Research Executive

WA Communications is on the hunt for a brilliant Research Executive to join its award-winning team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a recent graduate or new research consultant who wants to work on campaigns that make a difference, and who wants to be part of a company committed to sustainable growth and professional development.

Voted best consultancy in 2020 by the CIPR, WA is a market leading communications consultancy, based in Westminster. Our team is behind some of this year’s most impactful campaigns – extending the Stamp Duty holiday, protecting free access to cash, and expanding the Cycle to Work Scheme to include e-bikes are just three examples of our work.

About the research team

While research, analytics and insight are crucial to WA’s communications offer, as a growing company, this function has previously been in collaboration with freelancers and supplier agencies. Now we’re at a stage in our development where having an in-house research team is the logical next step.

You’ll be joining the team at its inception, with a chance to shape how we work together as a team and how we work with the wider business to deliver game-changing research and insight. You’ll work closely with the Head of Research and a Research Consultant as our offer develops.

About the role

You will join the team as a Research Executive – we will consider both graduates with the right skills or those with some existing research agency experience. The role will involve both quantitative and qualitative work, so you should be comfortable that you have the skills to develop both these aspects in parallel.

In combination with developing your research skills, you will develop your strategic thinking around client problems and grow into someone who can advise based on the data and client context.

We are very realistic that this is an entry level role and, as such, our expectations are primarily around having the right raw attributes and attitude. Whilst the team is new, you’ll be fully trained both on the job and with specific sessions / courses. So, while you’ll have the opportunity to shape how we do things, we’re not expecting you to take immediate responsibility here!

Key attributes for the role:

• A 2:1 or higher degree in a subject with tangible research elements, such as social sciences, psychology, statistics (etc.). Market or social research experience gained in an agency setting would be a bonus.
• Actively engaged in public affairs and the news – across traditional and social media
• Interest in developing a career in research and strategy. And understand that research in an agency setting is very different to background reading for a degree.
• Basic understanding of the role of communications and PR
• Collaborative attitude that enjoys working in a team
• Be logical and pragmatic. A lot of our work involves ambiguity, so you need to be comfortable tackling unusual problems and working out the best solution. This is not cookie-cutter research (i.e. big trackers that stay the same).
• High levels of attention to detail. Ability to check and self-correct.
• Strong IT proficiency: Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Experience of survey software or analysis tools a bonus – but you will need to be confident learning this quickly.
• Highly numerate with strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Highly articulate, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

In return we offer:

• Excellent professional development opportunities and fun along the way
• A salary above industry average and involvement in the company’s incentive and reward bonus scheme
• A tailored training package to help you develop specialist skills in consulting and communications
• A lively, open and collaborative working culture, in which everyone is valued, listened to, and encouraged to generate ideas and opportunities; and flexibility, with a core hours policy and supported remote working
• A wide range of employee benefits, including competitive pension scheme, subsidised gym membership, Cycle to Work Scheme, interest free travel loans and more.

To apply

Please send a CV and cover letter to contact@wacomms.co.uk. Your cover letter should not be longer than one page, setting out your interest in the role and why you believe you are a good choice for it.

The deadline for applications is Friday 9^th July. We will start interviewing strong candidates who apply early, so you are encouraged to apply soon. Start date immediate subject to notice periods.

We are WA

We look for people who share our intellectual curiosity and who love to work on interesting, knotty challenges. We are consistently driven by a desire to deliver outstanding results for our clients and attract people who truly care about providing an excellent standard of work.

Our diverse, high quality client base will allow you to get your teeth into exciting and important policy and business issues. What you do will have true, real world impact. There is enormous job satisfaction to be gained from that.

We think the best client service is one tailored carefully to the client’s individual needs. A service that can draw on the skills and expertise of specialist consultants. We actively encourage teamwork across our practices and place real value on collaboration to deliver on our clients’ communication objectives.

We are committed to professional development at all levels and want everyone to feel their career is consistently moving forward. This is underpinned by a culture of honest, constructive feedback and investment in coaching and training.

We think it’s important to enjoy your work environment too, and we all genuinely enjoy working together! We support flexible working, provide a generous holiday package and we are committed to wellbeing.