Research Assistant/Associate (Survey Research Operations Manager)

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Research Assistant/Associate (Survey Research Operations Manager) at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

Center for Urban Studies, a research center located within Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, seeks an experienced Survey Research Operations Manager to oversee the logistics and processes for implementing large-scale multi-mode surveys.

Responsibilities

· This position is responsible to the Center Director and reports to the Center’s Managing Director on a day-to-day basis, providing ongoing updates as requested.

• Collaborate with Research Team: Work with researchers to translate study designs into practical data collection plans, including sampling, recruitment, and incentive administration.

• Project Management: Develop/update project workplans, manage timelines, oversee daily activities for data collection efforts.

o Coordinate with state agencies to ensure ADA compliance of survey materials, including non-English versions.

o Coordinate with external partners, including printing/mailing house and directory providers. Provide leadership at printing house to ensure adherence to quality control measures.

o Work with other lead researchers to prepare samples across several surveys, including cohort rebalancing, and creating lists for target remails and for follow-up efforts.

o Coordinate with CATI lab to monitor phone samples on an ongoing basis.

o Manage technology and systems needed for processing data and for tracking/monitoring progress (e.g. SPSS, Excel, Access, SQL, OMR software such as Remark).

o Work with other lead researchers to produce clean survey datasets across all modes, conduct statistical analysis, and produce data summary files and reports and other deliverable documents.

o Provide regular updates to survey team and Center leadership.

• Data Collection Oversight: Manage the deployment and execution of various survey modes (mail, web, phone, in-person) to maximize response rates and to reach diverse populations.

• Mail Surveys: Oversee printing, mailing logistics, and tracking returns. Work with others to oversee data processing of incoming mail, including rigorous checks, coding, data cleaning, and privacy protection.
• Web Surveys: Oversee the programming of online platforms such as Qualtrics, managing access, and monitor completion rates.
• Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI): Work closely with others to set up call center procedures/protocols, including training, monitoring interviewer performance, tracking interviewing hours against numbers of completes, etc.
• In-Person/Field Interviews: Coordinate field staff, logistics, and data collection methods.

· Quality Assurance and Quality Control: Implement quality control measures.

o Ensure data integrity and compliance with IRB research protocols. Work with others on IRB submissions and amendments.

o Ensure all data collection methods strictly follow the approved research design and methodology.

o Monitor data collection progress, and seek innovative strategies to increase survey response rates.

o Monitor, verify, and correct data quality errors during collection across all modes.

• Staff Management: Assist others in hiring, training, and supervising survey research staff (interviewers, student assistants, support staff) and provide ongoing support and quality control.

• Initiate grant proposals in the areas of survey research and/or program evaluation, including: identifying funding sources and RFPs; conducting literature reviews; developing research question; designing research methods, data analysis plan, and data collection procedures.

• Assist in the preparation of articles for consideration in refereed journals on an ongoing basis.

Qualifications:

• A degree in social science research (including political science, public administration, demography, education, geography, psychology, public health, social work, sociology, survey methodology, statistics, and urban studies), especially coursework in research methods, is required. A Master’s degree or Ph.D. in progress is highly preferred.

• 2-5 years of solid experience managing operations of surveys or similar processes, especially in an academic setting.
• Excellent command of the English language, both written and spoken. Bilingual in Spanish or Arabic is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A strong working knowledge of social science research methods and experience in managing primary data collection procedures (mail surveys, CATI lab, web-based surveys, in-person interviews, focus groups, etc.) and practicalities of implementation required.

• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously, prioritize and plan work activities while meeting respective deadlines. Strong organizational and time-management skills.

• Effectively utilize software necessary to convert and process data (e.g. SAS, SPSS, Excel, Access, Dbase, Remark). Computer programming capability, including CATI programming software, is an advantage. Experience in statistical analyses is a plus.

• Supervision skills and experience, including effective recruitment strategies and performance assessment.

• Flexible and adaptable style; a professional and resourceful style; the ability to work independently and as a team player, to take initiative, and to manage multiple tasks and projects at a time.

• Strong diplomatic skills to present, and answer questions and concerns effectively.

• Outstanding written and oral communication skills

Annual competitive salary range is $65,000 to $85,000 based on training and professional experience. Benefits include health care, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement savings plan, tuition assistance, vacation and illness hours, long-term disability, long-term care insurance, and flexible spending accounts.

Provide: Resume/Vita; writing samples, including survey reports; transcript of highest degree (unofficial is acceptable); at least 3 references are required.

School/College/Division:

H32 - Provost & VP Academic Affairs

Primary department:

H6614 - Center Urban Studies (H6614)

Employment type:

• Regular Employee
• Job type: Full Time
• Job category: Research

Funding/salary information:

• Compensation type: Annual Salary
• Hourly rate:
• Salary minimum: $65,000
• Salary hire maximum: $85,000

Working conditions:

Office environment

Job openings:

• Number of openings: 1
• Reposted position: No
• Reposted reason: None (New Requisition)
• Prior posting/requisition number:

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.