Social and Behavioral Researcher

This position conducts research activities under the general direction of a faculty member or a Sr. Social and Behavioral Researcher. The position oversees data collection, trains research assistants, communicates with other agencies involved in the project, and analyzes project data. 

Typical duties includes contributing to articles and grant proposals, developing coding systems for data gathering and analysis, training users of instruments or operations, recording procedures, conducting literature reviews, overseeing and conducting the collection and analysis on the project, designing and conducting data gathering such as interviews and surveys. 

This position may require specific computer expertise and may require maintaining information on a web site. This position requires a degree in a specific academic discipline and is distinguished from technical research support by its analysis and recommendation of courses of action. This work must meet the FLSA criteria for a professional exemption. 

This work is oriented primarily toward the gathering and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, rather than performance of direct community or human services, which distinguishes the job from Program Planner/ Analyst. 

The work is distinguished from a Sr. Social and Behavioral Researcher or higher-level researcher since it is not responsible for setting overall research direction nor for final interpretation of project results. This position may perform some administrative duties such as monitoring budgets, and drafting administrative forms and reports. However, work is distinguished from primarily administrative jobs by performing work as an investigator, a scientist, or a research data analyst, rather than preparing and administering budgets, reporting effort, paying expenses, or administering human resources functions.

• Collects and analyzes data by designing data collection instruments, conducting survey, and analyzing results.
• Drafts reports to granting agencies. Ensures timeliness of reports to granting agencies and may perform preliminary review of budget reports.
• Drafts publications and training manuals and provides service training to outside agencies as part of grant/contract.
• Participates in the presentation of the project to potential clients or contractors. May participate in presentations at professional meetings.
• Drafts sub-contracts for grant services.
• Conducts formative and summative evaluation of programs.
• Oversees screening protocols, ensuring quality control and collecting data for research studies. May oversee remote data gathering locations and train assistants who gather project data.
• Acts as performance consultant to subcontractors or health departments to produce model quality programs.
• Develops training manuals and provides training services.
• Develops website to disseminate project information.
• Performs other duties as assigned

This position requires a Bachelor's degree in a field directly related to the research or data analysis responsibilities and a minimum of one year of research experience; or a Master's degree in one of the same fields. Four years of progressively responsible work experience in a field directly related to the research may substitute for the Bachelor's degree.

Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.

    
SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements

A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
(a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
(b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
(c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
(d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
(e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree

Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.

Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.