MEPS – Field Interviewer

Westat is currently seeking motivated and detail-oriented individuals to work as Field Interviewers for the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). MEPS, a study of health care costs and usage in the United States, is sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Field Interviewers conduct in-person interviews using a Westat provided laptop computer (CAPI) with adult members of households that are part of a nationally representative sample. For returning cases, Field Interviewers may conduct computer-assisted video interviews (CAVI) with households. Field Interviewers are responsible for contacting these households in-person and/or by phone to gain cooperation – setting up appointments, conducting interviews using a Westat-provided laptop computer, and collecting MEPS-related electronically signed and/or hard copy documents. Field Interviewers report regularly to a field supervisor, complete and submit administrative paperwork, and must comply with data security and confidentiality requirements.

Interested in more information about MEPS? Click here.

Westat has a long-standing policy to protect the health of our staff and the general public. Based on recommendations from the CDC and other public health authorities, we continue to require staff to protect and monitor their health while working on their assignment. The use of personal protective equipment or screening activities may be required, depending upon the specific study’s protocols, subject to approved accommodations under applicable law.

Basic Qualifications
Candidates must

• Be 18 years old or older (or be an emancipated minor) with the ability to enter binding confidentiality agreements to protect project information
• Be available to complete a web-based home study training, including a Zoom session, prior to the in-person training program
• Be available to travel on March 10, 2025, and complete a five and a half day in person training that begins on March 11 and ends on March 16, 2025
• Be available to complete additional web-based and virtual training activities, following the in-person training, including a post-training home study between March 17 and March 21, 2025, a practice CAVI interview between March 20 – March 25, 2025, and a two-day virtual training in April 2025

Minimum Requirements

• Reside in and travel to the geographic location determined by the project in order to contact the households in your assignment and conduct in-person interviews
• Be available to work for a specified data collection period that starts immediately after training from early March 2025 with a potential of work through July 2027
• Be available to work a minimum of 20 hours per week when work is available, including daytime, evening, and weekend hours, based on the preferences of the households in your assignment and be able to work assigned cases and complete work efficiently
• Be willing to travel locally for project work with the possibility of some overnight travel as needed
• Be able to meet the physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodations, including:
  • Lifting and carrying 20 pounds of equipment and materials
  • Walking several blocks
  • Climbing stairs while carrying equipment to gain entry sampled households
• Have consistent access to a fully insured, reliable vehicle
• Have a current and valid driver’s license that is not under suspension

Preferred Criteria

• Have computer-assisted in-person and/or computer-assisted video interviewing experience
• Have public contact and/or cold calling experience
• Be comfortable working in unfamiliar locations, knocking on doors, and communicating with people from all kinds of backgrounds and socioeconomic groups

MS Teams or Zoom may be used to conduct interviews with candidates for this position.

Any offer of employment may be contingent upon receipt of acceptable results from a post-offer background screening if required for the specific position, which may include, for example, identity verification, employment history, motor vehicle driving record history, and criminal or sexual offender records history.

This is a part-time variable hour non-exempt position. This position is not initially eligible for health insurance or a health savings account (HSA). To be eligible for health insurance and an HSA you must work 1,560 hours from September through September of the following year with coverage beginning January 1 of the year after eligibility is satisfied.

This federal government project is subject to the Service Contract Act (SCA). The hourly rate for this position is determined by the location where work is performed. In addition to hourly pay, a health and welfare payment of $4.93, which may be reduced based on group benefit election, will be paid weekly for up to 40 work hours per week. This position is eligible for paid vacation and holiday leave based on hours worked.

All field positions accrue sick leave (based on hours worked) and are eligible to participate in the 401(k) program (employer matching is dependent on hours worked and disbursement is subject to program rules).

This opportunity will be posted for a minimum of seven days and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be eligible for consideration for reassignment on other Westat field data collection projects if they become available.

Working on this study can be a fascinating, rewarding experience. If you are a reliable self-starter, this position may be right for you.

Westat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, or any other protected status under applicable law.