NYC

Department of
Housing Preservation
& Development

NYC Housing and Neighborhood Study

Field Director (Full-Time Position)

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Division of Housing Policy Research and Program Evaluation is seeking a Field Director to lead its data collection effort as part of a large-scale, randomized control trial to investigate the impact of affordable housing on the health and well-being of near-poor households.

Project Background

HPD has assembled a team of academic and policy researchers to collaborate on a multi-phase, interdisciplinary study that examines the impact of housing and neighborhoods on individual health and well-being. The study has the potential to inform decision-making in multiple domains of public policy—including education, public health, and housing—at the local, state and national levels. The research team currently consists of partner teams from Columbia University/Teachers College, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the New York Academy of Medicine, and New York University.

Position Description

The Field Director will identify, train, and supervise all field interview staff and oversee baseline data collection efforts, which include the recruitment and administration of a self-administered questionnaire (SAQ), to qualified housing applicants. The Field Director will be responsible for ensuring study protocols are followed, including informed consent. S/he will also coordinate with HPD’s Legal team to ensure that all agency protocols are followed and that data are being collected consistently across study sites and interviewers. S/he will report to the Director of Research. Specific duties of the Field Director include the following:

· Recruit field staff and project partners with relevant expertise in support of this multi-disciplinary study;

· Monitor staffing needs as study sites are added and/or completed to ensure efficient allocation of capacity; oversee all interviewer scheduling and timekeeping as needed;

· Develop all interviewer training materials and conduct training sessions on study protocol, interviewer etiquette, confidentiality procedures, and protection of Human Subjects;

· Manage all field interviewers and ensure consistency and validity of data collection efforts across multiple study sites;

· Act as primary point of contact for all survey respondents and address questions and concerns related to participation; refer housing applicants as appropriate for all housing-related questions, and manage relationships between marketing staff, developers, and project interview staff;

· Track progress at each site and provide regular reports to the Director of Research on cooperation rates, response rates, and eligibility for various aspects of study;

· Coordinate with study staff to consolidate and validate all primary and secondary data within and across study sites, including the delivery of study sampling frames to outside data collection agent(s) and project partners, as needed;

· In conjunction with the Director of Research, recruit study sites and gain cooperation of various housing developers and lease-up staff; adapt study protocol as needed for site-specific requirements; manage relationships over field period with relevant stakeholders, including Marketing, Developer and Agency staff;

· Prepare delivery of all hard-copy surveys and oversee electronic capture of data at each study site in preparation for follow-up interviews, resolve any inconsistencies in tracking and reconciliation data on lease-up, and coordinate with follow-up field staff as sites transition from Phase I (baseline) to Phase II (follow-up) of the project.

Qualifications

The applicant must be able to quickly acquire a high-level understanding of the study, coordinate among many different groups in a complex organizational structure, and hold members of the Investigator Team accountable to agreed-upon deliverables and deadlines. Successful applicants will demonstrate their ability to work independently, think critically, and speak to strangers comfortably and persuasively. Those with experience conducting fieldwork and/or administration of surveys will be given preference, as will those with certification in protection of Human Subjects and those who are familiar with confidentiality protocols. Past supervisory experience is helpful but not necessary.

This is a full time position. Salary is commensurate with experience and education.

To apply for the position, please send resume and cover letter describing relevant experience to:

Ahuva Jacobowitz, Research Coordinator

jacobowa@hpd.nyc.gov