Job Description

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position. The cover letter should specifically address why you are interested in this position, describe specific skills and experiences in your history, and directly relate them to the responsibilities of, and qualification for this position. In order for the Career Portal system to accept your cover letter, include it as the first page of your resume document.

Job Summary

We are looking for a Survey Specialist Senior to join the Data Collection Operations unit at the Institute for Social Research (ISR), Survey Research Center (SRC), Survey Research Operations (SRO).

The Data Collection Operations unit is responsible for the recruiting, hiring, training, supervising and supporting approximately 650 SRC data collection staff (centralized and decentralized staff) who serve as interviewers. This position is part of the Production Management Team. Survey Specialists on the Production Management Team support a remote, national data collection staff responsible for meeting project production and cost goals on complex surveys, requiring the use of computer-assisted data collection technologies by telephone or in-person, and also collaborate with our centralized production staff located in Ann Arbor.

More information about our organization can be found here:  https://www.src.isr.umich.edu/services/survey-research-operations/

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and any eligible family members and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

Generous time off

A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting upon meeting eligibility requirements

Many choices for comprehensive health insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability coverage

Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Responsibilities*

Develop and implement contingent staff recruitment strategies; recruit, screen, hire, and train data collection staff; develop training plans and materials; implement general and study-specific training programs. Supervise staff completing surveys and other data collections; may also mentor and supervise junior staff and participate in the recruitment of new staff; ensure protocols are being consistently followed by staff through review and monitoring of work products; participate in problem identification and resolution during data collection and processing period; recommend organizational improvements in staff and quality assurance protocols. 

Manage and continually improve project operations. Compose, manage, and update project work plans, including project goals, objectives and scope, budget, assumptions, constraints, roles and responsibilities, risks, work scope changes, project deliverables, and milestones. Meet data collection and processing requirements according to schedule and budget; use statistical process control techniques to monitor all aspects of production; track and report project status to clients and senior management on a regular basis. Lead questionnaire and other instrument development as well as specification and development of technical systems. 

Consult with clients or project leads on the development of survey research project designs; lead the project team on medium and large projects to meet deliverables on time and on budget; lead tasks on larger projects; define and manage project/task scope and maintain a clear scope statement; prepare project work plans and schedules in consultation with study staffs and other members of the project team. Represent research project to stakeholders, as required, such as community leaders, funders, researchers, and respondents. 

Assist in proposal preparation with responsibility for researching and composing sections, and lead medium-sized/complexity proposal efforts; independently oversee proposal/project budgeting process. Document all phases of the data collection and processing protocols; prepare complex analyses of data and reports; forecast and monitor project expenses. 

Required Qualifications*

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. Five or more years of progressive levels of responsibility in survey research (three or more years for intermediate level), including two or more aspects of survey research (sampling, data collection, coding, data processing, application programming, analysis, methodology). 

Experience planning and managing projects in multiple modes of data collection.

Experience creating and managing a budget and resources for survey projects.

Experience using and developing technical systems designed to collect and organize data such as computer-assisted interviewing (CAI) software and/or management information technical systems.

Demonstrated experience making independent decisions while using correct judgment about when to seek guidance from senior staff.

Experience using statistical techniques for problem solving and forecasting.

Demonstrated ability to manage team's ability to meet deadlines under tight time constraints.

Ability to work independently.

Effective and demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills with multiple groups and individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Ability to work collaboratively with staff at all levels.

Ability to use critical reasoning in preparing survey plans, assessing issues, evaluating risks.

Demonstrated ability to compose instructions, memorandum, manuals and other documents, including technical material.

Excellent communication and organizational skills and demonstrated competence in MS Office software and Google Workspace tools.

Ability to travel overnight for 10 days, or as required to meet project needs.

Desired Qualifications*

Master's degree in related field. Experience with sampling techniques such as listing and screening. 

Experience using statistical software packages such as SAS, SPSS, STATA, or R to conduct analyses or for problem solving and forecasting. 

Experience supervising a decentralized staff. 

Experience training, evaluating, and providing coaching/feedback to employees.  

Experience in manipulation of data sets for simple file creation and presentation in tables.

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, days. This position may require occasional overnight travel and weekends to meet project needs.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Underfill Statement

Openings may be filled at the Survey Specialist Senior or Survey Specialist Intermediate level, depending depth and breadth of experience and qualifications.

Positions at the Survey Specialist Senior level will be filled at the $85,000 - $95,000 salary range.

Positions at the Survey Specialist Intermediate level will be filled at the $65,000 - $80,000 salary range.

Additional Information

Salary will be dependent upon qualifications and experience of selected candidate.

The Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the diverse people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to ground our research in varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning. Individuals from groups historically under-represented are strongly encouraged to apply.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of fourteen calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

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