To be considered for the position we require a cover letter to be submitted with your application.

Position Summary:

Independently and in collaboration with teams, apply technical skills in survey design, fieldwork oversight, and data analysis to develop, complete, and disseminate research on public opinion. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

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, focus groups.
• 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 (requires occasional travel abroad)
• 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

Research Analysis and Reporting 

• 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

Other:

• Additional assignments, as needed. 

 This position reports to the LAPOP Director. The position is located in Nashville, TN and will require in-office attendance 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
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are preferred
• Spanish language comprehension is preferred
• Knowledge of or experience with sampling design is preferred 
• Knowledge of or 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
• Microsoft Office proficiency (including Word and Excel) is necessary
• Proficiency in Stata and/or R is strongly preferred

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. 

Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.