We Are Hiring | Senior Programmer

Arab Barometer – Washington, DC (Remote Option Available)

Position Summary

The Senior Programmer plays a central role in the technical design, programming, and management of Arab Barometer’s cross-national public opinion surveys. This position is responsible for ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and comparability of survey instruments across countries and languages, overseeing all stages of questionnaire programming, data validation, and database management. The Senior Programmer supports the full survey cycle—from instrument development to final dataset release—ensuring all processes meet the highest standards of methodological rigor.

The role involves close collaboration with the Project Director, Principal Investigators, Director of Research, regional field teams, and technical partners across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The Senior Programmer also provides technical leadership, training, and troubleshooting support to ensure successful survey implementation and data quality across all project sites.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Survey Programming and Instrument Development

• Program, test, and refine survey questionnaires using professional survey software.
• Ensure logical consistency, skip patterns, and accurate integration of multilingual translations.
• Implement version control and manage iterative updates throughout pilot testing and fieldwork.
• Collaborate with research teams to ensure survey questions are properly structured and coded for analytical use.

Data Quality Assurance and Management

• Design and implement automated data validation and consistency checks during data collection.
• Monitor incoming data in real time and resolve technical or field-level issues promptly.
• Clean, structure, and merge datasets across multiple countries and survey waves while preserving metadata standards.
• Produce documentation, codebooks, and technical reports for internal stakeholders and public data releases.

Data Processing and Analysis Support

• Use statistical software (R or Python) to recode, weight, harmonize, and process large-scale survey datasets.
• Support researchers in preparing analytical files and conducting data quality audits.
• Contribute to the development of dashboards, visualizations, and digital tools for public engagement.

Systems and Infrastructure Management

• Oversee secure data storage, transfer, and archiving in compliance with confidentiality requirements.
• Maintain internal repositories and version-controlled workflows (e.g., GitHub).
• Contribute to process improvements that strengthen technical efficiency and data integrity.

Technical Leadership and Capacity Building

• Provide technical guidance and troubleshooting support to regional fieldwork partners.
• Develop and deliver trainings on survey programming, data management, and quality assurance.
• Document internal procedures and ensure continuous improvement of methodological and technical standards.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Strong analytical, programming, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in R, or Python and experience with survey software such as SurveyCTO or ODK.
• Demonstrated ability to manage large, complex datasets across multiple countries and languages.
• Familiarity with survey methodology, sampling, and weighting principles.
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines while maintaining accuracy across multiple projects.
• Experience working in multicultural or international survey environments preferred.

Education, Training, and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in programming, data management, or survey operations, preferably in cross-national projects.
• Experience with version control tools and reproducible workflow management.
• Working knowledge of Arabic preferred; fluency in English required.

Supervision and Reporting

Reports to the Director of the Arab Barometer and may supervise research analysts, interns, and external contractors.

Location

Washington, DC, with the possibility of remote work.