Research Study Assistant (Temporary)

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

3d•$21 - $24•Hybrid

About The Position

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. At the University of Washington School of Social Work (SSW), we commit ourselves to promoting social and economic justice for poor and oppressed populations and enhancing the quality of life for all. We strive to maximize human welfare through education, research, and public service. We embrace our position of leadership in the field of social work and join in partnership with others in society committed to solving human problems in the twenty-first century. The UW and the School of Social Work promote diversity and inclusivity among our staff, faculty and students; we seek applicants for this position who are committed to these principles and whose experiences have prepared them to fulfill our commitment to inclusion and have given them the confidence to fully engage with audiences from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. Social Development Research Group (SDRG) is looking for bilingual temporary hourly staff to conduct brief telephone surveys with parents of children ages 0-11 for the Best Starts for Kids Health Survey. The position is from January – August 2026 . Best Starts for Kids (BSK) is a voter-approved initiative to improve the health and well-being of all King County residents by investing in promotion, prevention and early intervention for children, youth, families and communities. The Best Starts for Kids Health Survey will collect information from families in King County as one way to evaluate if the BSK initiative is effective. Basic Function: NOTE: This is NOT a medical or laboratory position. The function of the Bilingual Research Interviewer will involve calling participants to encourage their participation in the survey. Research Interviewers will use various tools (phone, text, email), resources and techniques to recruit and encourage participants to complete web or phone surveys. When not contacting participants, team members may do other tasks such as data entry, filing, preparing mailings, or assisting other team members, as needed. Telephone interviewers will receive training and will be expected to demonstrate mastery of basic interviewing techniques before beginning work on the project. Training and team meetings will be held in-person at our offices in the University District. Contacting participants will be done remotely after training is completed. Calling hours are Monday - Sunday from 8am - 8pm. Bilingual Telephone Interviewers will be scheduled for 5 15 hours hours a week within that time frame, or up to 35 hours a week if also conducting interviews in English.

Requirements

Two years of college-level course work in a relevant academic area AND one year of appropriate experience. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
Must be fluent in English, as well as one of the following languages: Chinese (Traditional reading, Mandarin speaking), Russian, or Vietnamese
Ability to build rapport easily over the phone
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to work as a member of a cooperative team
Flexible schedule, available to work nights and weekends
Comfortable learning new technology and working with multiple electronic systems (MS Office, Teams, and Computer-Assisted Interviewing (CAPI/CATI) software)

Nice To Haves

Previous customer service experience preferred
Understanding of data collection process preferred
Candidates with experience working with diverse communities, particularly working with African American and American Indian and Alaska Native communities locally, preferred

Responsibilities

Contact respondents via phone call, text, and/or email.
Motivate respondents to finish surveys as soon as possible, help the project meet completion goals, implement refusal prevention techniques for hesitant participants; maintain high response rates.
Conduct scripted phone interviews with the assistance of data collection software and/or encourage participants to complete surveys online.
Adhere to project protocol by maintaining confidentiality of participant information, using project tools properly, and keeping detailed and accurate records.
Participate in weekly staff meetings, provide on-going feedback on survey administration and procedures, and assist in problem-solving solutions
Assist with other data collection and clerical tasks, as needed