Research Strategist, PEOPLE

This is a hybrid in office position

About The Position |

 As the Research Strategist on PEOPLE on the Research + Testing team, you will support Dotdash Meredith’s product testing initiative to create meaningful product insights for our users in the form of original content. You will conduct category research, compile product lists, and write methodologies for all PEOPLE tests, including categories such as massage guns, mascaras, dog beds, leggings, blenders, vacuums, and more! Your work will ensure testing insights are gathered in a timely manner to update our articles on PEOPLE and help readers make the best purchasing decision.  

About the Role:

• Understand PEOPLE’s audience to ensure product lists and methodologies align with their readers’ needs 

• Collaborate closely with PEOPLE commerce editors to identify key brands for each product category 

• Conduct research to create product lists to review with your commerce edit partners

• Develop relationships with brands and PR agencies to be the first to hear about new product launches

• Write methodologies that include a step-by-step on how to test products, questions testers will answer to gather insights, and a photo shot list to follow

• Review existing testing research and insights to help inform product lists and methodologies 

• Coordinate product testing at home in and in our testing labs

• Analyze testing data and package it in a useful way to be reviewed by the director

About The Team: |

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The Research + Testing team at Dotdash Meredith works to gather brand-specific testing insights and photos through rigorous product testing, which is carefully and meticulously researched and assigned. We collaborate with our edit partners to ensure we are giving our readers the best and most up-to-date product recommendations based on our hands-on testing.

About The Position Contributions:

Weight % Accountabilities, Actions and Expected Measurable Results

60% Product research: putting together product lists and collaborating with edit to review and update accordingly

20% Methodologies and results forms: Write methodologies and create results forms to standardize and gather product insights 

10% Coordinate testing: work with production and photo for any in-lab tests and with tester coordinator for RW tests

10% Procurement: Reach out to PR agencies to form relationships with brands in order to procure products for testing and learn about new product launches

The Role’s Minimum Qualifications and Job Requirements

Education:

A bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field.

Experience:

Three-plus years as an editor or writer at an online publisher, commerce experience preferred but not required. 

Specific Knowledge, Skills, Certifications and Abilities:

• Strong communication and organizational skills

• A product enthusiast who spends time researching and obsessing over purchases

• Proficiency in project management 

• Experience with tools like Excel, Google Sheets, and/or Airtable

• Comfortable working independently and prioritizing across multiple projects

• A self-starter who is comfortable working in a quickly changing environment

% Travel Required (Approximate): 0