Senior Research Scientist, Survey and Social Science Research

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative was founded by Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg in 2015 to help solve some of society’s toughest challenges — from eradicating disease and improving education to addressing the needs of our local communities. Our mission is to build a more inclusive, just, and healthy future for everyone.

The Team

Across our work in Science, Education, and within our communities, we pair technology with grantmaking, impact investing, and collaboration to help accelerate the pace of progress toward our mission. Our Central Operations & Partners team provides the support needed to push this work forward. 

Central Operations & Partners consists of our Brand & Communications, Community, Facilities, Finance, Infrastructure/IT Operations/Business Systems, Initiative Operations, People, Real Estate/Workplace/Facilities/Security, Research & Learning, and Ventures teams. These teams provide the essential operations, services, and strategies needed to support CZI’s progress toward achieving its mission to build a better future for everyone.

The Opportunity

CZI’s Survey and Social Science Research Team – part of the broader Research and Learning Team – designs and executes high-quality attitudinal and behavioral research in service of the organization’s goals; the team’s work supports CZI's leaders, teams, and external partners to make more effective, evidence-based strategic decisions.  As a Senior Research Scientist on the Survey and Social Science Research Team you’ll report directly to the Head of Research and Learning and partner closely with program, product and functional teams across CZI to understand their learning agendas. Using this understanding, you’ll design and produce high quality quantitative research end-to-end,  and elevate insights that inform strategy, validate assumptions, provide critical context, and serve the broader fields in which we work.

What You'll Do

• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to translate their learning needs into actionable social science research questions
• Design and execute primarily quantitative research to help teams learn about attitudes and behaviors of key groups using advanced methodologies and statistical techniques
• Convey insights in clear, compelling, concise, and actionable ways to shape & improve strategy and decisionmaking
• Serve as research and learning connective tissue across the organization by connecting relevant insights and themes with the right leaders and decision-makers 
• Develop the organization’s capacity for research - including building and maintaining relationships with vendors, presenting at conferences, and remaining engaged in the quantitative social science community of practice

What You'll Bring

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in social science (e.g., Communication, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Public Policy), or in a quantitative field (e.g., Statistics, Research Methodology, Survey Methodology) with applied experience answering social science questions
• 4+ years working in quantitative research in technology, biotech, policy, and/ or public opinion / polling, answering real-world questions
• Extensive knowledge of and experience using quantitative research methodologies (e.g., survey sampling and design, significance testing, regression modeling, experimental design, behavioral data analysis, longitudinal analysis, etc.)
• Experience in survey methodology, especially questionnaire design and sampling
• Previous experience identifying and working with vendors on end-to-end research
• An ability to ask, as well as answer, meaningful and impactful questions for organizations using quantitative insights
• An ability to distinguish the interesting from the important
• Experience conducting rapid response research, and a desire to work in a fast paced, high energy environment
• Strong presentation and communication skills
• Proficiency using R for data manipulation and analysis
• Experience balancing and setting priorities in cross-functional environments 
• An an insatiable curiosity to get to the heart of attitudinal and behavioral questions in subject areas outside of your expertise

Preferred Qualifications

• Substantive expertise in AI, biomedical science, or the intersection of the two
• Expertise  applying advanced statistical methods such as GLM, analysis of quasi-experimental research designs with non-equivalent groups (e.g., regression adjustment, matching, propensity score stratification),  hierarchical linear (random effects) modeling, etc. to research problems 
• Experience using additional programming languages (e.g., Python, SQL)
• One or more of the following additional skills and expertise:
  
  • Marketing science techniques including segmentation and discrete choice experiments
  • Machine learning methodologies (e.g. building predictive models, working with unstructured data, etc.)
  • Network analysis
  • Text analysis or natural language processing

Compensation

The Redwood City, CA base pay range for this role is $193,000 - $290,000. New hires are typically hired into the lower portion of the range, enabling employee growth in the range over time. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process. Pay ranges outside Redwood City are adjusted based on cost of labor in each respective geographical market. Your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your location during the hiring process.

Benefits for the Whole You 

We’re thankful to have an incredible team behind our work. To honor their commitment, we offer a wide range of benefits to support the people who make all we do possible. 

• CZI provides a generous employer match on employee 401(k) contributions to support planning for the future.
• Annual benefit for employees that can be used most meaningfully for them and their families, such as housing, student loan repayment, childcare, commuter costs, or other life needs.
• CZI Life of Service Gifts are awarded to employees to “live the mission” and support the causes closest to them.
• Paid time off to volunteer at an organization of your choice. 
• Funding for select family-forming benefits. 
• Relocation support for employees who need assistance moving to the Bay Area
• And more!

Commitment to Diversity

We believe that the strongest teams and best thinking are defined by the diversity of voices at the table. We are committed to fair treatment and equal access to opportunity for all CZI team members and to maintaining a workplace where everyone feels welcomed, respected, supported, and valued. Learn about our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. 

If you’re interested in a role but your previous experience doesn’t perfectly align with each qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply as you may be the perfect fit for this or another role.

Explore our work modes, benefits, and interview process at www.chanzuckerberg.com/careers.

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