Senior Researcher and Marketing Specialist (Remote) - Weekend work is required

Vistra seeks an experienced Senior Researcher and Marketing Specialist to provide research to the Department of the Army's Office of the Chief of Public Affairs (OCPA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) Public Affairs. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in social science or behavioral research experience. This role requires the ability to conduct primary and secondary research to inform communication approaches and planning across the full spectrum of media and community outreach activities.

This key position requires conducting comprehensive media and communication campaign analysis, monitoring public opinion, and providing actionable insights to optimize Army messaging. This position plays a key role in evaluating communication efficacy across multiple media platforms and developing strategic reports to inform Army leadership on media trends and communication outcomes. The role requires proficiency in industry-leading social listening and media analysis tools and a strong understanding of communication strategies to align Army messaging with mission goals effectively.

Metrics Development and Campaign Analysis
? Collaborate with communication campaign leads to establish, track, and assess appropriate metrics for evaluating Army communication efforts.
? Recommend alternative communication strategies to improve message deployment effectiveness across Army-owned platforms and mainstream media.
? Advise on and utilize industry best practices in communication metrics, including data from mainstream media, social media, and other digital platforms.

Media and Social Media Monitoring
? Analyze and monitor content on mainstream media outlets and Army platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) to optimize messaging and enhance campaign performance.
? Provide expert recommendations to identify key Centers of Influence (COI), relevant media outlets, and social media influencers to support OCPA communication objectives.
? Conduct detailed monthly analyses of traditional and social media performance, delivering a comprehensive report including thematic analysis, trends, tone, and engagement metrics.

Comprehensive Data Analysis and Reporting
? Utilize business intelligence tools to compile multimodal reports that assess media content and Army messaging effectiveness, ensuring both quantitative and qualitative insights are auditable and replicable.
? Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual communication assessment reports, integrating insights on short- and long-term trends to guide Army's strategic communication planning.
? Design a message map to visually depict the dissemination of Army narratives across social media, tracking demographic and geographic engagement.

Database and Knowledge Management
? Establish and maintain a robust database system for capturing, storing, and accessing communication-related data, ensuring usability for both human and machine analysis.
? Archive all collected data to be available for up to three years, and manage efficient database access for other PAOs and divisions.
? Collect, evaluate, and maintain a database of public opinion poll data from sources like Gallup and Pew Research, providing analysis and recommendations on relevant findings.

Social Listening and Advanced Analytical Expertise
? Oversee the use of advanced social listening tools (e.g., Talkwalker, Meltwater, Google Analytics) to monitor and analyze social media trends, engagement metrics, and communication campaign buzz.
? Provide periodic reports and in-depth assessments of social media performance, trends, and sentiment analysis to support OCPA's strategic goals.
? Maintain and manage a database of trends across all Department of Defense (DoD) digital platforms, including defense.gov, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Collaboration and Communication Recommendations
? Collaborate with OCPA's Strategy and Plans Division, Media Relations Division, Army Outreach Division, and Digital Media Division to ensure alignment on communication efforts and strategy.
? Communicate findings and strategic insights to OCPA leadership, advising on adjustments to messaging strategies based on collected data and media analysis.
? Produce weekly "Good News Stories" reports, highlighting positive coverage and stories to enhance internal and external communication.

Additional Responsibilities
? Maintain awareness of industry best practices, making recommendations for analysis methodologies, presentation formats, and visualization techniques.
? Ensure all data, analyses, and reports are compatible with Microsoft Office Suite programs and prepared for streamlined access.
? Provide analytical expertise on trends and alerts to OCPA leadership, with timely reports that aid in decision-making and response planning.

Requirements
? Education: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Data Science, or a related field. Advanced degree or specialized training in media analysis or data analytics preferred. 5 years demonstrated strategic/tactical/media communication level experience within the last 10 years.
? Experience:
? Extensive experience in media analysis, social media metrics, and data visualization, with a focus on communication strategy and messaging.
? Proficiency in using social listening tools and business intelligence software for data analysis and reporting.

Skills:
? Technical Proficiency: Experience with tools like Talkwalker, Meltwater, Google Analytics, and SharePoint for social listening and data management.
? Analytical Skills: Ability to interpret and analyze large datasets, providing strategic insights on media trends and public opinion.
? Communication: Strong written and verbal skills for presenting data-driven recommendations to senior leadership, with an ability to simplify complex findings.

Additional Requirements
? Flexibility to respond to evolving Army mission needs and quick turn-around on reporting deadlines.
? In-depth knowledge of Army and DoD communication policies, media landscapes, and emerging trends in public relations and digital communication.
? Ability to work weekends.

US Citizenship Required: Due to the requirements of the federal contract that this position supports, U.S. citizenship is required. Citizenship will be confirmed via I-9/E-Verify at the start of employment.

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