Associate, Media Analytics and Market Research

This position may report to our Washington, D.C., Chicago, New Jersey or NYC office.

SM+K is seeking an entry-level Insights & Strategic Planning Associate to conduct media analytics and market research, uncover trends in the communications landscape, and communicate findings efficiently and comprehensively to teammates and clients.

§ Data Detective – You will spearhead research into trending news coverage, social media conversations, influencers, public policy, and public opinion to inform a wide array of strategic communications and marketing objectives across a diverse range of sectors and client-impacting situations.

§ Tools and Tech Maven – In this role you will rely on our suite of advanced data tools to track issues across different sectors and geographies. Ideally, you will have experience with some of these tools but must have an interest in building a skillset in areas like social listening, media intelligence, legislative and policy tracking, and market research.

§ Storyteller – Data needs to tell a story. You will work with insights team colleagues to synthesize your findings into compelling actionable recommendations, reports and presentations.

§ Collaborator – You will collaborate with internal teams, clients, and stakeholders on a variety of policy issues and client challenges. These could be short or long-term projects. You will bring a can-do attitude and an openness learning about client initiatives as well as receiving feedback to your work to help deliver best-in-class results.

§ Use data to uncover compelling insights about client-impacting trends and situations involving news, social media, advertising, public policy, and communications.

§ Support proposal writing teams, enhancing new business initiatives through the integration of unique insights.

§ Work on a diverse range of clients spanning the public, nonprofit, and corporate sectors — including national advocacy campaigns, state ballot and legislative efforts, and corporate initiatives on behalf of Fortune 500 companies and innovative start-ups.

§ Assist in the development of compelling thought leadership, including white papers, webinars, and earned media placements demonstrating our unique data expertise in key subject areas.

§ Interface with our digital team to facilitate the integration of insights into the development of paid digital campaign strategies.

§ Develop reports and dashboards that provide details and expert insights on trending stories, client issues, and campaign performance in a visually appealing and digestible way.

§ Present insights data and findings to diverse audiences, including clients, internal staff, and third-party stakeholders.

§ Conduct social, owned, and earned media listening reports by leveraging existing proprietary and third-party data and reporting tools (including social media, Brandwatch, GlobalWebIndex, and NewsWhip, among others).

§ Assess legislation and policy documents to project impact to client initiatives and the geopolitical landscape.

§ Investigate influencers, stakeholders, and decisionmakers relevant to client initiatives.

§ Devise measurement frameworks and methodologies grounded in KPIs and client objectives.

§ Become a super user of our data and insights tools, discovering and sharing creative ways to use these tools that stretch the limits of their capabilities.

YOUR EXPERIENCE

As an exceptional candidate, you possess many of the following attributes:

§ Experience, education, or interest in data analytics, research, advertising, communications, media or politics.

§ Experience and comfort conducting research using digital/social media analytics tools, and diverse data sets, including demographic, political, economic and public policy data.

§ Ability to contribute to research reports, presentations, and other strategic documents such as a power map, stakeholder identification, legislator scorecard, or policy position paper.

§ Understanding of digital advertising, including how campaigns are developed, executed, and measured, as well as trends involving advertisers, publishers, and platforms.

§ Passionate and curious about policy, media, political, and business issues.

§ Prior experience working with public affairs, research or media planning, public policy, politics, business analytics, or government.

§ Excellent writing, editing, research, and presentation skills.

§ Superior organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.

§ A proven track record of successfully completing multiple projects under tight deadlines.

§ Advanced PowerPoint skills.

§ Strong proficiency with Excel ( e.g., pivot tables, nested formulas, etc.).

§ Familiarity with willingness to learn media analytics tools, such as Brandwatch, Meltwater, Newswhip, SEMRush, Google Data Studio among others.

Candidates need not possess every attribute listed above to qualify for a role. If you identify with this profile but don’t quite meet all of the criteria we strongly encourage you to apply to joining our winning team!

We offer a uniquely rich benefits package to support our team’s quality of life outside of work that includes:

Medical, Dental and Vision insurance

Fully paid parental leave

401(k) contributions

Flexible, hybrid work arrangements

12 paid company holidays per year, up to 39 days individual paid time off

Winter break: Offices close the last week of the year