Research Director Ii - Public Affairs And Media Research - Hybrid/Remote

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Research Director II is responsible for managing discrete tasks of complex social science projects in the U.S. and around the world. The ideal candidate will possess a broad interest in public opinion research, conducted using quantitative and qualitative methods, and communicating key findings for various audiences. The successful candidate will serve as project manager for complex research projects in their entirety, including responsibility for the schedule, budget, staff, and client relations, and will work with senior staff and methodological experts to implement the project's design, appropriate data collection procedures, data management, and quality control.  

DEPARTMENT:  PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND MEDIA RESEARCH

Through The AP-NORC Center and our relationships with other leading news and Media organizations, we work with our clients to position research findings for the journalists, policymakers, and thought leaders who can amplify their impact. 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage large or complex research projects end-to-end under the direction of senior staff.
• Work directly with clients to keep them updated on project progress, respond to project requests, and understand their goals for the project. 
• Manage project logistics, including budget monitoring, junior staff oversight, and timeline. 
• Contribute to every facet of the research process, including: 
  • Working on questionnaire content and design, bringing an understanding of industry standards to the design of the instrument. 
  • Preparing and analyzing quantitative or qualitative data collected during pretests and main components of studies.
  • Writing publication quality research reports.
• This position also has responsibilities for managing proposals.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in political science, social psychology, public policy, communications, survey methods, or other social science discipline preferred. 
• At least 5 years' experience in positions of increasing responsibility in social science research or related field (or equivalent education), including experience with project management, is required. Experience conducting qualitative and/or quantitative analysis is a plus. 
• Experience in client communications and relationship management is required. 
• The ideal candidate has training or experience in journalism, communications, or elections research, or knowledge and experience in conducting international work, including experience managing large tasks on multi-country studies, writing and disseminating research results in an international context, and managing clients and vendors outside the U.S. 
• The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of the principles of survey design, regression analysis and causal modeling in the social sciences, sampling, standard statistical software packages (such as SAS, R, or Stata).
• Demonstrated attentiveness to detailed tasks, strong organizational skills, and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.  
• The candidate must have very good oral and written communication skills and a strong orientation toward working in teams.
• Experience supervising junior staff is required. 
• Experience with estimating project and proposal costs is required. 
• Occasional travel for meetings may be required. 
• Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. 

SALARY AND BENEFITS: WHAT WE DO:

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

WHO WE ARE:

For over 75 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we're known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

EEO STATEMENT: 

NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the workforce. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other legally- protected characteristics.