Homeoffice Research Analyst (Overnight Media Monitoring) at Vistra Communications LLC

Description

TVistra Communications seeks a Research Analyst to support the Department of the Army’s Office of the Chief of Public Affairs (OCPA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) Public Affairs.

The Research Analyst will provide strategic research and insights to inform Army communication efforts across various media channels and community outreach activities. This role involves performing audience analysis, conducting comprehensive media research, and developing actionable reports to inform Army communication campaigns. The Analyst uses advanced media analysis and social listening tools to provide the OCPA with data-driven insights, ensuring optimized messaging and impact across Army’s traditional and digital platforms.

This is an overnight offsite position, working Sunday night/Monday morning through Thursday night/Friday morning. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Metrics Development and Campaign Analysis

• Collaborate with communication campaign leads to establish, track, and assess appropriate metrics for evaluating Army communication efforts.
• 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, Instagram, 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 daily, weekly, and monthly analyses of traditional and social media performance, delivering a comprehensive report including thematic analysis, trends, tone, and engagement metrics.

Comprehensive Data Analysis, Reporting, and Knowledge Management

• 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.
• Maintain a robust database for capturing, storing, and accessing communication-related data, ensuring usability for both human and machine analysis.
• Archive collected data and manage efficient database access for other PAOs and divisions.
• Collect, evaluate, and maintain a database of public opinion poll data and provide analysis and recommendations on relevant findings.

Social Listening and Advanced Analytical Expertise

• Oversee the use of advanced social listening tools (e.g., Sprinklr, 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.

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

Qualifications

Education: 

• Bachelor’s Degree with 5 years demonstrated social science or behavioral research experience. Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Data Analytics, or a related field. Advanced degree in Media Analysis, Data Science, or a similar field preferred.

Experience:

• Extensive experience in media research, social media metrics, and data-driven communication strategy. Boolean searches. 
• Proficiency in using industry-recognized tools for social listening and media monitoring (e.g., Sprinklr, Talkwalker, Meltwater, Google Analytics).

Skills:

• Technical Expertise: Skilled in data analysis, visualization, and reporting, with experience using business intelligence tools.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to interpret complex data sets, producing clear insights to inform Army messaging.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate data findings into actionable recommendations for OCPA leadership.

Additional Requirements

• Proven ability to respond to evolving Army communication needs and deliver under strict timelines.
• In-depth knowledge of Army and DoD communication policies, media landscapes, and trends in public opinion and digital communication.