Job Description

We are hiring a Public Affairs & Societal Issues Analyst to contribute across both our Stakeholder Influence Analysis (SIA) and Societal and Reputational Intelligence (SRI) services.

Gravity Research is a premier custom research and insights organization supporting corporate, association, and nonprofit clients. Our mission is to empower organizations to anticipate risk, spot opportunities, and rationalize reputational concerns against a backdrop of evolving public pressures.

About Our Work

We are looking for curious, innovative and highly-driven researchers interested in the people, policies, and societal forces shaping corporate decision-making and public affairs strategy. Analysts would contribute to the work of two of our teams:

Societal and Reputational Intelligence (SRI) is Gravity’s newest offering, helping Fortune 500 companies make informed decisions about how and when to engage on societal issues such as racial equity, LGBTQ+ rights, climate, and human rights. The team tracks issue salience and reputational risk, benchmarks clients’ actions against peers, and provides actionable insights on public expectations and strategic engagement.

Stakeholder Influence Analysis (SIA) is a custom research division that specializes in stakeholder analysis for corporate clients. SIA identifies the people and organizations—from government, industry, think tanks, advocates, and media—with the most influence on key policy topics. The team uses this information to help organizations tailor messaging and refine engagement strategies.

The Role

Public Affairs & Societal Issues Analysts will support all aspects of client engagements across SIA and SRI. Analysts conduct qualitative research on policy and societal issues, create and present client deliverables, manage project timelines, and contribute to product development. Analysts work directly with senior leaders at Gravity Research, and deliver insight to some of the most influential government affairs professionals and senior executives in Washington and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Manage research for client accounts across both SIA and SRI, ensuring timely delivery of all project work
• Collaborate with team members to develop research methodologies and approaches to answer client questions
• Conduct qualitative research and develop analytical takeaways across policy and societal issue areas
• Lead associates and interns supporting the client research process
• Draft client-facing deliverables, including PowerPoint presentations, memos, and other formats
• Present findings to clients and interact with them to better understand their needs and provide strategic recommendations
• Regularly consume industry and issue-specific news to inform research with current trends
• Contribute to product development by improving research methods, optimizing internal operations, and refining deliverables
• Analysts at Gravity Research are also expected to adopt an "AI-first" approach to research and workflow, utilizing various AI tools to help enhance efficiency and product quality
• To perform this job successfully, each essential competency and responsibility must be performed satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform essential functions. Other duties may be assigned to meet organizational goals.

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have the ability to analyze complex public policy and societal dynamics, work effectively in a fast-paced, client-facing environment, and communicate findings in a clear and compelling way.

• A highly analytic, natural problem solver
• Ability to synthesize large amounts of information and identify key insights
• Skilled project manager, able to independently manage multiple priorities and timelines
• Strong written and verbal communicator; experience with PowerPoint or visual presentation formats highly preferred
• 1–3 years of experience in at least one of the following: strategy consulting, government affairs consulting, policy analysis, risk analysis, Capitol Hill or executive agency experience, or political science research
• Earned Bachelor's degree required
• Entrepreneurial mindset; creativity and resourcefulness in problem-solving
• Prodigious work ethic and spirit of generosity

Employment Type: Full-time

Compensation: The salary range for this role is $60,000-$65,000

Location: This job is based in Washington, DC. Gravity Research operates on a hybrid schedule, with employees required to be in the office every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. 

About Us

Across Gravity Research, generally, the firm looks for three “pillar gifts” in you, and everyone else. In all of us, these are more aspirational than actual, but they are central in our intentions –

• Force of Ideas: At the center of Gravity Research’s work are the ideas within our work. We believe that ideas—the good and not—have consequences. Our ultimate objective is to bring rigor, insight, and intellectual honesty to the goal of separating the bad from the good, and giving voice, argument, and flight to maintaining the latter.

• Spirit of Generosity: Gravity Research seeks in its ranks a spirit of generosity: a natural disposition in each colleague toward service and selfless conduct. Our writing should be cut from the same cloth—critical on the merits, but informed by charity and forbearance in measuring motive and personal character.

• Radical Responsibility: We give our people a lot of responsibility early on, and our top performers embrace it. We believe in holding ourselves and our colleagues accountable, taking ownership over big things, striving for excellence, and celebrating success.

Gravity Research is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate against our applicants because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.

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