Remote Research Assistant Jobs in San Rafael, CA

Data Operations Associate, Opinion Research

Remote, United States (Bay Area, NYC, Washington DC, Seattle, or Portland metro areas)

About the Group 

Panterra is a global strategic advisory firm. Over the last 25 years, we have grown from boutique strategic communications and research firms into a leading international consultancy. We advise governments, embassies, corporations, and individuals on a wide range of complex policy and communications issues. Our work is typically at the nexus of the worlds of politics, business, and the media.  

Our mission is to participate in – and positively impact – the great debates of our age, including (but not limited to) geopolitical crises, election campaigns, high-value litigation cases, international events, and public diplomacy initiatives. In all our work we are guided by our core values of honesty, integrity, ambition, and accountability.  We are not just problem-solvers; we are pioneers who lead the way in finding unique, impactful solutions to the challenges faced by our clients.

About our division – Panterra Research

Panterra Research, formerly ClearPath Strategies, provides research-driven strategy to leaders around the world. Our mission is to promote progressive forces who strive to make life better for more people. We help good people do great things, and we have fun doing it.

The work of Panterra Research principally involves conducting opinion research projects such as surveys, focus groups, and expert interviews, and providing our clients with actionable guidance based on that research. We have a long track record of providing quantitative and qualitative public opinion research across more than 150 countries, serving political campaigns, multinational corporations, NGOs, and advocacy groups. Our client portfolio includes diverse technology clients from Silicon Valley, non-profit advocacy clients (focused on environmental sustainability, civil rights, and education, among others), and international political leaders in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

The Opportunity

Panterra Research is growing, and we are bringing data processing in-house to improve speed, quality, and control. We are looking for a detail-oriented and technically skilled Data Analyst to join our global research team. This person will own the end-to-end processing of survey data across a wide portfolio of quantitative research projects – from public opinion polling and brand tracking to political campaigns and corporate perception studies across more than 150 countries.

The ideal candidate is proficient in Displayr and has a strong grounding in survey data methodologies. They will be the engine behind our crosstab production, data weighting, quality assurance, and statistical analysis, and will play a critical role in helping us improve and accelerate how we turn raw survey data into client-ready insights.

Due to role requirements, candidates must reside in any of the following states:

• San Francisco Bay Area, CA
• New York, NY or New Jersey (within commuting distance of New York City)
• Washington, DC or Virginia (within commuting distance of Washington, DC)
• Portland, OR

Key Responsibilities

Data Processing & Quality Assurance

• Receive, ingest, and process raw survey data from vendors in a variety of formats (SPSS .sav, Excel, CSV, and others).
• Conduct thorough logic checking and data cleaning: verifying skip logic compliance, identifying missing or erroneous responses, flagging and resolving inconsistencies.
• Identify and escalate anomalies, outliers, and quality issues in survey datasets before analysis begins.
• Recode, rebase, and transform variables as required, including creating derived variables such as Top-2-Box scores, Net Promoter Score (NPS), and net agreement measures.
• Code and categorise open-ended verbatim responses into manageable themes, leveraging AI-assisted text analysis tools where appropriate.

Crosstab & Tabulation Production

• Build and maintain crosstab specifications in Displayr, producing efficient and accurate cross-tabulations across demographic, geographic, and attitudinal subgroups.
• Develop templated, reusable Displayr setups to accelerate crosstab generation across recurring and tracking studies.
• Generate toplines, frequency distributions, and banner tables to research specifications.
• Ensure statistical significance testing (confidence levels, margin of error, p-values, chi-square) is applied correctly and clearly communicated in outputs.

Data Weighting

• Apply and validate survey weights to ensure data is representative of target populations.
• Work with senior researchers to understand weighting schemes (e.g., rim/raking weighting) and implement them accurately across domestic and international datasets.
• Document weighting decisions and methodology for each project.

Statistical Analysis

• Conduct descriptive and inferential statistical analysis including regression, segmentation, driver/key driver analysis, and cluster analysis.

 Process Improvement & Automation

• Identify opportunities to streamline and automate data processing workflows within Displayr and adjacent tools (e.g., R, Python scripts).
• Help develop internal standards, templates, and documentation for data processing best practices across the research team.
• Contribute to reducing reliance on external data processing vendors by building capacity in-house.
• Stay current with Displayr platform updates, new features, and AI-powered automation capabilities that could benefit team productivity.

Collaboration & Delivery

• Work closely with Research Consultants, Senior Consultants, and Account Directors to understand project specifications and deliver data to agreed timelines.
• Prepare clean, well-labelled data files and crosstab outputs ready for analysis and reporting.
• Communicate clearly about data issues, project status, and delivery timelines.
• Support multiple projects simultaneously, managing competing deadlines with strong organisational discipline.

Skills & Experience

Technical – Required

• Proficiency in Displayr, including crosstab building, variable creation, data cleaning, and reporting outputs. Displayr certification preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of SPSS (or equivalent: Q Research Software, R) for survey data processing, weighting, and statistical analysis.
• Solid understanding of core survey research methodologies: sampling, weighting, margin of error, confidence intervals, and significance testing.
• Experience processing data from common survey platforms and working with SPSS .sav, Excel, and CSV file formats.
• Familiarity with crosstab and tabulation standards used in public opinion and market research.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data manipulation, formatting, and QA checks.

Technical – Preferred

• Experience with R or Python for data processing, automation, or scripting repetitive tasks.
• Familiarity with advanced analytical techniques: key driver analysis, MaxDiff, segmentation/clustering, TURF analysis, or conjoint analysis.
• Experience with verbatim coding and/or AI text analysis tools.
• Experience building interactive dashboards or reusable reporting templates in Displayr (or similar tools such as Power BI or Tableau), enabling self-serve data exploration for research and client teams.
• Knowledge of rim/raking weighting methodology and tools.
• Familiarity with data quality assurance tools or respondent fraud detection approaches.

Organisation & Communication

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy – errors in data processing have direct consequences for client strategy.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines in a fast-paced, remote environment.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills; ability to flag issues and communicate progress to non-technical colleagues.
• Self-starter who can work independently and proactively identify where processes can be improved.
• Comfortable collaborating across time zones with US-based and international team members.

Background

• Undergraduate degree in statistics, quantitative social science, political science, data science, market research, mathematics, or a related field.
• 1–3 years of experience in survey data processing, market research, or public opinion research. Relevant academic project experience will be considered.
• Interest or experience in politics, public affairs, tech, or environment sectors is a plus, given Panterra Research’s client portfolio.
• Must be legally authorised to work in the United States and comfortable working remotely.

What Success Looks Like

• Crosstabs and data outputs are delivered accurately and on time, reducing dependence on external vendors.
• Data processing workflows become faster and more consistent through templates, automation, and improved documentation.
• Research Consultants spend less time on data QA and processing and more time on analysis and insight development.
• Anomalies and data quality issues are caught early, before they affect client deliverables.
• The team has an in-house expert on Displayr who can train others and champion best practices.

What We Offer 

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Flexible/unlimited vacation policy.
• 13 paid holidays plus 8 additional “Lucky Fridays” off per year.
• Several choices of healthcare plans.
• 401(k).
• Profit Sharing Program.
• Yearly in-person all-staff retreats and regular regional in-person meetups.
• A strong, supportive, and positive team culture.

We are a dynamic, diverse, and fast-growing company which believes in supporting our team members both professionally and personally. In addition to our teams in San Francisco, Washington DC, New York, London, Brussels and Abu Dhabi, we have an Associate network of global leaders and experts in their fields who employees have the chance to work with and learn from.

Panterra has a friendly company culture with regular social events and a flexible working environment. Moreover, we give all our employees a high degree of autonomy and responsibility early on in their careers, accelerating their progression to the benefit of both the individual and the company. This is especially important because the pace of the work is often fast, in line with the critical issues and events we are involved in. We are a privately-owned business, and our strength is in our people.

Our CSR Commitment

At Panterra, we pride ourselves on not only delivering exceptional strategic advice and services but on doing so with a deep sense of responsibility. We value giving back by striving to contribute to the betterment of society and a sustainable future. Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy is a testament to our commitment to making a positive impact beyond business success. It is rooted in two main pillars: purpose-oriented projects and environmental responsibility. Panterra actively invests in the communities it serves through pro-bono projects which leverage the company’s skills and networks. In addition, Panterra is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact. By offsetting our carbon footprint and implementing sustainable practices such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and promoting eco-friendly transportation, we ensure that our operations are aligned with a greener future.

To Apply
To apply for this position, please submit your CV and Cover Letter introducing yourself, and outlining your interest in this position. Please also highlight any relevant qualifications and/or experience, and why these make you suitable for the role.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to respond to all applicants. 

We value diversity and aim for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society. Our recruitment process is competency based and no applicant will be discriminated against regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Thank you for your interest in this opportunity.