The Research Associate will conduct qualitative research on social media platforms, track trends and narratives, analyze content, and synthesize insights into deliverables for non-technical audiences.
Vocal is seeking a qualitative researcher with a nose for narrative. You'll spend your days inside the platforms — TikTok, Instagram, X, Reddit, and beyond — identifying the emerging trends, influential voices, and shifting attitudes that shape how issues resonate with online audiences.
Responsibilities
- Conduct open-ended qualitative research across social media platforms, forums, and online communities to identify emerging narratives, trends, and audience attitudes relevant to specific issue areas
- Track discourse across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, and niche online spaces, developing a real-time read on how conversations are forming and shifting
- Identify and analyze influential voices, content formats, and messaging patterns driving engagement on key topics
- Synthesize qualitative findings into clear, compelling deliverables such as memos, briefs, and presentations that translate online discourse into actionable insights for non-technical audiences
- Blend qualitative observations with quantitative signals to develop a well-rounded picture of how issues are resonating online
Qualifications
- 1-2 years of professional experience working in a digital media environment or as a researcher
- Deep familiarity with social media platforms and online communities, you spend time in these spaces and understand how content spreads, how subcultures communicate, and how algorithms shape what gets seen
- Strong research instincts, the ability to identify the right places to look, ask the right questions, and know when you've found something meaningful
- Exceptional written communication skills, with experience translating complex or nuanced findings into clear narratives for non-technical audiences
- Comfort working alongside quantitative analysts and interpreting data to complement qualitative observations
- Interest in working for progressive causes including experience with political campaign(s) or public interest groups
Benefits
- Health insurance covered at 90% for full time employees; Dental and Vision available
- Flexible PTO and sick leave
- 401(k) plan & company contribution
Vocal Media is committed to developing leaders, policies, and a team culture that embraces diversity and enhances equity. We believe that differences in backgrounds, experiences, and identities lead to healthier organizations and stronger teams. We recognize that our success requires commitment to obtaining and retaining a diverse staff that provides the highest quality services to our clients and creators. Vocal is an equal opportunity employer and it is our policy to recruit, hire, train, promote and administer any and all personnel actions without regard to sex, race, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity or expression, ethnic identity, or disability, or any other legally protected basis. Vocal is committed to providing accommodations to individuals with disabilities in the hiring process and on the job, as required by applicable law. Vocal will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination and any such conduct is strictly prohibited.
Similar Jobs
Artificial Intelligence • Healthtech • Software • Telehealth
Design and execute prospective IRB-approved clinical studies, manage consent and patient enrollment, build cross-functional research infrastructure, pull and QC clinical datasets, create dashboards to monitor study health, and draft white papers, abstracts, and manuscripts for publication.
Healthtech • Pharmaceutical
Serve as primary site contact for oncology clinical trials, conducting site selection, training, monitoring (onsite/offsite), risk assessments, data quality checks, safety reporting, and mentoring junior CRAs to ensure GCP/ICH compliance and study performance.
Healthtech • Pharmaceutical
Support clinical trial execution for oncology studies by partnering with investigative sites, conducting site evaluations and monitoring, ensuring GCP/ICH compliance, managing data quality and safety reporting, developing site engagement strategies, and assisting risk assessment and corrective actions under supervision.
Top Skills:
CRM
What you need to know about the Austin Tech Scene
Austin has a diverse and thriving tech ecosystem thanks to home-grown companies like Dell and major campuses for IBM, AMD and Apple. The state’s flagship university, the University of Texas at Austin, is known for its engineering school, and the city is known for its annual South by Southwest tech and media conference. Austin’s tech scene spans many verticals, but it’s particularly known for hardware, including semiconductors, as well as AI, biotechnology and cloud computing. And its food and music scene, low taxes and favorable climate has made the city a destination for tech workers from across the country.
Key Facts About Austin Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 180,500; 13.7% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Dell, IBM, AMD, Apple, Alphabet
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, hardware, cloud computing, software, healthtech
- Funding Landscape: $4.5 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Live Oak Ventures, Austin Ventures, Hinge Capital, Gigafund, KdT Ventures, Next Coast Ventures, Silverton Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: University of Texas, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Center for Complex Quantum Systems, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, Texas Advanced Computing Center
