Senior Research Consultant

About Essential Research

Essential is an Australian public affairs company working across a range of public interest issues, developing research-based communication strategies and campaigns for clients, including trade unions, NGO’s, government departments and membership-based organisations.

Essential exists to make organisations of social value stronger, using integrated communications and campaign strategies, which incorporate:

• Market research and polling

• Media relations, issues and crisis management

• Digital and online campaigning

• Content development and marketing

• Advertising and media buying

• Member, stakeholder and internal communications

Our research-based methodology makes sure our clients’ communications are on a solid footing, and our award-winning creative solutions get results and cut through the increasingly crowded and diverse media environment.

We are proud of the work we do and believe in our clients’ work. Most of all, we are committed to delivering a profitable business that also secures social and environmental change to make Australia a better place.

About the role

As the Senior Research Consultant you will play a core role in Essential’s Research team, itself the cornerstone of our integrated strategic communications practice.

This position will be predominantly focused on qualitative research projects, although there will be occasional opportunities to be involved in quantitative research. You will work closely with the Senior Research Manager to deliver research projects from fieldwork set-up and management through to moderation, analysis and report writing. In this role, you will be required to work closely with our Campaigns Account Managers & Directors, as well as our clients, to design and deliver research that meets their strategic communications objectives and priorities.

Skills & responsibilities

• Develops research recruitment screeners based on agreed research & audience objectives.

• Co-ordinates recruitment suppliers and fieldwork companies to organise, set up & manage the running of focus groups, online over-time studies & in-depth interviews – operating withing agreed project budgets and timelines.

• Liaises with clients throughout various stages of a research project to provide updates and respond to client requests and queries.

• Develops discussion guides independently based on agreed methodologies, with oversight from the Senior Research Manager.

• Moderates online over-time studies, live focus groups and in-depth interviews.

• Leads on the analysis and write-up of qualitative research, working closely with research & communications staff to identify relevant insights & implications.

• Writes high-quality report and turns complex results into succinct, clear summaries & recommendations.

• Supports Senior Research team members through the contribution to business development and proposal writing.

• Participates in internal meetings and processes to further strengthen the Essential model.

About you

• You are likely to have between 3-5 years’ experience in a research role, mostly likely in a smaller agency or consultancy environment.

• You will have a keen interest in the role of research in building communications and campaign strategies across a range of progressive social & political issues.

• You will be proficient in conducting a range of qualitative research methods (including using online/ digital research methods), and in the analysis and presentation of research results.

• You will have experience of focus group moderation (either online or face-to-face).

• You will be diligent, results-oriented and show strong initiative, ensuring tasks are followed through to the end.

• You will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with often-challenging deadlines.

• You will be comfortable with high expectations and accountability for your performance, within a strongly supportive work culture.

• You will have excellent analytical & writing skills and be adept at developing visual summaries of complex information in PowerPoint.

• You will be a clear verbal communicator and be comfortable discussing research projects with a range of stakeholders, from senior and experienced research staff, through to communications and digital media practitioners, to clients.

Company and culture

• 2-3 team days a week in our Melbourne office

• 6 weeks of annual leave

• Generous ‘time off in lieu’ policy

• Team lunch every Monday

• Opportunities for growth and development with a generous training budget

• Ethical client base

• Friendly team culture and regular social events