NHATS 3.0 — Data Collector

Westat is seeking motivated individuals with a commitment to excellence to collect data for the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), an important study funded by the National Institute on Aging in a cooperative agreement with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

NHATS data collectors will locate, gain cooperation, and use Westat equipment, including but not limited to a laptop, smartphone, and tablet, to interview Medicare recipients aged 65 years and older in their homes for a longitudinal study. The interview takes approximately two-and-a-half hours and takes place in person. The interview covers issues regarding how life changes as we age. The interview includes an activities component that requires data collectors to mark a walking course and demonstrate seven different physical activities, which include balancing on one foot and standing up from a chair with arms across their chest five times quickly. Data collectors must regularly receive and transmit data via a high-speed internet connection and report progress and costs to their supervisor on a weekly basis.

Interested applicants are required to view the NHATS Data Collector video to learn more about this position prior to submitting an application.

NHATS: The Data Collector’s Job
Or cut and paste this URL into your browser:
https://www.westat.com/national-health-and-aging-trends-study-the-data-collectors-job/

Basic Qualifications
Candidates must:

• Be 18 or older (or an emancipated minor) with the ability to enter binding confidentiality agreements to protect project information.
• Be available to complete a fully-remote, virtual training program between June 4, 2025, and June 11, 2025, which will include hard-copy materials and Microsoft Teams training sessions.
• Be available to attend a mandatory out-of-town, in-person training from Monday, June 16, 2025, to Saturday, June 21, 2025.

Minimum Requirements

• Reside in the geographic location determined by the project.
• Be available to work during the data collection period of June 2025 through June 30, 2026.
• Be available to work 20 or more hours per week, at least 4 weekdays per week, 5 hours per day, and complete a minimum of two interviews per week when work is available.
• Be willing to drive locally throughout the county or neighboring counties to complete project work.
• Be able to meet the physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodations:
  • Lift and carry up to 30 pounds of equipment and materials.
  • Walk a few blocks.
  • Climb a flight of stairs carrying equipment.
  • Kneel or bend to mark out a walking course.
  • Demonstrate and assist respondents with the physical activities component.
• Have regular and reliable access to a secure, high-speed internet connection. The training program requires internet access for eLearning training modules, online classrooms, and Teams video calls.
• 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 Westat, in-person, household, and interviewing experience.
• Have at least 6 months’ work experience in jobs requiring public contact, such as sales, teaching, real estate, or social work.
• Have strong reading, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Have excellent computer skills (can access the internet, use the keyboard, and send emails).
• Be comfortable using apps on a smartphone and tablet for various activities, including keeping track of time, entering data, and navigating.
• Have the ability to conduct in-depth interviews with people from various backgrounds and socio-economic strata in the respondents’ homes.
• Be self-motivated, organized, detail-oriented, and able to convey the importance of the study to respondents.
• Work well in a team environment with little direct supervision.
• Be able to read electronic maps.

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 eligible for overtime pay. 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 1560 hours from September through September of the following year with coverage beginning on January 1 of the year after eligibility is satisfied.

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 7 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 and 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, or any other protected status under applicable law.