Junior Strategist (Community Engagement)

M+C Saatchi Group•Washington, DC

6d•$70,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

M&C Saatchi World Services US is seeking an insight-driven Junior Strategist with a focus on Community Engagement. This role supports development of communications and engagement strategies that shape audience perceptions, influence behaviors, and support mission objectives, leveraging research, audience insights, and performance data to create actionable approaches to community engagement. Working closely with the wider strategy, creative, research, analytics, and account teams, you will transform audience insights and organizational priorities into compelling communications strategies that drive measurable outcomes. You will play a central role in supporting campaign planning for community activities, message development, audience engagement, and performance evaluation, ensuring communications efforts remain aligned with stakeholder needs and organizational goals. The ideal candidate combines strong strategic thinking with exceptional communication skills and a deep curiosity of audience behavior. They are comfortable working across disciplines and translating complex challenges into clear, actionable communications solutions. This is a hybrid role; however, the ideal candidate will live in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region.

Requirements

Experience developing communications strategies in the community engagement and outreach space, to include community engagement plans, public affairs initiatives, or integrated communications campaigns.
An understanding of audience analysis, behavior change communications, strategic messaging, and communications planning methodologies.
Experience supporting team members with translating research findings, audience insights, and performance data into actionable communications recommendations.
Experience supporting team members incorporating AI-enabled research, audience intelligence, and trend analysis tools into communications, engagement, and strategic planning efforts.
Curiosity in technology landscape and how AI is changing communications.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills.
Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, compelling, and audience-focused communications strategies.
Experience developing messaging frameworks, strategic briefs, communications plans, campaign recommendations, and stakeholder engagement approaches.
Strong stakeholder-management and relationship-building abilities.
Experience collaborating across communications, creative, research, analytics, stakeholder engagement, and program teams.
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to evaluate communications effectiveness and optimize performance.
U.S. Citizenship: Must be a United States Citizen (required by government contract).
Clearance Eligibility: Must be able and willing to obtain a U.S. Government Secret or Top Secret security clearance immediately upon employment.
Background Screening: Must be willing to submit to a rigorous federal background investigation, which includes an in-depth review of personal finances, criminal history, employment history, and drug use.

Nice To Haves

Interest in geopolitics, international affairs, public affairs, defense, development, or mission-driven communications is preferred.
Experience supporting federal government, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, or strategic communications programs is preferred.
Degree or relevant experience in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Political Science, International Relations, Public Affairs, Behavioral Science, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Support the development and implementation of integrated communications strategies with a focus on community engagement objectives.
Translate audience insights, research findings, and organizational goals into effective communications approaches and messaging frameworks.
Support the development and execution of communications campaigns across digital, social, stakeholder engagement, and traditional communications channels.
Support the development of strategic briefs, messaging frameworks, communications plans, content strategies, and campaign recommendations.
Conduct audience research, stakeholder analysis, environmental scanning, and trend monitoring to inform strategic decision-making.
Collaborate with creative, content, media, analytics, and stakeholder engagement teams to ensure communications activities align with strategic objectives.
Guide the development of creative, content, and production briefs that translate strategic intent into effective community engagement activities.
Support leadership communications, stakeholder engagement initiatives, public affairs activities, and mission-focused communications efforts.
Evaluate communications effectiveness through performance metrics, audience insights, sentiment analysis, and engagement reporting.
Develop presentations, reports, briefings, and recommendations that communicate strategic thinking and campaign performance to stakeholders.
Ensure communications products maintain consistency across messaging, tone, audience needs, accessibility standards, and brand requirements.
Identify opportunities for innovation, optimization, and continuous improvement across communications programs and engagement activities.

Benefits

12 weeks’ full pay for Primary Carers and 6 weeks for Secondary Carers (after one year of service; return requirements apply for subsequent leave)
Applies to birth, adoption, and surrogacy
Up to 10 days’ paid fertility leave per year (5 per cycle)
2 days’ paid leave for new grandparents
$2,500 annual interest-free parental loan
$6,000 interest-free fertility treatment loan
Choice of three medical plans (HSA at $0 cost; EPO 75% employer funded; PPO 65% employer funded)
70% employer-funded dental and vision coverage
Generous paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, including an office closure between Christmas & New Year's
Gym membership reimbursement and/or Wellhub subscription
401(k) with 4% employer match
24/7 mental health support through Self Space
Social events, happy hours, professional development trainings, etc.
$300 annual cultural stimulation allowance (accrued monthly; available after 90 days)
Weekly Thursday happy hour
Mentorship and Buddy programs