Senior Strategist, Insights & Intelligence

Rational 360•Washington, DC

1d•$68,500 - $79,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Rational 360 is hiring a Senior Strategist, Insights & Intelligence to help build and advance the firm's research and analytics capabilities. This is a role for people who are intellectually curious, energized by emerging technology, and want to push the boundaries of how insights work is done in a high-stakes public affairs environment. The Senior Strategist will independently lead discrete workstreams across social listening, primary research, and emerging methodologies, with a particular focus on AI-powered applications including AI simulations and generative engine optimization (GEO). You will translate complex data into strategic insight for clients, help develop new service offerings, and contribute to a team culture defined by experimentation and rigor. This role is ideal for someone with two to three years of relevant experience who is ready to move beyond execution into independent problem-solving and client-facing work.

Requirements

2 to 3 years of full-time experience in research, analytics, communications, or a related field; agency or consulting experience strongly preferred
Demonstrated experience with social listening platforms (e.g., Brandwatch, Talkwalker, Meltwater, Quid) and the ability to derive insight from unstructured data; backgrounds in other forms of opinion or consumer research are also of interest
Hands-on experience with primary research methods, including survey design, questionnaire drafting, basic programming, and data analysis; familiarity with qualitative methods a plus
Genuine curiosity about AI and a track record of experimenting with or applying AI tools in a professional context; experience with AI simulations or GEO is a significant differentiator
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to distill complex information and present findings to clients with clarity and confidence
Comfortable with ambiguity; able to structure problems, prioritize independently, and iterate quickly
Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Proficiency in Excel; experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Flourish, Datawrapper) a plus

Responsibilities

Lead media intelligence and social listening workstreams, designing Boolean queries, building dashboards, and synthesizing narrative and sentiment trends into actionable intelligence for clients
Design and execute primary research projects including surveys, focus groups, and in-depth interviews
Translate data across sources (social, survey, qualitative, secondary) into integrated insights that inform communications and public affairs strategy
Identify key findings and strategic opportunities proactively, flagging trends, risks, and shifts in the media and digital landscape relevant to client business
Build and iterate on AI simulation frameworks that model public opinion, stakeholder behavior, or message dynamics for client strategy
Apply and develop GEO approaches to understand and influence how clients' issues and messages surface in AI-powered search environments
Rapidly prototype new methodologies and research tools, evaluating their fit for client work
Stay current on AI applications in research, communications intelligence, and public affairs and translate that awareness into practical capabilities for the team
Serve as a credible day-to-day research lead on client accounts, synthesizing findings and beginning to develop and defend strategic recommendations
Develop presentations and data visualizations that communicate complex findings clearly to non-technical audiences
Manage project timelines and vendor relationships to ensure on-time, high-quality delivery
Begin to coach and support junior team members, sharing knowledge and providing feedback proactively
Contribute to internal initiatives including methodology development, training, and new business proposals
Seek out feedback, embrace growth opportunities, and actively build skills across tools and platforms