Research Associate

About Morning Consult

Morning Consult is a global decision intelligence company changing how modern leaders make smarter, faster, better decisions. The company pairs its proprietary high-frequency data with rigorous analysis to better inform decisions on what people think and how they will act.

This full-time hybrid role is available in our Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; and New York, NY offices. Our Summer 2027 Research Associate cohort will start in July 2027. We ask for all applications by December 31, 2026. Any applications that arrive after that date will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Our award-winning and modern, open concept offices are located in Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; and New York, NY. All three offices are accessible by public transportation and in close proximity to great restaurants and shopping.

Join us in the office for catered lunch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, or grab a beverage from the fridge for an impromptu after-work happy hour!

The Role

We're hiring proactive and resourceful team players to join our Research Accelerator program as Research Associates, an entry-level position that serves as the foundation for our Research Solutions career ladder. In this role, you will join a cohort gaining broad exposure across diverse client accounts and cross-functional teams while building deep expertise in modern, AI-forward market research.

This is a full-time hybrid role that can be based in any of our office locations (Washington, DC, Chicago, IL, or New York, NY). The structured two-year program guides you through a clear progression starting as a Research Associate (RA) in Year 1 to build foundational research skills, advancing to Senior Research Associate (SRA) in Year 2 to take on greater project management. The Research Accelerator program provides a direct path toward a Research Manager role and long-term growth at Morning Consult. The program includes structured cohort onboarding, continuous Learning & Development programming, and individualized coaching. The Summer 2027 cohort starts in July 2027. We ask for all applications by December 31, 2026. Any applications that arrive after that date will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Program

Research Accelerator is a cohort-based development program for our future high-impact researchers. Research Associates support high-visibility research projects alongside some of our top research, strategy, and operations leaders.

The bar is high: you're expected to take ownership, work with precision, and keep raising the quality of your work. In return, you get immersive onboarding, ongoing training, individualized coaching, and clear paths to grow, including into a Research Manager role.

The program sits at the intersection of Research Solutions, Research Operations, Sales, Product & Tooling, and Client Strategy. You'll see how modern, AI-forward research is designed, executed, and delivered, including how we apply AI, automation, and advanced tooling across the project lifecycle.

What You'll Work On

• Supporting foundational market research projects while mastering research methodology and best practice execution
• Partnering directly with Research Managers and Research Directors to design custom survey frameworks, craft questionnaire logic, and structure data analysis
• Refining questionnaires, analytical memos, and executive slide decks while maintaining rigorous standards for data accuracy, formatting, and narrative quality
• Supporting quality assurance with our Research Operations team to produce highly accurate client deliverables
• Building working relationships across our Commercial and Strategy teams
• Learning and using internal and external tools to run each stage of a project efficiently
• Integrating AI tooling and automation (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, proprietary models) into workflows to enhance research quality, synthesize insights, and drive operational efficiency
• Learning Morning Consult's products and navigating them independently
• Sharing what you learn with teammates, and learning from them
• Perform such other tasks and duties as may be required or assigned from time to time in the Company's discretion

What You Bring

• A Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Business, Statistics, Data Analytics, Market Research, Public Policy, or Data Science, or equivalent experience
• At least one relevant experience: a communications, marketing, insights, or client-service internship, project coursework, or professional work related to research. A structured internship or cohort program is a plus
• Applied research exposure, ideally hands-on work with questionnaires or data that produced a deliverable
• Fluency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace suite and associated tools
• Experience working with and interpreting data sets
• Comfort using AI tools, and a sense of where they help and where they fall short
• A record of working well in groups, with strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Leadership or project ownership in an academic, professional, or extracurricular setting
• A solid academic record
• Bonus: Light coding experience (such as R), advanced spreadsheet software skills, or familiarity with data structures

Note: We view the above section as a guide, not a checklist. Research shows that underrepresented/marginalized groups are less likely to apply for a job if they feel that they don't meet 100% of the qualifications. We welcome diverse and non-traditional backgrounds and encourage you to apply even if you don't satisfy every single bullet on this list! It's expected that you'll learn and grow throughout your time at Morning Consult, so if you're open to building new skills, we'd love to hear from you.

This Program Is a Great Fit for You If...

• You are excited to join a cohort-based development program alongside peers in your first few years at Morning Consult, growing together as you build expertise.
• You thrive in an environment focused on mastering market research fundamentals, modern AI tools, and internal systems.
• You bring genuine enthusiasm for Morning Consult, clear company background research, and a strong vision for your professional growth.
• You look beyond surface details to understand the "why" and determine actionable next steps.
• You step outside your comfort zone, take control of your development, and make proactive decisions.
• You remain open to feedback, embrace learning moments, and translate feedback into action.
• You maintain high standards for quality, communicate concisely, and collaborate effectively within a team.

Compensation

The annual base salary for this position is $66,000. This role is eligible for additional variable compensation and an equity grant, which will be discussed in your initial recruiter conversation. Please see an overview of Morning Consult's benefits on our Career Page.

We are committed to a work environment that is inclusive to all and free of discrimination. It is our policy to be an equal opportunity employer without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, citizenship status or any other factors prohibited by law. Morning Consult will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals.