Research Assistant

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 Centers 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 and update project work plans • Manage timelines • Oversee daily activities for data collection efforts • Coordinate with state agencies to ensure ADA compliance of survey materials, including non-English versions. • Coordinate with external partners, including printing and mailing house, and directory providers. • Provide leadership at printing house to ensure adherence to quality control measures. • 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. • Coordinate with CATI lab to monitor phone samples on an ongoing basis. • Manage technology and systems needed for processing data and for tracking and monitoring progress, e.g., SPSS, Excel, Access, SQL, OMR software such as Remark. • 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. • Provide regular updates to survey team and Center leadership.

Data Collection Oversight

• Manage the deployment and execution of various survey modes, mail, web, phone, and in-person, to maximize response rates and reach diverse populations. • Mail Surveys • Oversee printing and 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 and 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. • Ensure data integrity and compliance with IRB research protocols. • Work with others on IRB submissions and amendments. • Ensure all data collection methods strictly follow the approved research design and methodology. • Monitor data collection progress and seek innovative strategies to increase survey response rates. • Monitor, verify, and correct data quality errors during collection across all modes.

Staff Management

• Assist others in hiring, training, and supervising survey research staff, including interviewers, student assistants, support staff, and provide ongoing support and quality control.

Initiate Grant Proposals

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

Assist in Article Preparation

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