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Role Overview

The Vice President, Primary + Secondary Research is a senior leader within Edelman’s Market Research & Data Analytics practice, specializing in primary research (qualitative and quantitative), secondary research (including social media measurement & digital analytics), and a highly skilled client manager.

This role is responsible for working with existing and potential clients to understand their needs and opportunity areas, develop tailored approaches leveraging a variety of data and intelligence inputs, translating data into actionable insights, and advising senior clients on reputation, competitive positioning, and communications effectiveness. In addition, the VP will manage and mentor a team of direct reports while also overseeing a network of Research Managers and Analysts across the US, helping them grow and hone their research skills, while also serving as a trusted client partner, overseeing large, multi-market workstreams.

Key Responsibilities:

Client Leadership & Strategic Advisory

• Serve as a senior client-facing lead for some of DXI’s largest accounts, partnering closely with agency partners and client teams
• Lead and oversee large-scale primary + secondary research workstreams and projects, including ongoing reputation surveys and monitoring programs, audience segmentation and persona development, thought leadership and mediagenic surveys, brand positioning, competitive intelligence exercises, and integrated measurement frameworks
• Translate complex data into clear, compelling narratives and strategic recommendations for senior client audiences
• Act as a trusted advisor on topics such as audience perceptions, emerging trends, communications strategies, earned media performance, reputation risk, competitive positioning, and whitespace opportunities
• Moderate in-depth interviews and focus groups with a range of audiences including C-level executives.
• Fluently speak the languages of communications, marketing, business, and research – and tailor those communications to audiences of all levels of expertise
• Maintain familiarity with a range of data & intelligence tools such as data processing software (Forsta, Qualtrics, etc.), syndicated surveys (e.g., MRI, Resonate, etc.), publicly available polling data (e.g., Gallup, Pew, etc.), and earned and social monitoring and measurement tools (e.g., Talkwalker, Brandwatch, Meltwater, Cision, etc.)
• Experience in working for multiple brands and/or clients across a diversity of industries at once
• Proactive, collaborative approach with the ability to build strong relationships with clients and colleagues
• Continually learn, embrace and champion new AI-powered tools and capabilities
• Support new business efforts by contributing to proposals, scopes, and thought leadership
• Manage and mentor junior- and mid-level staff, helping them develop both primary + secondary research skillset and identifying client facing growth opportunities
• Report directly to an EVP supporting them with staff management, team resourcing and workflow, administrative responsibilities, and new business endeavors, in addition to day-to-day client and team responsibilities

Relevant Research Expertise

• Deep expertise with primary qualitative and quantitative research, including:
  • Reputation benchmarks
  • Issue tracking including sensitive policy issues
  • Brand perception studies
  • Message testing
  • Audience segmentation and profiling
  • Creative testing and campaign effectiveness
  • Thought leadership and mediagenic surveys
• Familiarity and experience with media intelligence/secondary research methodologies, including:
  • Issues/crisis media monitoring
  • Competitive and industry media analysis
  • Share of voice and message pull-through analyses
  • Whitespace and opportunity mapping
• The ability to evaluate and ensure methodological rigor, consistency, and best practices across all analyses
• Naturally curious and continually staying up on evolving public sentiment, policies issues or events relevant to client work
• Excited by and experience with change, including applying AI-enabled analytics tools to improve the efficiency, scale, and depth of primary + secondary research deliverables

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in market research, analytics, public affairs or communications research, ideally within an agency, consultancy, or media analysis firm
• Deep expertise in primary research including research design, survey and discussion guide development, fieldwork, reporting and surfacing actionable insights
• Experience in earned media measurement and social listening
• Proven experience leading complex, multi-market client engagements and presenting insights to key internal stakeholders and senior-level clients
• Excellent time management skills and experience running multiple high-touch accounts/projects simultaneously
• Demonstrated people management experience, including developing and leading high-performing teams
• Strong analytical skills combined with the ability to translate data into strategic insights and executive-ready storytelling
• Familiarity with media monitoring and analytics tools (e.g., Talkwalker, Brandwatch, Meltwater, Cision, or similar)
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills

$99,000-150,000

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An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.

DJEH offers a wide range of benefits: medical and dental insurance, vision, 401K, life insurance, disability insurance, paid time off, travel assistance and wellness programing.

DJEH is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek applications from all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. If you require a reasonable accommodation in any part of the employment process, please let us know.