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Research Technician (Telephone Interviewer)

Wayne State University is searching for an experiencedResearch Technician (Telephone Interviewer)at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

Research Technician (Telephone Interviewer)

March – August 2026

The Wayne State University Center for Urban Studies Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) Lab is seeking Telephone Interviewers to complete surveys over the phone with community members. This position offers flexible hours, meaningful in-person work, and competitive wages.

The benefits to working as a Telephone Interviewer at a premier urban research institution at Wayne State University include:

+ Meaningful work: The Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to conducting high-quality social science research in the public interest.

+ Stimulating work: Phone interviewing is challenging and dynamic work that draws heavily on your interpersonal skills.

+ Flexible part-time hours: Work between 15 and 40 hours per week. Lab hours are Monday through Friday 9am – 9pm, Saturday 10am – 6pm, and Sunday 12pm – 6pm.

+ Paid training: To help them be successful in the position, new interviewers receive training on research with human participants, on the survey, and on techniques for securing and conducting telephone interviews. There are approximately 26 hours of mandatory training, paid at $14 per hour.

+ Competitive pay: Once training is completed, telephone interviewers earn $16 per hour. Higher rates are possible for those with directly related experience or who are bilingual in Spanish or (Modern Standard) Arabic.

+ Professional development: Upon completion of training on protection of human participants, you will be certified under the University’s IRB (Institutional Review Board). This job is a great resume builder as well as a chance to develop skills that can be applied to a wide variety of professions.

Qualifications:

Candidate Profile:

+ Excellent verbal communication skills and enunciation; engaging telephone personality.

+ Ability to follow all standard operating and project-related procedures, with attention to detail.

+ Ability to actively call on the survey for a shift of at least four hours.

+ Good computer skills; able to use a Windows-based system.

+ Solid work ethic, punctual, and reliable.

+ Previous call center or customer service experience highly preferred.

In addition to meeting specific job requirements, all employees hired for this position must present evidence of their identity, authorization to work in the United States (I-9 documentation), and undergo a background check.

Resume and professional references required.

School/College/Division:

H32 - Provost & VP Academic Affairs

Primary department:

H6614 - Center Urban Studies (H6614)

Employment type:

+ Temporary Employee

+ Job type: Fractional Time

+ Job category: Staff/Administrative

Funding/salary information:

+ Compensation type: Hourly Wage

+ Hourly rate:

+ Salary minimum: TBD

+ Salary hire maximum: TBD

Working conditions:

Office environment

Job openings:

+ Number of openings: 40

+ Reposted position: No

+ Reposted reason: None (New Requisition)

+ Prior posting/requisition number:

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.

The university welcomes applications from persons with disabilities and veterans. Wayne State is an equal opportunity employer.