establish data governance frameworks and quality metrics to ensure our China intelligence meets the highest standards of accuracy, reliability, and traceability

Research & Delivery

• Set research priorities, quality expectations, and delivery timelines for both platform data and custom client research projects

• Oversee the evaluation of Chinese-language sources and data integrity with your research team

• Act as client-facing leader: scope bespoke research projects, present findings, gather feedback, and build trusted relationships with key government clients

Client Success & Value Realization

• Ensure effective client onboarding, training, and ongoing engagement that drives product adoption and value realization

• Create feedback loops connecting client needs back to product development, data priorities, and research focus areas

• Build a research-driven client success model that leverages China expertise at every touchpoint

Strategic Collaboration

• Break down silos between research, data, and client success functions to operate as one unified, customer-centric intelligence operation

• Partner with CDO and senior leadership on long-term strategy for new data sources, research service evolution, and alignment with technology/market trends

• Define and monitor success metrics: data quality KPIs, client satisfaction/NPS, research delivery timelines, cross-team collaboration effectiveness

What we are looking for:

Required:

• 5+ years experience managing China research teams, OSINT analysts, or intelligence operations

• Proven leadership of distributed teams (10+ people) with demonstrated ability to build scalable processes in data-intensive environments

• Deep expertise in China-related research: technology ecosystem, defense industrial base, supply chains, or industrial policy

• Experience with OSINT methodologies, source evaluation, and data governance in intelligence contexts

• Track record building research-driven client success functions or delivering custom intelligence/consultancy to government or defense clients

• Mandarin Chinese proficiency

• Exceptional communication skills: can engage senior government clients, present complex intelligence clearly, and influence across technical and non-technical stakeholders

Preferred:

• Background in think tanks with China programs, defense OSINT companies, government intelligence community, or academic China research centers with applied work

• Advanced degree (MSc/MA/PhD) in China studies, international relations, data science, or related field

• Experience in fast-growing scale-up or mission-driven environments with evolving priorities

• Opportunity to lead a critical function at a mission-driven company that operates at the intersection of technology, intelligence and global impact.

• High-energy, international scale-up environment with clear growth potential.

• Be part of shaping strategy, building teams, and having tangible impact on how data & research drive meaningful insight for clients.

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