Qualitative Researcher – Contract Role

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in New York.

📋 Description

• Conduct individual interviews

• Lead small-group discussions

• Facilitate focus group sessions

• Perform extensive document analysis

• Draft research memos

• Execute virtual interviews utilizing structured guides and produce high-quality video recordings

• Consistently apply research protocols, identify risks or deviations, and propose adjustments

• Create clear and well-organized interview summaries that require minimal revisions

• Synthesize interview data from various participants to uncover patterns, themes, and key insights

• Review extensive document analyses to support triangulation

• Tag and organize qualitative data in accordance with an established coding framework

• Submit research materials following defined naming conventions and documentation standards

• Maintain rapport, neutrality, and professionalism with skeptical or challenging participants

• Provide support to the CDI Culture Change Team and potentially other qualitative research initiatives such as user experience or exploratory/discovery studies

• Utilize CDI’s established qualitative research procedures and protocols

• Report directly to the Director of Campus Culture Change

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 3 years of applied qualitative research experience, including conducting interviews and moderating small groups

• Knowledge of campus life, institutional culture, organizational development, intergroup dialogue, civic education, and/or civic engagement in the higher education sector

• Capability to facilitate interviews and focus groups using structured guides while being adaptable

• Skill in producing clear interview summaries that encapsulate key takeaways

• Comfort in engaging with skeptical or high-status stakeholders

• Previous experience in contract or freelance roles

• Ability to commit to specific deliverables within project timelines

• Operational reliability: maintain calendar/availability, punctual attendance, clear communication, secure data handling, and adherence to deadlines

• Access to a computer, reliable internet connection, and a quiet, private, professional workspace

• Proficiency in using Zoom

• Part-time availability during standard U.S. business hours

• Availability during defined interview windows, typically spanning 4–8 weeks per project

• Experience with video transcript tagging through a research repository like Dovetail is a plus

🏝️ Benefits

• Ongoing engagement opportunities

• Episodic project work with potential roles available at the beginning of each semester

• Flexible part-time schedule

• Fully remote working arrangement

• Work within U.S. time zones

• Engagement as an independent contractor