Audience Researcher

NATO; Northwood; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international organization seeks an Audience Researcher to shape communications strategies. This role involves conducting comprehensive audience research, analysing data, and providing insights to enhance engagement. Candidates should possess a strong background in qualitative and quantitative analysis, along with familiarity with data privacy in social media. A university degree and relevant experience are essential. Competitive salary offered with potential for career growth in an international environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Demonstrated strong knowledge of NATO communications and strategies.
• University Degree plus 2 years function-related experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive research on target audiences.
• Utilise various research methods to gather insights.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop communication strategies.

Skills

Qualitative data collection

Quantitative data collection

Data analysis

Social media analysis tools

Communication skills

Education

University Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

SQL

Python

Job description

Post Number: OMC UXEX 0040

Job Title: Audience Researcher

NATO Grade: A2/G15

NATO Body: Headquarters Allied Maritime Command

Location: Northwood, Middlesex, UK

SECURITY CLEARANCE: NATO SECRET

Basic Monthly Salary: £ 5,937.79 (tax free)

Closing date: Thursday 22 January 2026

Post Context/Post Summary

Allied Maritime Command is the Maritime Theatre Component Commander delivering 360 degree maritime focussed awareness and connectivity while planning and commanding the full range of maritime operations.

The Communications Division provides the Commander with advice and functionality across the full range of Information Operations.

The Information Environment Assessment Branch analyse the Information Environment domain, to obtain a comprehensive understanding of how they interact in the engagement space.

The Audience Research Analyst plays a crucial role in shaping communications strategies and decision-making processes through providing insights into the preferences, attitudes and behaviours of target audiences.

Principal Duties

The incumbent's duties are:

Operational DUTIES:

Integrated into the Communications Division in the Info Ops Branch.

1. Conduct comprehensive research on target audiences, including demographics, preferences, attitudes, and behaviours.
2. Utilise a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methods, such as surveys, focus groups, interviews, and data analysis, to gather insights.
3. Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify key communication objectives and develop research strategies aligned with organisational goals.
4. Analyse data to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for enhancing audience engagement and understanding.
5. Prepare clear and concise reports, presentations, and recommendations based on research findings.
6. Monitor media and social media channels to track public sentiment and perception related to NATO and relevant topics.
7. Stay informed about emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in audience research and communication analysis.
8. Provide support and expertise to communication teams in designing targeted messaging and campaigns.
9. Contribute to the development of communication strategies and tactics based on audience insights and research findings.
10. Collaborate with external partners, including government agencies, academic institutions, and research organisations, to enhance data collection and analysis capabilities.
11. Submits observations in his/her area of expertise and contributes to the Lessons Learned process.
12. Participates in exercises.
13. Submits observations in his/her area of expertise and contributes to the Lessons Learned process.

Special Requirements and Additional Duties

The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organisation at the same grade without a change to the contract.

The employee may be required to

• to support Combat Readiness Evaluation (CREVAL)
• to deploy in support of a core element for TMCC/MCC

The work is normally performed in a Normal NATO office working environment / Secure office environment with artificial light and air (e.g. Bunker).

Normal Working Conditions apply.

The risk of injury is categorised as No risk / risk might increase when deployed.

Essential Qualifications

a. Professional/Experience

(1) Information science

Library, information and archival studies is the study of the methods of selecting, acquiring, organising and storing collections of information, and facilitating the use of information. Museum and library studies are included here.

Skill Level (Ensure/Advise)

Works under broad direction. Work is often self-initiated. Is fully responsible for meeting allocated technical and/or project/supervisory objectives. Establishes milestones and has a significant role in the assignment of tasks and/or responsibilities. Influences organisation, customers, suppliers, partners and peers on the contribution of own specialism. Builds appropriate and effective business relationships. Makes decisions which impact the success of assigned work, i.e. results, deadlines and budget. Has significant influence over the allocation and management of resources appropriate to given assignments. Performs an extensive range and variety of complex technical and/or professional work activities. Undertakes work which requires the application of fundamental principles in a wide and often unpredictable range of contexts. Understands the relationship between own specialism and wider customer/organisational requirements. Advises on the available standards, methods, tools and applications relevant to own specialism and can make appropriate choices from alternatives. Analyses, designs, plans, executes and evaluates work to time, cost and quality targets. Assesses and evaluates risk. Communicates effectively, both formally and informally. Demonstrates leadership. Facilitates collaboration between stakeholders who have diverse objectives. Takes all requirements into account when making proposals. Takes initiative to keep skills up to date. Mentors colleagues. Maintains an awareness of developments in the industry. Analyses requirements and advises on scope and options for continuous operational improvement. Demonstrates creativity, innovation and ethical thinking in applying solutions for the benefit of the customer/stakeholder.

Experience

• Experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection, processing and analysis.
• 2 years' experience using social media analysis tools to generate actionable insights, including query scripting in unfamiliar languages.
• 2 years’ experience collecting and analysing statistical data for strategic insights.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of information confrontation and disinformation, as well as knowledge of common communications strategies of relevant nations’.
• Demonstrated understanding of NATO communications objectives and themes.
• Proficient experience with Microsoft Office applications.
• A proven ability to present information in a clear and logical manner both in writing and by other means with extreme accuracy and attention to detail.

(2) Operational research

Mathematics is the study of abstract deductive systems. It includes algebra, arithmetic, geometry, real and complex analysis and pure and applied mathematics.

Skill Level (Ensure/Advise)

Works under broad direction. Work is often self-initiated. Is fully responsible for meeting allocated technical and/or project/supervisory objectives. Establishes milestones and has a significant role in the assignment of tasks and/or responsibilities. Influences organisation, customers, suppliers, partners and peers on the contribution of own specialism. Builds appropriate and effective business relationships. Makes decisions which impact the success of assigned work, i.e. results, deadlines and budget. Has significant influence over the allocation and management of resources appropriate to given assignments. Performs an extensive range and variety of complex technical and/or professional work activities. Undertakes work which requires the application of fundamental principles in a wide and often unpredictable range of contexts. Understands the relationship between own specialism and wider customer/organisational requirements. Advises on the available standards, methods, tools and applications relevant to own specialism and can make appropriate choices from alternatives. Analyses, designs, plans, executes and evaluates work to time, cost and quality targets. Assesses and evaluates risk. Communicates effectively, both formally and informally. Demonstrates leadership. Facilitates collaboration between stakeholders who have diverse objectives. Takes all requirements into account when making proposals. Takes initiative to keep skills up to date. Mentors colleagues. Maintains an awareness of developments in the industry. Analyses requirements and advises on scope and options for continuous operational improvement. Demonstrates creativity, innovation and ethical thinking in applying solutions for the benefit of the customer/stakeholder.

Experience

• 2 years' experience with data science programming language – preferably SQL and/or Python.
• 2 years' experience in analysing and generating polling data.
• Working understanding of data privacy restrictions from all major social media companies and their impact on media monitoring.

b. Education/Training

University Degree and 2 years function related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.

The additional job specific qualifications and experience is described under Professional/Experience paragraph (4/a). In case of ambiguity the required job specific experience has priority over the standard education and training levels and experience described here.

• NATO Senior Officer Policy Course (ETE-SP-2581) provided by NATO - School Oberammergau (NSO)
• NATO Staff officers Orientation Course (ETE-MW-36870) provided by International Military Operations Centre "Josip Briski" (IMOC).

c. Language

English - SLP 3333 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

NOTE: The work both oral and written in this post and in this Headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English.

Desirable Qualifications

a. Professional Experience

• Experience in analysing and generating polling data.
• Working understanding of data privacy restrictions from all major social media companies and their impact on media monitoring.
• Familiarity with cross-functional fusion including Intelligence, POLAD, Cyber, StratCom, PAO, Engagement

b. Education/Training

• BASIC NATO Joint Staff StratCom Course (STC-ST-26833) provided by Stratcom Academy Ltd

c. Language

Russian – (Listening, Reading)

Attributes/Competencies

- Personal Attributes: The incumbent will need to display a high degree of professionalism, technical expertise, organisational, coordination and communication skills in the performance of their duties. The post requires a self-starter, analytical and technical skills, data visualization management, and conceptual thinker. Good teamwork skills.

- Employee requires understanding and developing budgets, resource proposals and informing program of work. Managerial skills are required for program/project management and resource management programs.

- Professional Contacts: Post requires regular professional contacts within and outside the HQ and the organization. The incumbent solicits and provides information as well as advice. The job involves working with contacts within NCS and NFS Commands, as well as civilian organization/stakeholders, and requires high level of maturity, understanding of sensitivities within an international environment and diplomatic tact when dealing with others.

- Contribution To Objectives: The work of the incumbent requires analysis, research and development of recommendations that affect the performance of and assessment of StratCom Objectives in the cognitive domain. This will subsequently affect the work and objectives of the HQ itself.

- Supervisory Responsibilities: Dependent on requirements may be required to direct and supervise the work priorities of one or more HQ multifunctional teams.

There are no reporting responsibilities.

Reporting

This post reports to: OMC UXEX 0010 - Branch Head (Information Environment Assessment)

This post does not deputise anybody.