Pew Research Center

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Organization Overview

The Pew Research Center (Pew Research) is a nonpartisan “fact tank” that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It does so by conducting public opinion polling and social science research; analyzing news coverage; and holding forums and briefings. It does not take positions on policy issues. Its work is carried out by a “Core” administrative and publishing unit and these seven projects:

• The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press (people-press.org) led by Andrew Kohut
• Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism (journalism.org) led by Tom Rosenstiel
• Pew Internet & American Life Project (pewinternet.org) led by Lee Rainie
• Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (pewforum.org) led by Luis Lugo
• Pew Hispanic Center (pewhispanic.org) led by Paul Taylor
• Pew Global Attitudes Project (pewglobal.org) led by Andrew Kohut
• Pew Social & Demographic Trends (pewsocialtrends.org) led by Paul Taylor

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life Overview

Launched in 2001, the Pew Forum seeks to promote a deeper understanding of issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs. The Pew Forum pursues its mission by delivering timely, impartial information to the public and to national opinion leaders, including journalists, government officials and religious leaders. It studies public opinion, demographics, media coverage and other important aspects of religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world. It provides a neutral venue for discussions of timely issues through roundtables and briefings. As a non-partisan, non-advocacy organization, the Forum does not take positions on policy debates.

Position Summary

The Survey Researcher serves as the Forum’s principal in-house expert in developing research designs, creating questionnaires, performing statistical analysis, and drafting reports. The researcher also helps field requests for information from the press, government officials and other Forum target audiences on issues related to religion and American politics and public policy. In addition, the researcher supervises the work of the Forum’s survey research staff.

This position requires management skills and experience in setting ambitious yet realistic objectives and determining the best use of resources and staff time to meet those objectives. Further, it requires sound editorial judgment in the interpretation and description of research findings, as the organization’s reputation for impartiality and straightforward explanation is grounded in a consistent editorial style and institutional voice. The position reports to the Director and Associate Director, Research of the Forum, and works closely with other researchers on staff and with the Pew Research Center’s Director of Survey Research. The Forum will consider applicants with various levels of experience.

Primary Responsibilities

I. Research design and data analysis (70%)
• Develop research designs that are appropriate to project goals
• Develop survey questionnaires
• Manage the work of the Forum’s survey staff on specific projects
• Conduct advanced analyses of survey datasets
• Stay abreast of the field

II. Writing and Communication (20%)
• Write in-depth data analyses for research reports
• Respond to external requests for information
• Present research findings to Forum audiences

III. Project Planning and Management (10%)
• Allocate resources and staff time to best meet project deadlines
• Map out project timeline and managing deadlines
• Set and adhere to project timelines and deliverables
• Update Director and Associate Director on progress
• Train new staff as necessary

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Attention to detail, including exacting standards to maintain accuracy and impartiality in all work products
• Strong quantitative skills, including an ability to use various statistical programs to organize and analyze large amounts of data
• Familiarity with issues in religion and American politics
• Editorial judgment and proven ability to communicate research results clearly and concisely in Pew’s style in both verbal and written form
• Skilled in project development and management
• Ability to communicate using the organization’s editorial style and institutional voice
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to balance numerous projects simultaneously
• Ability to take a leadership role in managing the work of colleagues and train and develop new staff and
coworkers when needed

Education/Training/Experience

• A Ph.D. in Political Science, Sociology or related field is strongly preferred
• Proven ability to undertake rigorous data analysis is crucial, including using SPSS, Excel, and other software
• Training or experience in studying religion from a social scientific framework
• Experience in managing research projects, including working collaboratively with other researchers, is highly desirable

Application Procedure

Applicant should send a complete resume and cover letter (indicating where you learned of the opening) to: [e-mail]

We are an equal opportunity employer.

Company:
Pew Research Center
Department:
Forum on Religion & Public Life
Contact:
Gideon Steinberg
Email:
[e-mail]
Phone:
2024194300
Fax:
2024194339
Address:
1615 L Street, NW
Suite 700
Washington , DC 20036