Strategic Communications Lead

You’re a rare hybrid—equally comfortable in both the qualitative and quantitative realms. You’re adept at exploring complex, nuanced topics like identity, beliefs, and perceptions, and can ground your insights in rigorous data. Your writing is both thoughtful and persuasive: you craft warm, engaging prose and support your arguments with cold, hard facts.

You have a deep curiosity about the narratives that shape how people see the world—the stories that inform beliefs, guide attitudes, and drive behaviors. You also bring a passion for helping clients tackle complex communication challenges, especially in sensitive or high-stakes environments. You understand how insights translate into strategy and how communications—when aligned with audience values and context—can build credibility, trust, and impact. In this role, you’ll bring that curiosity and expertise to life, leveraging your research experience, strategic communication acumen, writing finesse, and project management skills to deliver high-quality, insight-driven products under tight deadlines for mission-driven clients.

As a Strategic Communications Lead, you will contribute to the development of information environment products and communication strategies that support government and private sector clients. You’ll conduct audience research, apply communication methods, and surface the narratives and messaging dynamics that shape public perception. Your insights will help clients craft more effective communications in a rapidly evolving and often contested information environment.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Conducting qualitative and quantitative research to assess the information environment, identify narrative trends, and analyze the beliefs and worldviews of key audiences.
• Applying communication theories, psychological frameworks, and strategic messaging principles to solve client communication challenges.
• Supporting the development of clear, actionable communication strategies grounded in audience insight and narrative analysis.
• Developing and delivering briefings and presentations to clients, stakeholders, and senior-level audiences, including government and private sector leaders.
• Drafting, reviewing, and editing reports, memos, and other strategic deliverables.
• Analyzing narrative-rich datasets (e.g., social media, news, speeches) to support strategic decision-making.
• Translating complex findings into compelling, easy-to-understand insights that guide communication planning and execution.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to visualize data and synthesize insights into impactful products.
• Implementing research plans based on project goals and stakeholder needs.
  

• Must have a bachelor's degree + 5 years' experience in field of expertise, or advanced degree + 3 years' experience.
• Must be able to work on U.S. Government contracts that may require U.S. citizenship.
• Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance; existing clearance (SECRET or higher) strongly preferred.
• Undergraduate degree in political science, international relations, strategic communications, or a related field; graduate degree preferred.

Experience in the space, defense, or national security domains strongly preferred.Prior experience supporting U.S. Government clients strongly preferred.

• Experience conducting sociocultural or narrative research, particularly within complex information environments.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and apply data to support strategic communication products and recommendations.
• Familiarity with tools such as Tableau, Excel, Superset, and Brandwatch.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to distill and communicate complex topics.
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfort engaging with senior-level clients and diverse stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Thrives in dynamic, startup-like settings with evolving priorities and high expectations.
• Foreign language proficiency is a plus.

Additional Information

Protagonist is a values-driven company that is committed to doing meaningful work for organizations we respect. We are headquartered in Washington, DC, and offer a competitive salary, flexible paid time-off policy, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, and a retirement plan.

Protagonist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Salary Range: $82,000-$124,000 based on education and level of relevant experience.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.