Managing Director, Survey Methods

Pew Research Center • Washington, DC

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Managing Director, Survey Methods is the Center’s senior leader on survey methodology and practice, responsible for upholding best-in-class quality standards while making sound decisions about feasibility, speed, and cost. They set and execute strategy for data collection across the survey lifecycle, from questionnaire design and sampling to weighting, quality control, and data release. The Managing Director oversees two high-functioning survey methods teams -- domestic and international – who are responsible for the American Trends Panel, the National Public Opinion Reference Survey, and an extensive range of global attitudes surveys, among other projects. The teams work closely with Research Directors across the Center on dozens of studies each year, ranging from general population panel surveys to distinctive, one-off studies. This person serves as a media spokesperson and key public voice on survey methods and polling, helping external audiences understand how public opinion research works and its strengths and limitations. They also advance the organization’s reputation for methodological leadership via a methods research agenda. In partnership with other research leaders, the Managing Director helps guide experimentation with emerging tools, including AI, where they can responsibly strengthen aspects of the survey process. This role holds a seat on the Center’s Leadership team and currently reports to the Executive Vice President.

Requirements

• Significant senior-level experience in survey methodology or related social science research.
• Deep expertise in survey design, including questionnaire development, sampling, weighting, estimation, and data quality.
• Demonstrated methodological leadership and strong awareness of innovations and trends in the field.
• Experience leading methodological research and applying findings to improve practice.
• Strong understanding of panel methodology and the drivers of panel quality and representativeness.
• Demonstrated ability to balance quality, feasibility, timeliness, and cost in methodological decision-making.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong communication skills and credibility as an external voice on survey methods and polling.
• Commitment to rigor, transparency, reproducibility, and responsible disclosure risk practices.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies, including AI, and sound judgment about their appropriate use in research.
• PhD in survey methodology, statistics, social science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years of research experience, with a minimum of 10 years of specialized experience in survey methodology or research and analysis.

Nice To Haves

• Strong preference for experience conducting public-facing opinion polls aligned with the needs of broad, nontechnical audiences.
• Experience with international survey research and sensitivity to cultural and contextual differences.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Center’s survey methodology efforts, with primary responsibility for domestic and international methods.
• Define and advance best practices in survey design, sampling, weighting, questionnaire development, estimation, and data quality.
• Ensure the ongoing quality and performance of the American Trends Panel and other core survey approaches, maintaining industry-leading methodology.
• Oversee complex survey design and execution across a wide range of topics and study types.
• Accountable for questionnaire quality through sound design, testing, and review practices.
• Stay current on innovations and trends in survey methodology and related fields, evaluating their relevance for the Center.
• Assess new approaches and tools for their potential to improve research quality, efficiency, and impact, weighing benefits against budget targets.
• Set and lead the Center’s survey methods research agenda, identifying priorities and applying findings to improve practice.
• Contribute to experimentation with AI and other emerging technologies where they can responsibly support survey research.
• Ensure data quality and integrity across the Center’s survey work, balancing methodological excellence with practical constraints, including budget.
• Uphold standards for rigor, transparency, reproducibility, and appropriate disclosure risk management.
• Ensure that survey methods and documentation meet high expectations for both internal review and external credibility.
• Identify and address methodological and data quality risks, particularly in complex or high-profile work.
• Lead and develop teams responsible for domestic survey methods, the American Trends Panel, and international survey methods.
• Set priorities, manage workflows, and oversee key methodological decisions.
• Mentor and develop staff, strengthening methodological capacity across the Center.
• Partner with research, operations, communications and other colleagues to ensure effective execution and collaboration.
• Act as a credible external representative of the Center’s methods work with legacy and new media, peers, stakeholders and partners.
• Communicate complex methodological concepts clearly to nontechnical audiences.
• Represent the Center in professional and public forums.

Benefits

• Affordable, comprehensive health care that includes medical, dental (including adult orthodontia) and vision benefits.
• Generous paid annual leave plan, including a winter break between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1
• Employer-paid disability, life insurance and paid family leave plans
• Up to a 12% employer 401(k) contribution, with vesting at the end of the first year.
• A 37.5-hour workweek.
• Health savings or flexible spending account options with employer funding component.
• Flexibility to telework a portion of each week, with an additional four telework “flex weeks” each year for most staff.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree