Senior Social Scientist

Appcast

$88K — $154K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with 13+ years of relevant experience, or comparable experience equivalent to a higher degree.
  • Current/active TS/SCI clearance is mandatory.

Responsibilities

  • Provides insights to guide planning and execution of J39 activities.
  • Designs and conducts both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
  • Translates research outcomes into actionable insights for operational objectives.
  • Collaborates with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure culturally informed messaging.
  • Advises on cultural nuances and potential campaign impacts to enhance effectiveness.
  • Supports assessment framework development by identifying valid behavioral indicators.
  • Ensures transparency and compliance in research methods to maintain analytical credibility.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Generous paid time off and holiday policies.
  • 401(k) retirement plan.
  • Life insurance support.
  • Flexible work schedules to accommodate personal needs.
Full Job Description

Job Description:

Parsons is looking for an amazingly talented Sr. Social Scientist to join our team! In this role you will get to apply social and behavioral science expertise to support Operations in the Information Environment (OIE) and Irregular Warfare (IW) by analyzing the cultural, psychological, and social dynamics that shape how audiences perceive, interpret, and respond to information and actions.

What You'll Be Doing:

  • Provides behaviorally grounded insight that informs planning, execution, and assessment across J39 activities.

  • Designs and conducts qualitative and quantitative research—including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and social network analysis—to develop a nuanced understanding of target audiences, group dynamics, identity drivers, and influence pathways relevant to mission objectives.

  • Translates research findings into operationally actionable insights that support Target Audience Analysis (TAA), COA development, narrative design, and risk assessment.

  • Collaborates closely with planners, analysts, behavioral scientists, content developers, and assessment teams to ensure OIE plans, messaging, and influence approaches are culturally informed, behaviorally realistic, and ethically sound.

  • Advises on cultural resonance, social norms, and potential unintended effects, helping mitigate risk and improve campaign effectiveness. 

  • Supports the development of assessment frameworks by identifying behaviorally valid indicators and proxies, interpreting results in context, and contributing to lessons learned and plan adaptation.

  • Ensures research methods and findings are rigorous, transparent, and compliant with applicable authorities and ethical standards, preserving commander trust and analytic credibility.

What Required Skills You'll Bring:

  • Bachelors degree and 13+ years experience. Years of comparable experience can be used in lieu of degree. (HS diploma 17+ years, Associates 15+ years, Masters 10+ years)
  • Must have a current/active TS/SCI clearance or higher

Security Clearance Requirement:

An active Top Secret SCI security clearance is required for this position.​

This position is part of our Federal Solutions team.

Salary Range: $88,400.00 - $154,700.00

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to be posted for an average of 30 days until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.

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