Research Assistant, Executive Communications - Greater London - BENTLEY SYSTEMS, INC.

Description

This position is open to location and may be remote, hybrid or office-based.

Research Assistant, Executive Communications

Job Summary:

We are looking for a detail-oriented Research Assistant (Executive Communications) to support Bentley's CEO communications team. This role ensures every CEO statement, statistic, and citation is grounded in verifiable evidence and supported by clear documentation before public release.

You will serve as the final checkpoint for factual accuracy, validating all facts, figures, and claims across speeches, op-eds, press releases, and presentations. In practice, this means maintaining a reliable documentation process that underpins the accuracy and credibility of every CEO communication—from investor materials to public blog posts.

The ideal candidate is self‑motivated, curious, and meticulous about details—the kind of person who always has their "T's crossed and I's dotted." You will report to the Executive Communications lead and play a key role in ensuring the CEO's messages are accurate, consistent, and fully defensible.

Responsibilities:

• Fact‑Checking & Verification: Scrutinize all content for factual accuracy and maintain a verifiable record of every source. Treat each public statement as an auditable item, ensuring it can be traced back to its evidence. This includes checking statistical claims, dates, names, and quotes in CEO executive communications (speeches, articles, social media posts, etc.). If a speech says "we grew by 30%," you'll confirm that number against official reports; if an op‑ed cites an industry ranking, you'll locate the source to verify it. Nothing goes out unless it's accurate, fully sourced, and documented in the audit log.
• Research Support: Conduct quick‑turnaround research to back up key statements or answer questions that arise during content development. For example, you might research recent AI adoption statistics, gather background on infrastructure policy, or find examples to reinforce a narrative point. You'll compile your findings into concise briefs or annotated sources for the writers and strategists.
• Source Management: Maintain an organized archive of facts, figures, and references that the comms team can draw upon. Over time, you will build a library of vetted data (with citations) on recurring topics of interest – becoming the go‑to person for "do we have a source for that?" questions. Build and maintain an audit trail of all source materials and verification notes, ensuring every data point or quote used in CEO communications can be readily substantiated if reviewed by legal, investor, or media stakeholders.
• Collaboration & Review: Work closely with speechwriters, content strategists, and the graphic designer to proactively flag any unsupported assertions or potential inaccuracies in drafts. If something doesn't sound right, you'll raise the question and dig in to find the correct information. You'll also coordinate with subject matter experts (internal or external) when necessary to confirm technical details. You will serve as the final checkpoint before publication, ensuring CEO communications are accurate, consistent, and uphold the company's reputation for integrity.
• Cross‑Team Assistance: During high‑volume periods or special projects, provide research and fact‑checking support to adjacent teams such as Corporate Communications or Investor Relations. For instance, you might verify facts in a press release or double‑check figures in an investor FAQ document. This not only helps other teams meet their deadlines, but also ensures a consistent standard of accuracy across adjacent to CEO communications.

Qualifications:

• Education & Background: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Library Science or a related field. Candidates with diverse backgrounds (e.g. research‑intensive internships, academic research experience) are welcome. 0‑2 years of experience in a research, writing, or fact‑checking role.
• Obsessive Attention to Detail: A meticulous eye for accuracy is non‑negotiable. You take pride in catching even minor errors or inconsistencies in data. You double‑ and triple‑check facts and never assume information is correct without evidence.
• Research Skills: Proficiency in online research tools, databases, and search techniques. You know how to quickly find information and how to evaluate the credibility of sources. Familiarity with academic journals, industry reports, and public data sets is a plus. You can distill large amounts of information into the key points relevant to our messaging.
• Analytical Ability: Comfortable working with figures and basic data analysis. You should be adept at using Excel to validate data (e.g. recalculating percentages, verifying totals) and spotting anomalies. Experience with basic Python scripting or data tools is desirable (not mandatory) – for example, being able to run a simple script to aggregate information or check consistency in datasets.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills. You can clearly document your findings and explain the rationale behind corrections or fact‑checking results. You're able to write succinct research summaries and source annotations that others on the team can easily understand.
• Curiosity & Initiative: A naturally curious mindset with a drive to dig deeper. When confronted with a claim, you instinctively want to find out why it's true (or if it really is true). You don't shy away from asking questions or chasing down obscure references. You are self‑directed in managing your tasks and take initiative to improve our knowledge base.
• Team Orientation: Ability to work well under tight deadlines and handle multiple requests. You remain calm and methodical even when last‑minute changes come in. You're comfortable switching gears to help different teams when needed, and you take pride in being a reliable resource for others. Integrity and professionalism in handling potentially sensitive information are essential.

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