NatCen Social Research
35 Northampton Square
London EC1V 0AX
t: 020 7250 1866
f: 020 7250 1524
e: info@natcen.ac.uk; www.natcen.ac.uk
Research Director (Survey Statistician)
Job Description
Department:
Survey Research Centre
Job Purpose/ Duties & Responsibilities:
The post involves providing statistical input on quantitative research projects, directing
methods research projects and supervising the work of less experienced Statisticians.
Research Directors would be expected to:
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design sampling strategies;
obtain/select samples for surveys;
generate weights for samples;
review, develop and implement new methodology related to survey design and analysis;
undertake complex data analysis;
contributing to the development and mentoring of more junior staff;
advise/teach quantitative researchers, sponsors and less experienced Statisticians on
general methodological issues;
manage research teams on methods projects;
be part of the tendering process for research projects – both contributing to Research
Proposals and being a member of the team for tendering interviews;
lead on the tendering process for methods projects;
disseminate the work of the SMU via conferences and written reports/papers;
contribute to research and technical reports;
contribute to the development of NatCen’s policies;
perform any other reasonable duties that NatCen may require that are consistent with
the broad nature of the job role.
Essential Requirements:
Experience of survey research is essential for this post. This includes experience gained in
academia, government, other public sector, and voluntary sector or market research
settings. We would normally expect someone appointed at research director level to have six
years’ experience in survey statistics and to be familiar with SPSS, Stata or a similar
statistical package. Research Directors are normally expected to work on more than one
project at a time, and the ability to work well under pressure and to manage deadlines is
essential.
Specific Competencies:
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Survey methods: technical knowledge and practical experience of general survey
methodology.
Sampling design: ability to design the ‘optimal’ sampling strategy for any particular
survey, allowing for practical issues and statistical efficiency.
Weighting: ability to assess when the use of weights is appropriate and how to generate
the ‘optimal’ set of weights for a particular achieved sample.
Updated May 2014
NatCen Social Research
35 Northampton Square
London EC1V 0AX
t: 020 7250 1866
f: 020 7250 1524
e: info@natcen.ac.uk; www.natcen.ac.uk
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Statistical packages: considerable experience with both SPSS and Stata - in particular
to manipulate data and carry out complex statistical analyses.
Other software: ability to use Excel for complex sampling design, power calculations
etc.
Statistical skills: good knowledge of theoretical statistical issues related to survey
methodology (e.g. estimating design effects due to clustering, weighting and
stratification). In addition, a through knowledge of all relevant areas of statistics.
Report writing: able to write complex reports in clear language for a variety of
audiences.
Proposal writing: able to determine feasibility of projects bearing in mind staff and
interviewing resources. Able to manage the process of writing an entire proposal for
methods projects from initial enquiry, and to initiate grant funded work.
Project management: able to co-ordinate and manage different project tasks for
methods projects and advise and direct other project team members on the organisation
of the project.
Communication: ability to explain possibly complex issues to clients and colleagues in a
clear and comprehensible manner, using non-technical language where appropriate.
Client liaison: able to negotiate with clients and collaborators changes to a project, and
to the costs and timetable. Able to advise and direct on all aspects of client/collaborator
liaison and take the lead in potentially problematic situations.
Personnel management: able to organise team of researchers on a project by project
basis, evaluate staff performance, monitor progresses and conduct appraisals. Able to
contribute to staff recruitment by conducting job interviews.
Project costing and financial management: able to do costing for methods projects,
set budgets for different departments, monitor costs and keep to budgetary constraints.
Organisational management: able to make a major contribution to the development
and implementation of NatCen’s policies in discrete areas (e.g. by chairing committees
and working groups).
External promotion: able to promote NatCen’s work through talks at conferences,
journal papers and membership of external committees, and to represent NatCen in the
media through radio or television interviews. Able to develop a dissemination strategy for
a study and build relationships with the research and policy community.
Generic Competencies:
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Team working: works effectively with others to achieve team goals; freely contributes
ideas and expresses opinions to others in the team; helps and supports others; willing to
subordinate personal working goals for the overall interests of the team & NatCen.
Administrative/organisational skills: ensures that administrative tasks are completed
to a high standard and in a timely and efficient manner; works in an organised and
efficient manner.
Time management: plans and organises time effectively; sets up and monitors
timescales and plans; develops workable contingencies and reacts flexibly and
effectively when required, balancing conflicting priorities.
Communication (internal & external): articulates views/proposals clearly, concisely
and logically both verbally and in writing; confidently liaises with all people both internally
and externally.
Ability to work independently: able to perform job responsibilities without close
supervision; able to recognise when advice is needed and seeks this advice from the
appropriate person at that time.
Updated May 2014
NatCen Social Research
35 Northampton Square
London EC1V 0AX
t: 020 7250 1866
f: 020 7250 1524
e: info@natcen.ac.uk; www.natcen.ac.uk
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Creativity/problem solving: creates new and imaginative approaches to work-related
issues; identifies fresh approaches and shows a willingness to question traditional
assumptions; analyses issues logically and from all angles; makes systematic and
rational judgements based on relevant information and generates logical, timely and
workable solutions.
Flexibility/adaptability: takes a flexible approach to work situations; willing and able to
adjust to changing demands; receptive to new ideas.
Computing/IT skills: able to understand and use relevant computing and IT systems at
work in order to produce high quality outputs.
Updated May 2014