Title: Senior Research Associate

Status: Full-time, Regular, Exempt

Reports to: Director of International Research and Vice President of Research

Location: New York City / Hybrid Work Schedule

Organization:

Founded in 1968, the Guttmacher Institute is a global leader in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Through a unique and interrelated program of high-quality research, evidence-based advocacy and strategic communications, the Institute works to generate new ideas, encourage enlightened public debate, and promote sound policy and program development; its overarching goal is to ensure the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all people worldwide. The Institute is engaged in building a more inclusive, transparent and equitable organization.

Position Summary:

A Senior Research Associate (SRA) is responsible for a variety of research and management tasks. Research tasks may include collection of quantitative data (often by overseeing fielding of surveys), collection of qualitative data, data processing and analysis, contributing to or leading the writing of articles and reports, and coordinating with staff in other divisions, particularly in getting products to publication. An SRA typically will serve as project manager (i.e., managerial lead) on one or more projects and may also serve as project principal (i.e., substantive lead) on projects or project components. SRAs on international projects will often work extensively with in-country partners. SRAs contribute to training Research Associates, and often train and oversee Research Assistants.

A Senior Research Associate works with a substantial degree of independence, usually under the direction of a Senior Research Scientist or other Senior Research staff. Although an SRA carries out many of the same substantive and management tasks as a Research Associate, she or he must have additional qualifications and must take on additional responsibilities by virtue of greater experience and longer tenure.

Responsibilities:

Senior Research Associate–specific responsibilities

• Provide substantive background to Research Associates (and junior staff) who are embarking on new projects in unfamiliar substantive areas. Methods to do so may be both formal and informal, including compiling relevant literature or holding discussion/information sessions.
• Provide and share expertise on project management and supervision in the context of project implementation. Senior Research Associates can guide Research Associates on interpersonal communication, problem-solving strategies, and other personnel issues that may arise.
• With project partners, especially in but not limited to our international collaborations, design and co-lead training of fieldworkers.

If staffer has Guttmacher tenure

• Share knowledge and expertise on Guttmacher research implementation processes and methodologies with Research Associates and Research Assistants. Provide training and guidance to Research Associates and Research Assistants on data collection, processing, analysis and presentation as they are commonly performed at Guttmacher. These trainings may occur in the course of a project on which the Senior Research Associate is staffed with a Research Associate, or through more formal mechanisms such as scheduled trainings or presentations. In the international projects, SRAs may lead trainings, in collaboration with project partners.
• Share knowledge and expertise on Guttmacher processes for interdivisional work with Research Associates and Research Assistants.

Research tasks

• Act as project principal (substantive lead) on projects, typically smaller or shorter-term ones, or on components of projects.
• Design, format and proofread questionnaires, with direction from senior staff on content; implement or supervise research assistants on formatting, proofreading and translation of these documents.
• Assist with IRB-related preparation as needed; participate in IRB meetings, including presenting to the IRB during reviews.
• Moderate focus groups or conduct personal interviews.
• Schedule, monitor, manage and coordinate a variety of tasks necessary for the fielding of surveys, including:
  • In the domestic context:
    • Sample selection and management of respondent databases
    • Organize project timetables and activities for initial and follow-up mailings
    • Assist with orientation of research assistants to projects, with training in fieldwork skills
    • Monitor productivity and quality of work
    • Supervise the tracking of survey respondents
    • Supervise activities to follow up on survey nonresponse and item nonresponse and clarification
    • Develop coding instructions and training of research assistants in coding procedures
    • Supervise checking and coding of questionnaires in preparation for data entry
    • Supervise all tasks related to maintaining proper documentation of fieldwork activities and archiving of project files concerning fieldwork
    • Monitor that a study’s methodological procedures are properly followed to ensure data quality
  • In the international context:
    • Collaborate with fieldwork partners on study design, including sample selection and study instrument development
    • Lead or participate in fieldwork training of partners
    • Manage project timelines and activities
    • Monitor/supervise fieldwork in collaboration with partners
    • Develop checks to ensure quality data entry and data cleaning processes
    • Supervise or participate in tasks related to maintaining proper documentation of fieldwork activities

• Implement data analyses using SPSS, Stata, NVivo or other social science analysis packages; take primary responsibility for certain complex analyses and data management tasks.
• Train and oversee Research Assistants in data cleaning and basic analyses.
• Participate in the drafting and/or review of articles and project reports, serving as first author in some cases.
• Serve as the Research Division’s point person to review and fact check materials as requested by other divisions (such as news releases and social media outputs).
• Present findings and represent Guttmacher at meetings and conferences.

Management tasks

• Serve as project manager (i.e., managerial lead) and work closely with project principals to oversee budget and staffing needs, while monitoring project schedules and work plan.
• Work with Communications and Policy teams, when applicable, to help coordinate communications activities.
• Coordinate projects that involve Guttmacher’s partnering with external collaborating agencies in the U.S. or in other countries; includes coordinating and making logistical and substantive preparations for field visits with both Guttmacher staff and staff of the partner organization, as well as helping coordinate with external communications partners for dissemination activities and launch events.
• Write reports to and participate in calls with funders.
• Assist with interviewing and recruitment of Senior Research Associates, Research Associates, Senior Research Assistants and Research Assistants.
• Participate in mentoring of research assistants.
• Assist in various aspects of project development, for example by developing budget estimates (staffing and direct costs) for fieldwork activities.
• Implement appropriate (confidential if required) storage, archiving or disposal of survey questionnaires.
• Perform other reasonably related job duties as assigned by supervisor or division management.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a social science, public health or other relevant field and a minimum of five years of progressively responsible related work experience; or a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and seven years of progressively responsible related work experience.
• Detailed knowledge of the processes and practices used in the Guttmacher research division to implement research projects, or knowledge of equivalent processes in a similar research setting.
• Demonstrated experience in performing and understanding complex data analysis procedures using statistical packages such as SPSS, Stata and NVivo.
• Strong writing skills.
• Ability to schedule and coordinate work of a team.
• Ability and willingness to train and mentor Research Associates.
• Ability to train and supervise research assistants in implementing project work.
• Ability to liaise with, and to professionally manage communication with, consultants, collaborators, and/or organizations.
• Ability to travel and represent Guttmacher at external meetings and conferences.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to plan ahead and foresee needs and problems.
• Effective communication, organizational and management skills.
• Efficiency, accuracy, high productivity, and professionalism.

Salary and Benefits:

Salary starting at $100,528 to $160,731, commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits that include medical, dental, vision and life insurance; vacation, personal and sick time; paid parental leave; tuition reimbursement; commuting subsidy; and 401(k) with employer match. The Guttmacher Institute strives to provide the training and support staff need to be successful in their positions and to grow professionally.

Please note that telephone inquiries will not be acknowledged. No agencies, please. The Guttmacher Institute seeks to foster a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment, where every employee’s unique talents are valued and recognized as an asset to the achievement of our mission.