Job Description

Position Summary

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

Required Skills

• Contract Compliance - VU
• Data Capture - VU
• Experimentation - VU
• Quality Control - VU
• Quantitative Research - VU
• Regulatory Compliance - VU
• Report Writing - VU
• Research Ethics - VU
• Research Funding - VU
• Research Methodologies - VU

About Us

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.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity 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.

Job Info

• Job Identification 10008809
• Posting Date 09/01/2026, 01:51 PM
• Locations Nashville, TN, United States (Hybrid)
• Job Schedule Full time
• Job Category Research
• Job Function Core Research and Laboratory
• Management Level Individual Contributor 2

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