"Survey Institute Research Scientist"

This position has been deemed critical by the School of Humanities and Sciences Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring freeze.

Never before has so much survey research been done nor has it had so much impact on academic scholarship, government policymaking, and business decision making. To improve the conduct and impact of survey research in all arenas of society, Stanford has launched the Institute for Excellence in Survey Research (SIESR).

Directed by Stanford faculty, SIESR will identify best practices in survey data collection, analysis, and use, share those insights widely, document the accuracy of optimally conducted surveys, enhance public attention to such surveys, and inform policy debates by disseminating findings to academics, the media, policymakers, and industry.

SIESR is currently seeking to hire a Survey Institute Research Scientist [Academic Program Professional 2].

The position will involve two primary activities: (1) building and implementing an on-campus consulting service to enhance the quality of surveys being conducted by Stanford researchers, and (2) coordinating The Public Pulse, a project that gathers up high quality survey data documenting American public opinion on important policy issues and writes reports summarizing the findings yielded by those data.

As the Institute grows, the Survey Institute Research Scientist will also train and supervise other staff, pre-docs, post-docs, graduate students, and undergraduates.

The Survey Institute Research Scientist will participate in envisioning and planning other activities for the Institute to carry out and will be a member of the team participating in SIESR events.

This is an outstanding opportunity to be on the ground floor of an exciting and innovative new initiative at Stanford for someone who holds a strong commitment to the value of survey research in the nation’s social and political discourse, who is immersed in the details and nuances of survey research methods, and who relishes the chance to be part of a startup, breaking new ground.

STANDARD CORE DUTIES

• Develop and manage research programs by conducting research activities, including outreach to varied stakeholders within the program, assigning resources and making program improvement recommendations that impact policies and programs.
• Identify, recommend and implement opportunities for new research.
• Source, collect and analyze data, create reports, review and explain trends; formulate and evaluate alternative solutions and/or recommendations to achieve the goals of the program or function.
• Write and/or edit complex content for proposals, research grants, peer-reviewed publications, and other program activities.
• Contribute to and inform on strategic program/entity planning and related funding and financial sustainability.
• Develop or contribute to outreach strategy related to program communications, development, partnerships, and fundraising/funding.

The job duties listed above are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classifications and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

A PhD in a social science discipline (must be conferred before starting.)

Specific knowledge, skills and abilities for this position include:

• Substantial training in best practices of survey methodology
• Statistical training and skills suitable for advanced analysis of survey data
• Computer skills and experience with wrangling data, writing code, building databases, and analyzing surveys
• Familiarity with the landscape of existing surveys conducted by government agencies, academics, and businesses in the U.S.
• Excellent ability to write reports integrating survey findings
• Skills suitable for being an effective consultant and advisor to other researchers conducting their own project

Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to develop program partnerships and funding sources.
• Excellent oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in area of specialization.
• Ability to oversee and direct staff.
• Basic knowledge of managing budgets and developing financial plans.

Also helpful will be:

• Prior experience spearheading one or more new, long-term research-oriented initiatives
• Project management, from start to successful completion

This is a full-time, exempt position eligible for the full range of benefits offered to Stanford staff (see https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards). The initial commitment (pending satisfactory performance) is for a period of three years. The staff member will be based on the Stanford campus and will be expected to maintain a presence on campus to participate in SIESR activities.

Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

The pay range for this position is $117,000 to $150,000 per year. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.