Lead Research Methodologist and Hybrid Survey PI

ICF Olson; United States; On-site; USD 119,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF Olson is seeking a Senior Research Methodologist to lead a two-year, grant-funded study testing hybrid survey designs against DHS benchmarks. The role combines design leadership, cross-country coordination with national statistical offices, and dissemination of findings.

You will oversee protocol development, ethical submissions, and rigorous analyses, while mentoring a diverse team and serving as the primary liaison to the funder. This is a remote role with international travel.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in demography, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, or related quantitative field; OR a master's with 20+ years of relevant experience.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in survey research design and implementation (or 20+ years with master's).
• Deep expertise in probability sampling, weighting, complex survey design, and advanced analyses (e.g., dual-frame estimation, mode-effects analysis, small area estimation).
• Experience with household survey operations in low- and middle-income countries.
• Strong writing experience including study protocols, client/funder reports, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience conceptualizing and leading research grants or contracts.
• Demonstrated methodological thought leadership (conferences, peer-reviewed articles).

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific leadership from design through implementation, analysis, and dissemination for two country tracks.
• Convene and lead a technical working group of external experts and finalize core design decisions with in-country partners.
• Lead development of the full study protocol and oversee IRB/ethics submissions.
• Direct the analytic core: sampling and power design, dual-frame estimation, non-response and replacement protocol, mode-effects estimation, and small area estimation.
• Lead the development of a cost-quality frontier using fieldwork data.
• Provide in-country and remote support to fieldwork, coordinating a single field workforce across two design arms.
• Lead post-hoc simulation of untested design configurations and translate findings into guidance.
• Lead final reports and peer-reviewed manuscripts, and represent the study at conferences.
• Serve as primary technical liaison to the funder and in-country partners.
• Mentor and coordinate a multidisciplinary team; coordinate with survey managers and operations staff.

Skills

PhD in relevant field

Survey design

Multisite leadership

Statistical writing

20+ years experience

Education

PhD in demography / statistics / epidemiology

Master's with 20+ years experience

Job description

ICF Olson is seeking a Senior Research Methodologist to lead a two-year, grant-funded study testing hybrid survey designs against DHS benchmarks. The role combines design leadership, cross-country coordination with national statistical offices, and dissemination of findings.

You will oversee protocol development, ethical submissions, and rigorous analyses, while mentoring a diverse team and serving as the primary liaison to the funder. This is a remote role with international travel.