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Associate, Research Execution & Operations

Washington DC

About the Role

Breakwater Strategy is seeking an outstanding Associate to join its Capital Markets practice group. This is a compelling opportunity to join a growing global advisory team that delivers high-caliber research and strategic insight to clients operating in complex, highly time-sensitive, and valuation-forward environments.

The Associate will play an integral role in helping produce rigorous, decision-oriented research that informs how organizations understand investors, stakeholders, and market sentiment. Working at the intersection of analysis, communications, and corporate strategy, this individual will contribute to engagements that help clients navigate inflection points, strengthen credibility, and advance long-term value creation.

Why Join Us?

Breakwater advises leading public companies, private corporations, brands, coalitions, and nonprofit institutions on some of their most important strategic and reputational challenges. Our Capital Markets practice brings a distinctive perspective to that work combining disciplined research, nuanced stakeholder understanding, and strategic counsel tailored to market-facing realities.

This role offers direct responsibility and the opportunity to develop quickly within a collaborative, exacting, and high-performing environment. The successful candidate will receive mentorship from experienced leaders and contribute to work that is both intellectually demanding and commercially consequential.

Candidate Profile

This position is designed for an early-career professional with 1-2 years of relevant internship or work experience in research, project coordination, or a related analytical discipline. 

The ideal candidate is intellectually curious and has a strong interest in capital markets. They have a demonstrated record of managing multiple deadlines and workstreams without dropping details, catching inconsistencies and errors that others miss, and writing with clarity and polish under time pressure. They ask sharp questions, take ownership of tasks through to completion, and bring sound judgment and discretion to work on sensitive client matters.

Responsibilities

  • Support the design and development of primary research materials, including screeners, survey instruments, and discussion guides.
  • Evaluate and synthesize research findings to surface key themes, implications, and actionable recommendations.
  • Prepare high-quality presentations and client materials that communicate insights with clarity, rigor, and executive-level polish.
  • Coordinate with external research vendors and partners to support seamless project execution and quality control.
  • Contribute to the continued advancement of the practice’s research methodologies, analytical approaches, and knowledge base.
  • Partner with colleagues across the firm to support integrated strategic communications and advisory engagements.
  • Assist with business development efforts, including market research, proposal drafting, and pitch preparation.
  • Travel periodically in support of client engagements or research initiatives.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree, plus 1-2 years of relevant internship/work experience.
  • Outstanding analytical and organizational capabilities, with meticulous attention to detail.
  • Strong writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce polished, client-ready work.
  • Professional maturity, intellectual curiosity, and a demonstrated capacity to thrive in a demanding, fast-paced environment.
  • Exposure to qualitative and quantitative research methods preferred.
  • Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; familiarity with research, analytics, or visualization tools is advantageous.

District of Columbia Salary Range

$65,000 - $70,000 USD

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