Intern, Market Research

Who we are

We create research-driven narratives that transform. Harnessing unparalleled creativity and uncompromising precision, we provide storytelling research, insights, and strategy for the most influential and ascendant companies in tech, entertainment, non-profit, and public policy. From messaging architectures to brand platforms, policy to product, our team of strategy, messaging, design, and research experts hone communications insights to craft stories that help our clients confidently tell their own. At the heart of our organization is our mission to be an indispensable strategic partner with diverse, innovative, and global capabilities.

We’re seeking a Market Research Intern for Fall 2026 to join us in continuously raising the bar to do just that.

The opportunity

Our interns aren’t observers — they’re integral contributors who gain practical experience and professional connections. This paid internship is a rotational experience across our Narrative & Strategy, Survey Research, and Participant Recruitment teams, giving you hands-on experience with the full market research lifecycle: how studies are designed, how participants are found, how data is gathered and checked, and how findings become stories that move decisions.

Rotation: Narrative & Strategy

You’ll work closely with our strategy experts to help translate research into compelling deliverables, contributing to everything from early-stage research design to final presentations.

• Research client topics to inform focus group questions and prompts that align with study objectives.
• Observe focus groups to listen for insights, develop findings, and engage in the virtual backroom discussion.
• Organize data, input documents, and transcripts for client delivery and key quote curation.
• Draft and present deliverables to Storyline leadership for practice and exposure.

Rotation: Survey Research

You’ll dive into the mechanics of quantitative research. Under senior guidance, you’ll help program, manage, and transform the hard numbers that ground our strategic narratives.

• Assist with survey programming and testing in Decipher/Forsta.
• Support fieldwork management — monitoring fieldwork pace and gaps, conducting data cleaning, and communicating fieldwork updates.
• Conduct quality control of interim and final data outputs.

Rotation: Participant Recruitment

You’ll be the engine of our research operations, managing the logistics, sourcing, and communication required to find the right participants for every study.

• Identify and develop sourcing channels for hard-to-reach and mainstream populations, and develop creative outreach strategies for niche targets (e.g., B2B decision-makers, policy experts).
• Draft and refine screener questionnaires, conduct multi-channel outreach, and review responses to assess eligibility and flag edge cases.
• Schedule and confirm research sessions, manage participant pipelines in CRM tools, and handle all participant communications with professionalism and care.
• Maintain recruitment logs, track progress against targets, identify bottlenecks, and support quality control (e.g., addressing no-shows or quota shortfalls).

What you'll need

You’re a college senior, recent graduate, graduate student, or young professional with a keen interest in learning about the world of research and communications consulting. You have:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional organization and attention to detail, especially when managing multiple deadlines or reviewing data against eligibility criteria.
• A team-first work ethic, a deep desire to learn market research methodology, and comfort working independently in a remote environment.
• Proficiency with standard productivity and AI tools (Google Workspace, Excel/Google Sheets, Slack, Claude) and an eagerness to learn new methods and platforms.

Bonus points — preferred but not expected:

• Prior exposure to market research (surveys, focus groups, interviews), participant recruitment, or scheduling logistics.
• Experience with survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, Decipher), CRM/recruitment tools, and/or qualitative/quantitative methods, statistics, or data analysis.
• Familiarity with research ethics, informed consent practices, or IRB processes.
• Multilingual abilities — a plus for studies requiring non-English-speaking participants.

Location & schedule

Remote within the US, 20–30 hours per week from early September through mid-December (flexible), with the opportunity for occasional in-office work in Washington, DC or New York City. Regardless of your location, you’ll be expected to be available during at least part of the standard Eastern Time business day to ensure effective collaboration.

Compensation

This is a paid internship at $18–$19 USD per hour. Storyline Strategies is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. EOE/AA/M/F/V/D/SO.

How to apply

Ready to make a real impact and launch your career in market research and communications strategy? Applications are due by September 30, 2026. Please send the following to careers@storylinestrategies.com:

• Resume (1 page maximum) — highlight coursework, internships, or projects that involve research, communications strategy, data-driven recommendations, or storytelling with data.
• Cover letter(1 page maximum) — describe your experience with research, data, and reporting + storytelling, and why you’re interested in working with a research and strategy team.
• Availability — start/end dates and specific days/hours if known.

We look forward to hearing from you and discovering the next generation of storytellers!

The Storyline team

We’re trailblazers.We believe “good enough” is neither good nor enough. We’re energized by new challenges, and motivated by the pursuit of innovative ideas that produce results.

We’re invested in what we do.The work is endlessly stimulating. The clients are among the world’s most influential brands and decision-makers. And the team is continuously inspiring. There’s no better motivation to bring your best to everything you do.

We’re driven by a passion for storytelling. Nothing excites us more than uncovering a game-changing insight, crafting an effective solution, and creating an unforgettable narrative.