Principal Research Analyst

The Washington Post

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Join the future of news We’re on a mission to deliver riveting storytelling for all of America. At The Washington Post, you’ll help reinvent news. Our work is driven by a deep investigative spirit and enhanced by innovation to bring audiences closer to the stories that matter most. About Our Team The Washington Post is powered by the passion and talent of our people. It takes all of us to reinvent news. Beyond our award-winning Newsroom and Opinions teams, we work across many departments, including Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales. Why This Role Matters The principal research analyst plays a critical role in generating, collecting and providing audience insights to stakeholders throughout The Washington Post organization and to key external partners. This person will be responsible for managing all aspects of qualitative and quantitative research projects: designing and implementing research methodologies; drawing insights from research data to help clients make smart business decisions; creating and delivering informative and engaging presentations on research findings; and more. This person will also synthesize data from a wide range of third-party data sources and internal analytics in order to provide audience insights for clients services and their partners What Motivates You You are energized by uncovering the “why” behind audience behavior and translating insights into meaningful business impact. You thrive on turning complex data into clear, compelling stories that influence strategic decisions. You are curious by nature and constantly seek deeper understanding through thoughtful research design and analysis. You enjoy partnering with cross-functional stakeholders and being a trusted advisor who brings clarity to ambiguity. You take pride in managing end-to-end research initiatives and delivering work that is rigorous, actionable, and polished. You are motivated by the opportunity to shape revenue strategy, product innovation, and client success through evidence-based insights. You stay engaged with evolving media and advertising trends and are excited to apply that knowledge to forward-looking research. You value autonomy, accountability, and the ability to see your insights directly influence outcomes. How You'll Support the mission Work with stakeholders across the organization to understand aims and objectives, identify knowledge gaps, and put together plans to obtain data and derive insights to help achieve those goals. Manage primary research projects for departments across the organization with minimal supervision Manage all phases of the research process, from study design to completion and reporting Provide guidance to client solutions teams in recommending campaign-based research for RFPs, and ensure end to end management of subsequent work. Select and manage third party vendors to conduct primary research and ad effectiveness research studies Respond to ad-hoc inquiries from sales team and beyond, and create regular reports, memos, and presentations Evaluate primary and syndicated research vendors to help ensure company data needs are met as effectively and cost efficiently as possible Help identify thought leadership research topics for client services Develop questionnaire instruments for web surveys and program them using Qualtrics Coordinate the fielding of survey instruments with third party panel providers Be in charge of qualitative research process and operations including respondent recruitment, scheduling and incentive disbursement. Manage qualitative research projects for clients throughout the organization. Conduct usability testing and in-depth interviews to understand audience mental models, improve user experience, test concepts and spark new ideas. Create and present customized research reports in PowerPoint for internal and external clients Monitor media and advertising industry trends. Provide personalized research and industry trend reports and data based on individual business units’ needs.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in primary research and/or data analysis (experience working in media industry desired)
• Proficient in managing all phases of quantitative and qualitative research projects from questionnaire design to data analysis and reporting.
• Extensive experience with Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Experience working with syndicated research databases (ie. comScore, Nielsen Scarborough, eMarketer )
• Experience with Qualtrics, Usertesting or other online survey or UXR tool
• Experience with SPSS, Q or other statistical software

Nice To Haves

• UX research experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Work with stakeholders across the organization to understand aims and objectives, identify knowledge gaps, and put together plans to obtain data and derive insights to help achieve those goals.
• Manage primary research projects for departments across the organization with minimal supervision
• Manage all phases of the research process, from study design to completion and reporting
• Provide guidance to client solutions teams in recommending campaign-based research for RFPs, and ensure end to end management of subsequent work.
• Select and manage third party vendors to conduct primary research and ad effectiveness research studies
• Respond to ad-hoc inquiries from sales team and beyond, and create regular reports, memos, and presentations
• Evaluate primary and syndicated research vendors to help ensure company data needs are met as effectively and cost efficiently as possible
• Help identify thought leadership research topics for client services
• Develop questionnaire instruments for web surveys and program them using Qualtrics
• Coordinate the fielding of survey instruments with third party panel providers
• Be in charge of qualitative research process and operations including respondent recruitment, scheduling and incentive disbursement.
• Manage qualitative research projects for clients throughout the organization.
• Conduct usability testing and in-depth interviews to understand audience mental models, improve user experience, test concepts and spark new ideas.
• Create and present customized research reports in PowerPoint for internal and external clients
• Monitor media and advertising industry trends.
• Provide personalized research and industry trend reports and data based on individual business units’ needs.

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
• Company-paid pension and 401(k) match
• Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave
• Nine paid holidays and two personal days
• 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent
• Robust mental health resources
• Backup care and caregiver concierge services
• Gender affirming services
• Pet insurance
• Free Post digital subscription
• Leadership and career development programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed