Overview
The national offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation (“A Corp”) “PC(USA)”, based in Louisville Kentucky, serve with mid-councils, congregations, worshipping communities, and partner organizations to carry forth the mission of Jesus Christ. Approximately 400 individuals, diverse in race, age, gender, sexual orientation, faith, skills, and more, come together as colleagues to work for a world where justice reigns, peace prevails, and God’s love extends to all people. This community comprises the staff of national entities: the Presbyterian Life & Witness, the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, Presbyterian Women, Investment and Loan Program, and the Administrative Services Group.
Basic Commitment: This position calls for a commitment to the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as noted in its theological confessions, the Book of Order, and the actions of the General Assembly.
Position Purpose: Help the PC(USA) and others make data-informed decisions through the use of data science, consulting, and research (especially quantitative), both within the PC(USA) and with ecumenical & interfaith partners.
Roles & Responsibilities:
- Develop and lead research projects, serving as the principal investigator responsible for overall direction and quality of the work.
- Work with clients to design research studies suited to their needs, as assigned by the coordinator.
- Manage projects from start to finish; conduct analysis, write reports, and deliver presentations as required.
- Manage, clean, and analyze data using SPSS and Excel to support research goals and ensure accuracy.
- Collaborate with the assigned communications specialist to make research findings accessible to the public, the Presbyterian population, and national PC(USA) agency and mid-council staff through a variety of communication channels.
- Respond to inquiries from the public, providing data and research findings to answer questions as they come in.
- Manage and maintain shared digital workspaces, files, and documents to support team collaboration and recordkeeping.
- Participate in professional associations and conferences; stay current with research practices and scholarly work in religion; publish reports and contribute to the broader research community as appropriate.
- Assist team members as needed to ensure project workloads are shared fairly.
Essential Position Requirements:
Education: PhD in related field preferred; MA in a social science field considered
Experience: Minimum 3 years (with PhD) in social science research/5 years (with Masters’) in social science research considered; applied setting preferred
Required Skills:
- Graduate-level proficiency in statistics with the ability to independently select, apply, and communicate appropriate analytical methods.
- Up-to-date knowledge of applied social science research methods.
- Ability to develop quality surveys using best research practices.
- Strong interpersonal skills for working with colleagues, clients, and the public.
- Ability to interpret research data for persons with limited knowledge of statistics or research methodology.
- Working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SPSS.
- Excellent writing, public speaking, and data visualization skills.
- Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to handle multiple projects at once.
Helpful Skills:
- Ability to speak one or more languages other than English.
- Experience with qualitative research design and analysis, including conducting focus groups and interviews strongly preferred.
- Experience with online survey platforms such as Alchemer or Qualtrics.
- Experience with copyediting and/or visual design.
- Experience with digital workspace management, including organizing and maintaining shared files and documents.
- Familiarity with Microsoft 365 tools, especially Outlook and Teams.
- Experience working in a hybrid environment with a mix of in-person and remote colleagues.
- Familiarity with the Presbyterian Church (USA) or experience working within a faith-based or nonprofit organization.
- A deep understanding of and commitment to cultural and racial ethnic inclusiveness. Values diverse groups, ethnicities, genders, communities, cultural constituencies, and points of view. Able to relate well to people from all walks of life and of varying theological perspectives.
Required Competencies:
- Ability to translate complex analytic issues into practical research questions.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting with a professional demeanor.
- Ability to exercise sound independent judgment in research design and methodology.
- Ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with clients, understanding their needs and translating them into research plans.
- Ability to tailor communication of research findings to suit different audiences, from technical specialists to the general public.
Physical Requirements:
Occasional travel for meetings and conferences required. If remote, quarterly travel to Louisville, Ky required.
Additional Information/Benefits:
We believe a balanced life, with time for work, leisure, and spiritual nurture, makes us healthier and more productive colleagues.
PC(USA) offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees including
- Defined Pension Plan
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Basic Life Insurance
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Flexible Spending accounts
- 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
- Vacation Days
- Sick Days
- Paid Holidays.
PCUSA Commitment:
Our faith in God inspires our commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and is grounded in scripture, the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and actions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is committed to being an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the U.S. government, including gender identity and sexual orientation.
Candidates from Presbyterian communities in the global south and other historic Presbyterian Communities of Color, preferably with theological training and fluency in languages other than English, are encouraged to apply.
Skills Required
- MA in a social science field; PhD in a related field preferred
- Minimum 3 years of social science research experience with a PhD, or 5 years with a master's degree
- Graduate-level proficiency in statistics and ability to independently select, apply, and communicate analytical methods
- Current knowledge of applied social science research methods
- Ability to develop quality surveys using best research practices
- Strong interpersonal skills for working with colleagues, clients, and the public
- Ability to interpret research data for audiences with limited statistical or research-methodology knowledge
- Working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SPSS
- Excellent writing, public speaking, and data visualization skills
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects
- Ability to speak one or more languages besides English
- Experience with qualitative research design and analysis, focus groups, and interviews
- Experience with online survey platforms such as Alchemer or Qualtrics
- Experience with copyediting or visual design
- Experience managing digital workspaces and shared files and documents
- Familiarity with Microsoft 365, especially Outlook and Teams
- Experience working in a hybrid environment
- Familiarity with the Presbyterian Church (USA) or experience in a faith-based or nonprofit organization
What We Do
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a national Protestant Christian denomination in the Reformed tradition, formed in 1983 by the reunion of Presbyterian branches that had separated around the Civil War. It serves Christ through existing and new communities of faith, sharing the gospel and nurturing disciples. Its ministries include evangelism, leadership formation, justice and reconciliation, racial equity, community support, and world mission.
