Associate, Research & Insights

Breakwater Strategy, a strategic insights and communications agency, is seeking an organized and detail-oriented junior professional to join a growing team of strategists. Breakwater advises companies, brands, coalitions and non-profits on how to navigate change, crises, and complexities.

The position will work closely with team members to implement all aspects of primary research projects - including qualitative, quantitative, and digital research – and translate findings into actionable recommendations that help inform our clients’ strategies. This role is perfect for someone looking to continue growing their skills in research, while gaining experience in communications and strategy consulting.

Recent graduates with relevant internship experience are well suited for this position. We are looking for someone who is eager to rise to the challenge and join a smart, energized, and growing team.

Candidates should be:

• Detail-oriented: You’ll produce polished work that can confidently be shared with senior business leaders.
• A lifelong learner: You’ll be seated at the edge of some of the world’s most innovative emerging technologies and business models, and excited to grow alongside them.
• Entrepreneurial: You’re attracted to the prospect being part of a rapidly growing agency with a start-up culture.
• Trustworthy: You’ll work with confidential information and clients.
• Politically-minded: You’ll shape public opinion and influence the regulatory ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Draft research instruments including proposals, scoping documents, screeners, survey questionnaires, and discussion guides.
• Analyze results and develop visual presentations of findings with actionable recommendations.
• Support research vendor coordination, multiple projects, and competing timelines.
• Collaborate with internal team members, advising on research methods and processes as well as supporting on strategic communications engagements.
• Support new business initiatives through research, proposal development, and pitches.
• Follow and report on new industry trends and best practices.

Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in areas such as Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Business, Statistics, or a related field. Additional degrees are welcome!
• Deep interest in understanding people and data.
• Comfortable working with data to identify trends and insights, including both quantitative (i.e. data and hard numbers) and qualitative (i.e. interviews and transcripts) data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate clearly and succinctly. Comfortable asking questions and sharing your point of view.
• Adaptable and able to multitask in the face of new and competing conditions and deadlines.
• Extremely organized and detail-oriented.
• Collaborative team player; able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Internally-motivated and proactive, striving to get things done well, regardless of challenges encountered. Always keeping an eye on the next step.
• Experienced in visualizing data with tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs and Slides.
• Not required but a plus: Relevant internship or work experience in public relations, market research, political campaigns, or a related position in communications or consulting industries.
• Not required but a plus: Knowledge of data analysis techniques like statistical significance testing, correlation analysis, multivariate analysis (such as segmentation analysis).
• Not required but a plus: Familiarity with social analytics tools (e.g., Brandwatch, Meltwater).
• Not required but a plus: Interest in or experience with AI-assisted research and analysis tools.

District of Columbia Salary Range: $65,000 USD - $68,000 USD