Field Interviewer

We are seeking a Research Field Interviewers for a landmark study of mental health in the general population, begun in 1985 with 1st graders in the Baltimore City Public School System and now in its 10th timepoint of data collection, which entails lengthy face-to-face interviews and extensive cognitive assessments with adults in their early to mid 40’s living in the community. This wave is being conducted 14 years after the previous contact with the study participants and is focused on mental health issues and aging.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Interviewers are responsible for implementing under unpredictable and varying field conditions a complex data collection protocol consisting of 2 separate visits to respondents’ homes.
• Interviewers are expected to locate and make initial contact with potential participants, including utilization of electronic searches and multiple contact attempts; traveling within a radius of 2-hours from Baltimore; conducting 2-3 hour long structured interviews using a tablet; administering a series of cognitive, vision, and hearing tests; taking physical measurements such as height, weight, grip strength, and blood pressure; instructing participants in the use of simple at-home sleep monitoring technology (actigraphy); and collecting buccal swabs, if needed.
• Tasks such as data entry, performing quality control functions, and administrative tasks are required.
• In addition to face-to-face interviews, some portion of data will be collected by telephone later in the study. They will also conduct short telephone interviews with other designated informants.
• Interviewers are expected to adhere to the highest standards of human subjects protection and will be required to complete related IRB trainings, HIPAA training, and to sign a confidentiality agreement. Efficiency and quality of work will be monitored for adherence to study protocol and budget constraints.
• Work will be part-time, casual, with an expected range of 15-27 hours per week. Workflow will vary from week to week and the study cannot guarantee a set number of hours per week. Compensation will be provided for travel as well as time. The study is expected to last for about 2.5 years from the date of training.
• This role will require driving up to 2 hours at a time, traveling from the office to participants’ homes. Some evening and weekend work will be required. You will also be responsible for carrying equipment from office to car to participant’s homes (will include a tablet computer, blood pressure cuff, scale, and a dynamometer, and one briefcase containing cognitive testing materials).
• Machines/equipment used: Interviewers will record participant responses on a tablets during two 2-4 hour long home visits. They will also measure blood pressure using a cuff, measure grip strength with a dynamometer and will weigh participants using a standard weight scale. They will need to instruct the participants on the use of an actigraph wristband.
• Interviewers report to the Study Coordinator, who provides assignments and guidance during the study. After receiving a caseload of potential participants, interviewers will work individually and relatively independently to locate, contact and interview participants, providing updates at each stage. Interviewers are expected to make weekly office visits for one-to-one meetings, which are intended to review case progress and troubleshoot problems. Interviewers are also required to come into the office for regularly scheduled team huddles and debriefings.
• Interviewers will undergo a mandatory ~6-week paid training program at approximately 15-17 hours per week, which includes capped hours of practice. Successful candidates will be responsible for participating in and passing all training certifications to continue with employment. Candidates will be limited to two attempts to pass each certification evaluation; if certifications are not successfully obtained either within the two-attempt limit, or within the 2-week certification period, employment will be discontinued.
• After the training period, field interviewers are expected to attend one-to-one meetings, periodic debriefings, additional training, and individual coaching/mentoring sessions with quality control staff and/or Sr. Field Interviewers.

• High School Diploma or graduation equivalent.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond HS Diploma/Graduation Equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula

• Candidates with a BA/BS Degree or Public Health/Psychology/Sociology backgrounds or related experience.
• Accuracy, attention to detail, organization of materials, and ability to manage time effectively are needed in order to succeed as a Field Interviewer.
• Proficiency with laptops, tablets, computers, and MS Office applications or ability to learn relatively quickly is expected.
• Prior experience handling confidential data and/or administering cognitive assessment measures are not essential, as some training will be provided, but would be a significant advantage.
• Excellent communication skills and flexibility are a must for this role.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public as well as family “gatekeepers”, while keeping data confidential is important. Interviewers need to also be able to communicate effectively with the study team and show willingness to engage in continuous skills development.
• Interviewers will need to be able to easily build rapport with individuals from diverse backgrounds, at times in unpredictable and chaotic environments.
• Creative problem solving and grit in the face of challenges is essential for the successful completion of the required work.

Classified Title: Research Program Assistant 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Field Interviewer   
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/02/CB  
Starting Salary Range: $15.40 - $23.25 HRLY ($25,974 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.) 
Employee group: Casual / On Call 
Schedule: Monday-Sunday, Variable Hours 
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt 
Location: Hybrid/School of Public Health 
Department name: ​​​​​​​Mental Health Research Projects  
Personnel area: School of Public Health