Market Research & Outreach Specialist (Healthcare Agency Project-Based)

About the Project: We are an early-stage healthcare staffing startup conducting an in-depth market validation project to determine the demand for temporary optometrist staffing services and the availability of optometrists interested in flexible work. This is an 8–10 week, project-based engagement with the potential for ongoing work as the company grows. We are looking for someone who enjoys research, organizing information, identifying patterns, and speaking professionally with businesses. This is not a sales position. Your role is to gather reliable market intelligence that will help shape important business decisions. Who We Are Looking For: -Excellent internet research skills -Strong attention to detail -Comfortable using Google Sheets or -Microsoft Excel -Strong written English -Professional verbal communication -Comfortable making business phone calls -Ability to identify patterns in information -Strong organizational skills -Ability to work independently and follow structured processes -Enjoys solving problems through research rather than guesswork. -Naturally organizes information and notice patterns that others miss. -Comfortable speaking with professionals, asking thoughtful questions, and documenting information accurately. -Communicates clearly, follows instructions well, and takes pride in producing organized, reliable work. Project Overview: The project has two primary objectives with specific outcomes: 1. Demand Research (Approximately 60%) Help us understand: -Which types of optometry organizations have the greatest need for temporary doctor coverage -How practices currently handle staffing shortages -Common reasons practices require temporary coverage -Which market segments represent the greatest long-term opportunity 2. Supply Research (Approximately 40%) Help us understand: -Where qualified optometrists can be recruited -Which optometrists may be interested in flexible or temporary work -Current hiring trends within the profession -Factors that motivate or discourage participation in temporary staffing Deliverables: By the conclusion of the project, you will help produce: -Segmented database of optometry practices -Market demand analysis -Office interview summaries -Optometrist supply analysis -Candidate source database -Hiring trend report -Weekly progress updates -Final research summary with key findings and recommendations Preferred Qualifications: -Market research experience -Lead generation experience -Customer research experience -Healthcare industry experience (preferred but not required) -Recruiting experience (preferred but not required) Project Details: Duration: 8–10 weeks Average Weekly Commitment: 6–8 hours Compensation: $12–18/hour (based on experience) Responsibilities: Market Research -Research optometry practices throughout Pennsylvania -Categorize practices into market segments -Build and maintain organized research spreadsheets -Research corporate, hospital, private practice, and multi-location organizations -Track optometrist job postings and hiring trends -Research professional organizations, schools, alumni groups, and recruiting sources Telephone Research -Conduct professional phone calls with office managers, practice administrators, or managing doctors to better understand: -Current staffing challenges -How doctor absences are managed -Frequency of temporary coverage needs -Recruiting challenges -Interest in alternative staffing solutions THIS IS RESEARCH ONLY. YOU WILL NOT BE SELLING SERVICES. When you apply, please use the words "NO SELLING" at the top of your proposal to acknowledge that you understand this aspect of the project. Candidate Research -Research potential optometrist recruiting sources -Assist with survey distribution -Organize survey responses -Identify recurring themes and candidate personas -Maintain candidate source databases Data Organization & Reporting -Maintain clean Google Sheets and spreadsheets -Organize research findings Identify trends and recurring themes -Prepare weekly progress summaries -Highlight significant observations and recommendations You will collaborate directly with the Co-Founder and CEO throughout the project and receive regular feedback, guidance, and clarification to help ensure the research remains aligned with the desired outcomes. If you enjoy helping build something from the ground up and contributing to meaningful business decisions through research and analysis, we'd love to hear from you.