Field Data Collector at NORC at the University of Chicago in Houma, LA

Summary:

Help Advance Research on Aging, Health, Memory, and Well-Being!

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking Field Data Collectors (Field Interviewers) to support the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), a landmark national study examining the health, well-being, relationships, memory, and aging experiences of older adults across the United States.

This is an ideal opportunity for individuals who enjoy meaningful conversations, working independently, and building trust with people from diverse backgrounds.

Job Description:

In this role, you will meet one-on-one with older adults in their homes, guide them through an in-depth research interview, and collect important health and cognitive measures. Your work will contribute to research that helps scientists, healthcare professionals, and policymakers better understand aging and improve quality of life for future generations. This includes:

• Conduct in-home research visits with study participants, including interviews, assessments, and data collection.
• Build positive relationships with older adults to support study participation and engagement.
• Schedule, manage, and document participant visits using company technology.
• Travel within assigned territory to complete field-based research activities.
• Ensure compliance with research protocols, confidentiality requirements, and quality standards.

Collect health-related measurements and biological specimens after attending in-person training and in accordance with established protocols.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate for this role:

• Is available to work a flexible part-time schedule, including evenings and weekends.
• Is a self-starter who can work independently, is organized, and can manage their own schedule.
• Enjoys connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and listening to their stories.
• Is comfortable making unsolicited contacts by phone and in person to gain cooperation to complete a screener and conduct an in-depth interview.
• Is willing to conduct interviews in person at a respondent's home, workplace, or another appropriate public location.
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills and persistence in gaining participation.

Responsibilities:

• Gain respondent cooperation by communicating persuasively and with appropriate assertiveness.
• Maintain neutral and objective communication with respondents.
• Conduct in-home interviews in accordance with established protocols.Administer cognitive, physical, and health assessments, including collecting biological specimens (saliva and blood) in accordance with project protocols and training requirements.
• Maintain accurate documentation and uphold participant privacy, confidentiality, and data quality standards.
• Conduct cognitive and health assessments and collect biological specimens in accordance with study protocols.

Requirements:

• Available to work 20 to 25 hours per week, including evenings and weekends.
• Comfortable visiting older adults, in their homes, including making unannounced outreach visits.
• Comfortable handling specialized study equipment after completing in-person training.
• Willing to collect biological specimens, such as saliva and blood.
• Able to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 10 pounds, including walking up and down stairs as needed.
• Comfortable using a company-provided laptop, tablet, basic medical equipment and software applications for Case Management.
• Must reside within 75 miles of the location listed in the job posting.
• Valid driver’s license, automobile insurance, and access to reliable transportation. (NP to remove in non-driving locations)
• All employees hired for this position must present evidence of their identity and authorization to work in the United States (I-9 documentation).
• Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• High School Diploma or GED preferred.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) is a plus.

Salary And Benefits:

The pay range for this position will be $19.50 – $24.00 per hour, with additional bilingual pay of $1.00 for each hour worked after certification is completed; pay is based on experience and geographic location.

This position is classified as intermittent. Intermittent staff are eligible for the following benefits:

• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Paid sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Paid orientation and training
• Free counseling and referrals through NORC’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee discount programs - like travel and electronics

NORC’s Approach to Equity and Transparency

Pay and benefits transparency helps to reduce wage gaps. As part of our commitment to pay equity and salary transparency, NORC includes a salary range for each job opening along with information about eligible benefit offerings. At NORC, we take a comprehensive approach to setting salary ranges and reviewing raises and promotions, which is overseen by a formal Salary Review Committee (SRC).

We will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. Material job duties that may be directly and negatively impacted by certain criminal histories and result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment include in-person visits to respondent homes, collection of and access to sensitive personal information, handling of client funds, and scientific integrity in the ethical collection of data. The chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information of good conduct and rehabilitation will be provided.

Other Important Details:

Why Be Part of NSHAP?

This is more than a survey job. Every interview you complete advances critical research on aging, memory, social connections, and Alzheimer's disease. Join us to help shape the future of healthcare and improve quality of life for older adults in America. One conversation can help shape the future of aging research.

Learn more about the project details representing our current data collection phase: National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP R5)

Because of the temporary nature of field work, these positions are great for students, teachers, real estate agents, tax preparers, retirees, and all others who are looking for flexible work.

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 80 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 equal opportunity employer. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, and other legally protected characteristics.