Job Description

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest, experience, and qualifications in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relates to this position.

The Surveys of Consumers (SCA)  at the Institute of Social Research, (ISR), at the University of Michigan is seeking to fill the position of Research Technician Senior.

The Surveys of Consumers Attitudes measures consumer expectations to capture the impact of the expectations of consumers on their spending and saving behavior. The consumer expectations index is a component of the Index of Leading Economic Indicators due to its ability to predict future changes in the economy. The data are widely used by government agencies, financial institutions, business firms, and scholars, as well as by ordinary citizens.

This longstanding research program conducts monthly surveys of the economic expectations and behaviors of American households and how changes in their expectations influence the course of the macro economy. Market moving economic data on consumer confidence and other measures are released twice a month to the public, market participants, and policy makers. The surveys also include data on other related topics from sponsors within and from outside the University. This project is located in the Survey Research Center ( SRC ) at the Institute for Social Research ( ISR ). This position reports to the Director of the Survey of Consumers.

Research Support - 50% 

Carry out assignments in support of research on consumer attitudes toward the economy, household economic/financial behavior, as well as data collection and production for a longstanding economic survey. Tasks include: performing literature searches and summaries; data cleaning and documentation; analyzing data from internal and external sources; preparing results for and otherwise assisting with the production of presentations, publications, and reports including for internet distribution; drafting memos and documentation; assisting with IRB submissions; running programs to determine durations of questionnaire sections, review results, and send to sponsors 

Manage Research Processes - 25%

Assist with editing of reports and publications; assist faculty and staff with project specific needs; organize & compile regular project reports with input from faculty and staff; complete bimonthly release tasks and assist assembling, reviewing, and revising monthly survey questionnaires and codebooks; test and assign testing of monthly survey instruments in Blaise; order, inventory and reconcile materials such as mailing supplies.

General Administration- 25%

Provide professional communications/customer service to respondents, researchers and the public via telephone and email; respond to email inquiries from researchers and private firms; respond to questions and concerns from respondents and coordinate required actions with the SRO SSL; facilitate data requests from other researchers; liaison with investigators, other departments and staff from ISR and university; handle media requests and communicate with media on behalf of investigators

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Bachelors degree in Economics
• 1 to 2 years experience is preferred.
• Excellent spreadsheet and word processing skills using Microsoft Office or Google
• Work or project experience with statistical programming software, such as SAS, R, Stata
• Work experience supporting research processes, including report editing, project report organization, and faculty/staff support.
• Work experience with the collection of high-frequency (monthly or higher frequency) survey data, for example conducting interviews, interacting with survey respondents, or helping to develop and review interview materials
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve and able to make independent decisions on matters of significance, within the scope of responsibilities.
• Excellent communication skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively
• Ability to work simultaneously on multiple large, time-sensitive projects, while maintaining flexibility and professionalism

We are especially interested if you have: 

• Knowledge of UM policies, procedures, and regulations is  preferred.
• Hands-on experience in survey interviewing techniques (including reviewing survey instruments and training materials) for the measurement of consumer economic expectations
• Work experience in the financial services industry, particularly with residential mortgages, strongly preferred
• Work experience with customer service that includes written and telephone interactions strongly preferred
• Work experience with handling external requests for data, including fulfilling requests for information, directing requesters to appropriate colleagues, and translating technical/research language for members of the general public
• Experience representing unit to both internal and external audiences 
• Proficiency in R, demonstrated by using one or two years of experience, particularly in the analysis of economic data from surveys and macroeconomic indicators
• UM PEERRS (Program for the Education and Evaluation of Responsible Research and Scholarship) certification

Work Schedule/Location

This position is on-site at the University of Michigan, Institute of Social Research, Survey Research Center in Ann Arbor. We offer flexibility for hybrid work within our overall Center guidelines. Flexible work guidelines for this position is 100% in-office for the onboarding/training period. After successfully completing the onboarding/training period, the guidelines are 80% onsite, 4 days in the office and 20% remote, 1 day.

Salary is dependent upon qualifications and experience  of the selected candidate.

The statements included in this description are intended to reflect the general nature and level of work assigned to this classification and should not be interpreted as all-inclusive.

The Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the diverse people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the University, and to ground our research in varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. 

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

About University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A great university is made so by its faculty and staff, and Michigan is recognized as one of the best universities to work for in the country. The Michigan culture is known for engaging faculty and staff in all facets of the university to create a workplace that is vibrant and stimulating.For two consecutive years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has placed U-M in its "Great Colleges to Work For" survey. In particular, the university earns high marks for strong relations between faculty and administrators, a collaborative system of governance, strong pay and benefits, and a healthy work/life balance.

Connections working at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Job Tags

Work experience placement, Flexible hours,

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