Job Description

This position reports to the Director of Docking Institute of Public Affairs. The Research Specialist's primary duties include 1) training, supervising, and coordinating the work of research lab/survey center student employees, 2) assisting research scientists to coordinate research tasks that meet project deadlines, 3) submitting Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval requests, and 4) identifying and implementing measures to increase effectiveness of survey center operations. The ideal candidate will have strong written and oral communication skills and be highly detailed and organized. Some fluency in Spanish is a plus. If you would enjoy working as part of a team in a positive, problem-solving, client-centered work environment with opportunities for professional growth, we invite you to apply!

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree or 4 years of experience in lieu of degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree or 6 years experience in lieu of degree
• Some coursework or experience in research (social/behavioral research is a plus)
• Supervisory experience
• Experience coordinating team activities

Responsibilities:

• Coordinates with 4 Institute professional staff and project-specific policy fellows, as needed, to ensure survey operations run effectively and on schedule
• Train and supervise a team of core student research assistants; data entry is a primary work activity performed by core student research assistant staff (2-4 individuals)
• Train, manage, and maintain a small pool of telephone interviewers; survey interviewing is mostly conducted by students hired as callers (1-3 individuals) with assistance from core student staff, as needed
• Assign tasks to and coordinate the activities of student research assistants and student callers
• Schedule, verify work hours, and evaluate job performance of student research assistants and student interviewers
• Clean and manage survey target respondent lists in preparation for and through waves of surveying
• Keep all workstations operational for data entry projects and for phone surveying in coordination with the FHSU Tech Services
• Acquire and maintain a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Qualtrics, IdSurvey (computer-aided telephone interview software) and basic knowledge of SPSS, used heavily by the research scientist staff
• Explore and recommend new software/programming solutions useful to any phase of surveying operations
• Acquire and maintain basic understanding of best practices in social/behavioral research
• Seek out and engage in opportunities for professional development appropriate to the job

• Submit research approval requests to FHSU's Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Proofreading and assisting research scientists in drafting portions of reports
• Explore and recommend new software/programming solutions useful to analyses/data visualization/reporting
• Assist other Institute staff in facilitating strategic planning sessions/focus groups
• Assist in other Docking Institute activities, as needed

Work Schedule and Location : This is a full-time, 12-month position. Work is on-site during regular FHSU business hours, with potential to occasionally use flextime with permission.

Benefits : To review our competitive benefit package, please visit FHSU Benefits .

Application Deadline : Priority deadline for review is November 17, 2025.

Application Process : To apply for this position, please visit FHSU Careers . Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.

Required Application Documents : Applicants must submit:

• A cover letter addressing experience, preparation, and interest in the job responsibilities.
• Resume.
• Names and contact information for three professional references.

Applicant documents should be submitted in one PDF.

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact:

Brett Zollinger

bazollinger@fhsu.edu

785-628-5881

About the Docking Institute of Public Affairs:

The primary mission of Fort Hays State University's Docking Institute of Public Affairs is to facilitate effective public policy decision-making among governmental and nonprofit entities.

The Institute's four primary programs are:

• Public policy and public opinion survey research for governmental and nonprofit entities
• Strategic planning and consulting
• Public affairs programming through conferences, speakers, forums, television and radio programming, newspaper columns and scholarly publications
• Public administration and leadership training programs

Docking Institute services are client-driven, and the interdisciplinary nature of applied research and planning requires extensive team-based work among Institute staff and the Institute's cadre of policy fellows, with its vast variety of expertise. To learn more about the Docking Institute and see examples of our work, please visit our website:

Community of Hays

FHSU is located in Hays, a vibrant college town of approximately 20,000, located halfway between Kansas City and Denver on Interstate 70. Hays is the regional center for education, health care, professional services, shopping, culture, and recreation for the western half of Kansas. The community boasts excellent recreational programs and facilities, including the comprehensive Center for Health Improvement, Hays Aquatic Park, Smoky Hill Country Club, Hays Municipal Golf Course, and extensive walking, running, and biking trails. Hays is within 45 minutes of two large lakes that offer great opportunities for boating, fishing, and camping. The Hays Municipal Airport provides connecting service to Denver with several flights daily. The Hays community is home to excellent Pre-K and K-12, public and private schools. With over 60 restaurants, major retail outlets, a low unemployment rate, and very short commute times, the city provides a safe, welcoming, low-cost, high-quality living environment for the residents who call "Hays, America" home.

Notice of Non-discrimination - Fort Hays State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, color, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or veteran status.

Background Check: Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check.

Notice to KPERS retirees applying for a position: Recent legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for both you and your employer if you go back to work for a KPERS employer. Please contact your KPERS representative or for further information on how this might affect you.

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