Quantitative Research Associate

About the role

Penta is a leading corporate affairs advisory firm that helps organizations predict what matters and shape outcomes. By combining proprietary intelligence, stakeholder insights, and strategic counsel, we help CEOs and leadership teams navigate the increasingly complex intersection of business, policy, culture, and reputation. Our clients turn to us when the stakes are high, the signals are difficult to interpret, and the consequences of getting it wrong are significant. We are building a new model for corporate affairs advisory and are seeking leaders who want to help define the future of the industry.

Penta’s global team brings decades of experience in business, government, communications, research, data science, and media. Our clients include many of the world's most influential organizations across technology, financial services, energy, healthcare, and other sectors, including over 25% of the Fortune 100. Penta has offices in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, London, Brussels, Dublin, and Singapore.

The Role

Penta is actively looking for a Quantitative Research Associate to join its Policymaker Research team. Each year, Penta conducts several studies with federal and state policymakers and other key stakeholders to understand their perceptions of prominent companies, associations, and nonprofits.

The ideal candidate will have professional or academic experience using systems like STATA and/or R on large and complex datasets. This role sits at the heart of our quantitative research practice, ensuring the rigor, accuracy, and reliability of our data. You will work closely with the Quantitative Research Director to develop and refine processes that support high-quality data collection, cleaning, and reporting. Therefore, the ideal candidate should be interested in building strong analytical, collaboration, and communication skills.

The Quantitative Research Associate is expected to

• Develop standard operating procedures for high-quality data collection, cleaning, and reporting with the Quantitative Research Director
• Perform statistical validation of quantitative research tools & analysis
• Implement quality assurance protocols across multiple projects that meet industry & company standards
• Monitor and update data gathering and survey tool implementation (Qualtrics) across multiple projects while surveys are in the field
• Assist in the data cleaning process by reshaping, aggregating, cleaning, and weighting data in STATA and R
• Assist with data analysis to inform the continued evolution of our survey instruments
• Run Excel tools and analytic platforms to facilitate data analysis and reporting
• Help to standardize and organize historical data

The ideal candidate will have

• A Bachelor's degree in data science, statistics, economics, political science, market research, or a related discipline
• 1-2 years of professional experience in quantitative research
• Proficiency with STATA, R, and Excel, particularly for cleaning, reshaping, and summarizing data
• Experience with programming Qualtrics surveys and monitoring data collection
• A foundation in designing and implementing appropriate research studies with an emphasis on quantitative research design
• Experience developing & conducting quality assurance protocols for data gathering and cleaning
• The ability to utilize AI and emerging technologies, where appropriate, to enhance efficiency, quality, and impact, while staying current on evolving capabilities and incorporating relevant innovations into day-to-day work
• An interest in working in a collaborative environment
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Strong critical thinking skills and always looking to improve systems and deliver high-quality results

Salary Range

The base salary range for this position will be $67,000 - $77,000, depending on a candidate’s experience and qualifications as they relate to the position.

Benefits

Penta Group is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to support the well-being and financial security of our employees. Our benefits include:

Healthcare Coverage: Excellent medical, vision, and dental insurance through United Healthcare and UNUM, with the company covering 90% of individual employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums

Retirement Benefits

• A 401(k) plan with a generous employer match, contributing 100% on the first 3% of salary deferred and 50% on the next 2%, helping employees maximize their retirement savings
• Income Protection: Employer-paid short-term disability (STD), long-term disability (LTD), and life insurance
• Paid Leave & Flexibility: 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy and a generous holiday schedule (Penta follows the federal time off calendar)

Additional Perks & Support

• A monthly cell phone reimbursement
• Frequent firm-wide social events and team-building activities
• Access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), including confidential counseling and resources for personal and work-related issues
• Health & Wellness Initiatives, including a gym membership program (One Pass Select), mental health resources, and access to virtual health consultations
• Discounted employee-paid pet insurance coverage through Nationwide

Location and Hybrid Schedule

For this position, we are only considering applicants in the greater Washington, D.C., area and are looking to fill the role as soon as possible. This person will be expected to join our team in our downtown DC office in person Monday through Thursday and has the option to work remotely on Fridays.

If you require an accommodation to complete your application, participate in an interview, or otherwise engage in the recruitment process, please contact us at. We will work with you to ensure appropriate arrangements are made.

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