Job Description

Independently and in collaboration with teams, apply technical skills in survey design, sampling,
fieldwork oversight, dataset processing, and data analysis to develop, report, and disseminate
research on public opinion. Teaching may be required.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:
Research Design and Coordination
• Assist in planning a complex schedule of research activities covering up to 35 countries
and involving multiple sites and teams
• Apply expertise in questionnaire design for surveys and, on occasion, cognitive
interviewing
• Provide input into the development of complex, stratified sample designs
• Develop plans for fieldwork, project schedules, quality control, management of data, and
dataset processing
• Train interview teams in best practices in survey implementation and in the use of
hardware and software required for fieldwork
• Assist in the process of identifying third parties (e.g., survey firms) for data collection and
in the development of contracts
• Program questionnaires and samples into specialized software for survey data collection,
and supervise research assistants as they audit the programs

Research Implementation
• Oversee research projects to ensure that they stay on schedule, assist in identifying
solutions to problems when they emerge to ensure projects stay on schedule and that quality is
maintained, and supervise research assistants
• Use specialized software to oversee fieldwork and data auditing processes
• Create tools to streamline the auditing of large volumes of data, including auditing the
programming of questionnaires, dataset processing, and statistical analyses such as charts,
figures, and tables
• Track research processes and deliverables
• Create tools to automate the production of fieldwork reports

Research Analysis and Reporting
• Process and weight datasets
• Apply subject-matter expertise, knowledge of statistics, and specialized software to
analyze and interpret survey data, create data visualizations, and draft and review project
reports written for various audiences (sponsoring agencies, the media, academics, the public)
• Develop technical reports that detail the research design and meta-data on completed
projects
• Help coordinate dissemination of research via presentations by team members at various
events; occasionally participate in the delivery of oral presentations on project findings. Travel
domestically and/or abroad as needed for such events
• Communicate in a timely, efficient, and professional manner with teams of country
experts, research affiliates, contracted firms, sponsoring agencies, and other project
collaborators across numerous countries
• On occasion develop and conduct workshops or training sessions in order to increase
capacity for survey research among students, project partners, the media, or others

Innovation and Experimentation
• Research and develop cutting-edge methods for the scientific collection and analysis of
public opinion data
• Plan and develop research papers for submission to peer-reviewed academic journals
• Participate in academic conferences to present research findings
Other:
• Develop and deliver instructional content—including workshops, guest lectures, and
mentoring—on survey research methodology, policy analytics, and related statistical methods
for students, research staff, and partners
• Additional assignments, as needed.

This position reports to the Director of the Center for Global Democracy. The position is
located in Nashville, TN and will require in-office attendance of at least 2 to 3 times a
week.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience is preferred
• A Master’s degree is required, PhD preferred
• Proficiency in LLMs, R, and/or Stata is necessary
• Demonstrated ability to process and merge multi-national and multi-year datasets is
  preferred
• In-depth knowledge of weighting and imputation is necessary
• In-depth knowledge of advanced statistical techniques is preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are preferred
• Spanish language comprehension is preferred
• Knowledge of or experience with sampling design is preferred
• Knowledge and experience with public opinion research is necessary
• Strong interpersonal communication skills are necessary
• Ability to perform complex tasks and to prioritize multiple projects and competing
  deadlines is necessary
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team setting is necessary
  
  

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

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