Insights & Intelligence Associate — Hybrid & AI‑Driven Research

Rational 360; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive compensation and benefits

HQ in Washington, DC

Job summary

Rational 360 is hiring an Associate, Insights & Intelligence in Washington, DC to support and grow integrated research and analytics offerings. This junior-to-mid level role targets individuals with 1–2 years of experience who can own discrete client tasks and advance through independence.

You will execute research projects, develop proficiency across social listening and primary research platforms, and contribute to a fast-paced public affairs team pushing the envelope on insights work.

Qualifications

• One to two years of experience in research, analytics, communications, or a related field; internship experience counts.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in at least one of the following: Social listening or media monitoring platforms with the ability to derive insight from unstructured data
• Primary research methods, including survey design, programming, or quantitative analysis
• SEO or generative engine optimization (GEO)
• Strong command of Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables and formulas; > basic proficiency
• Genuine curiosity about AI and willingness to experiment with AI tools professionally
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to distill findings clearly for client audiences
• Detail-oriented and organized with ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with data visualization tools a plus
• Proactive and eager to learn, comfortable seeking feedback

Responsibilities

• Execute social listening and media intelligence workflows, including building and refining Boolean queries, maintaining dashboards, and synthesizing trends for client deliverables
• Support primary research projects including surveys, focus groups, and interviews, owning tasks like questionnaire drafting, basic programming, data cleaning, and crosstab review
• Analyze data across sources (social, survey, qualitative, secondary) to inform client communications and public affairs strategy
• Identify trends and flag key findings, moving from observation to insight
• Conduct quality control checks on data to ensure accuracy and consistency in deliverables
• Contribute to client-facing deliverables (presentations, memos, data visualizations) that translate findings for non-technical audiences
• Manage your own workstreams and deadlines, communicating proactively when timelines are at risk
• Coordinate with internal teams and vendors to support high-quality delivery
• Participate in internal trainings and knowledge-sharing

Skills

Social listening

Primary research

Data analysis

Advanced Excel

AI curiosity

Communication

Tools

Brandwatch

Talkwalker

Meltwater

Quid

Flourish

Datawrapper

Job description

Rational 360 is hiring an Associate, Insights & Intelligence in Washington, DC to support and grow integrated research and analytics offerings. This junior-to-mid level role targets individuals with 1–2 years of experience who can own discrete client tasks and advance through independence.

You will execute research projects, develop proficiency across social listening and primary research platforms, and contribute to a fast-paced public affairs team pushing the envelope on insights work.