CDI Qualitative Researcher

Constructive Dialogue Institute • New York, NY

5d • $100 - $150 • Remote

About The Position

The Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) is a non-partisan non-profit dedicated to equipping the next generation of Americans with the skills to communicate and collaborate across lines of difference. Since its founding in 2017, CDI has partnered with more than 150 colleges and universities nationwide, offering an evidence-based suite of programs designed to reach stakeholders at every level of a campus—from presidents to incoming students—to create campus cultures of inquiry and dialogue. CDI was co-founded by psychologist Jonathan Haidt, the bestselling author of The Righteous Mind and The Anxious Generation . CDI is seeking project-based qualitative researchers (1099 contractors) to support large-scale qualitative studies examining campus culture. The initial phase of work will involve conducting virtual one-on-one and small-group interviews beginning in Spring 2026 (estimated start: April 1). This is a great fit for experienced qualitative researchers with strong interviewing and moderation skills, a high bar for documentation quality, and the ability to represent CDI with calm professionalism in complex group settings and with senior leaders. The work is deeply mission-driven: understanding the perspectives of campus stakeholders on charged issues of speech, academic freedom, and institutional trust. Your initial focus will be on qualitative research supporting organizational culture and change assessments. Depending on availability and fit, you may also support other qualitative research efforts (e.g., user experience research or exploratory/discovery studies).

Requirements

• Relevant experience: 3+ years of applied qualitative research experience, including interviewing and small group moderating
• Domain expertise: Familiarity with the dynamics of campus life, institutional culture, organizational development, or intergroup dialogue in higher education
• High-quality interview facilitation: Able to work from structured guides while adjusting flexibly to the moment; your video transcripts can be used downstream by team members who were not in the interview
• Clear communicator: Clear interview summaries that synthesize key interview takeaways, following CDI’s format
• Comfort with discomfort: Comfortable interfacing with skeptical or high-status stakeholders (e.g., faculty, senior leaders, students)
• Contract experience: Prior contract or freelance experience; used to ebbs/flows, can commit to scoped deliverables during project windows
• Operationally reliable: You show up on time, communicate clearly, handle data securely, and meet deadlines
• Technologically equipped: You must have access to a computer, dependable internet connection, a quiet, professional setting for conducting interviews, and be comfortable using Zoom

Nice To Haves

• Experience with video transcript tagging via a research repository like Dovetail

Responsibilities

• Conducting virtual interviews using structured guides that result in high-quality video recordings
• Applying research protocols consistently, identifying risks or deviations, and suggesting appropriate adjustments
• Producing clear, well-organized interview summaries that require minimal rework
• Synthesizing interview data across participants to identify patterns, themes, and key insights
• Tagging and organizing qualitative data according to an established coding framework
• Submitting research materials using established naming conventions and documentation standards
• Maintaining rapport, neutrality, and professionalism—even when participants are skeptical or challenging

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed