NORC, known since its founding in 1941 as the National Opinion Research Center, has headquarters on the University of Chicago's campus, and offices in Chicago's downtown Loop, Washington, DC, Bethesda, Maryland, and Berkeley, California, as well as a field staff that operates nationwide. NORC's clients include government agencies, educational institutions, foundations, other nonprofit organizations, and private corporations. Although NORC's national studies are its most well-known, our projects range from local to regional and international.

NORC creates unique value for its clients by developing effective, innovative solutions that combine state-of-the-art technology with high quality social science research in the public interest.

Our project work is interdisciplinary, with strong staff cooperation across substantive and operational areas. And NORC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to facilitating the personal and professional development of everyone on our staff.

Our mission is to conduct high quality social science research in the public interest.

Our Values and Guiding Principles

Excellence

We are leaders in social science research. We strive to achieve excellence in every facet of our work by providing advanced solutions for collecting, analyzing and sharing data. We meet or exceed our clients’ expectations for quality, achieving an appropriate balance of time, budget and scope.

Collaboration and Mutual Respect

We build long-term relationships through collaboration and mutual respect. We respect the rights and well-being of our study participants. We build productive teams with our clients and colleagues, communicating in an open, honest and constructive manner. We advance the field of social science by freely exchanging ideas with the larger research community. We nurture and capitalize on the complementary strengths of NORC and the University of Chicago.

Employee Potential

We recognize that NORC employees are our greatest asset. We hire and retain a diverse group of talented individuals. We have a work environment that fosters teamwork, encourages creativity, and provides equitable opportunities for growth and development.

Stewardship

We are responsible for effective use of the assets entrusted to us by our clients, respondents, and trustees. We deliver data and analyses that ensure the integrity of our research and serve the public interest. We exercise fiscal prudence to ensure the long-term viability of the organization.

There are many opportunities at NORC, both in our Chicago and Washington D.C. locations. The interdisciplinary framework of the organization allows for professional growth in a wide range of disciplines. New positions are always becoming available, so continue to visit our website for the latest openings.

NORC offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package for regular staff, including paid time off, holiday pay, medical and dental coverage, life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance, a 403 (b) retirement plan, and tuition assistance. See our Benefits Summary for Regular Staff.

In addition to meeting specific job requirements, all employees must present evidence of their identity and authorization to work in the United States (I9 documentation) and must undergo a background check.

NORC's 2008 Summer Internship Program is a 9-week, 40 hour per week paid position for upper level undergraduates and graduate students with an interest in social science research. The dates for the 2008 program are Monday, June 16 to Friday, August 15. Interns typically are assigned to an ongoing NORC research study, attend a seminar series on principles of survey research, and conduct a small scale study as an intern group project. The intent is to provide all interns with exposure to all facets of the survey process.

Opportunities for you in NORC's Summer Intern Program

Experience a summer of hands-on survey design and operations
Work in an office environment where you'll gain teamwork and project management skills that are important in any career
Combine social science and statistical theory with the practical challenges of day-to-day project implementation
Apply and develop your technical skills (e.g., questionnaire design)
Learn the principles of survey research from its leading practitioners - weekly seminars with NORC professionals.

Successful Applicant Qualities

Strong interest in pursuing a career in social science research
Conscientiousness and a willingness to work in a team environment
Creativity, problem-solving and strong writing and verbal communication skills
Curiosity about how to build a study design from the bricks and mortar of survey procedures

NORC researchers conduct studies on a wide range of topics. Our record is particularly strong in these areas:

Arts and Humanities
NORC's work in the area of arts and humanities includes the measurement of participation and interest in a variety of cultural activities and the establishment of reliable indicators to facilitate analysis.

Criminal Justice
Our focus on criminal justice includes the study of the operations and clientele of law enforcement and criminal justice programs.

Education
Since its first days of operation, NORC has worked to improve the public's and government's understanding of issues related to education.

Energy & Environment
NORC has emerged as a leader in conducting high-quality survey research related to energy and environmental concerns, creating a foundation for clients to make more informed, accurate policy decisions with respect to these crucial issues.

Finances
NORC's experience collecting and analyzing financial data is extensive. It includes the use of data from both households and businesses.

Health
NORC research on issues related to health is conducted with the goal of informing the public and policy makers and improving Americans' quality of life.

International
NORC's international studies focus on issues outside the United States.

Labor and Employment
Labor research at NORC encompasses a broad range of studies on work experience, education and training, consumption, and the relationships between education, age, experience, worker satisfaction, and success.

Organizations
The study of organizations is fundamental to studying social behavior.
Special Populations
Reaching special populations is the essence of survey and analytical work at NORC. Examples of some special populations we have worked with include:

Society and Culture
NORC has studied many areas of American society, among them arts and humanities, religion, social indicators, and public opinion on a wide range of topics.
Substance Abuse
Our focus in this area involves the study of treatment, prevention, and treatment outcomes as they relate to substance abuse and addiction.

Technology
NORC creates unique value for its clients by developing effective, innovative solutions at the nexus of information technology and public interest research.

Benefits for Regular Staff
PAID TIME OFF (PTO): Employees accrue PTO hours for each paid hour of service. This includes vacation and sick leave. NORC offers competitive PTO rates; exact rates vary by position level.

HOLIDAYS: Seven (7) paid holidays per calendar year. Each year, management will designate whether or not the day after Thanksgiving will be an eighth paid holiday.

GROUP HEALTH and DENTAL INSURANCE: New employees are immediately eligible for group health and/or dental insurance. Health insurance options include a Preferred Provider Option (PPO) and a Heath Maintenance Organization (HMO). Dental insurance options include a Network Plan and a Traditional Indemnity Plan. All plans provided through Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS: After 1,000 hours of service, an employee is eligible for participation in the NORC, Inc. Retirement Plan. Once eligible, NORC contributes 8.5% of eligible earnings for each calendar year in which the eligible employee has 1,000 hours of service. Contributions are immediately vested and are deposited semi-annually into an individual retirement annuity account administered by TIAA-CREF.

Employees may make voluntary, pre-tax contributions immediately upon hire, up to $15,500 per year into the NORC, Inc. Supplemental Retirement Plan also administered by TIAA-CREF. Contribution limits may be higher for individuals over age 50. See Summary Plan Description for details.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE: NORC provides tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for undergraduate and graduate courses after 6 months of eligible employment. NORC also offers employees an opportunity to enroll in professional certification courses, seminars, conferences and continuing education courses as the budget permits.

GROUP LIFE INSURANCE: New employees are immediately eligible for group term life insurance for coverage equal to two times annual salary, rounded up to nearest thousand dollars with a maximum benefit of $750,000. Company sponsored with no employee contribution.

GROUP LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE: New employees are immediately eligible for group long-term disability insurance for coverage equal to 60% of monthly base salary after 90th consecutive day of disability. Maximum monthly benefit of $12,000. Company sponsored with no employee contribution. Employees may opt to pay income taxes on the premium amount and thereby receive any future LTD benefits tax-free (see Summary Plan Description for details. Some restrictions apply.)

GROUP SHORT-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE: Immediately eligible for group short-term disability insurance for coverage equal to 60% of weekly base salary after 14th consecutive day of disability. Maximum weekly benefit of $2,500. Company sponsored with no employee contribution.

FLEXIBLE HEALTHCARE / DEPENDENT CARE SPENDING ACCOUNTS: Employees may set aside money from their pay up to $5,000 per calendar year, on a pre-tax basis to cover medical expenses not covered by a group health plan for themselves or family members. A similar account is available to cover expenses relating to day care and after-school care for eligible dependents.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP): Provided by Magellan Health Services, the program offers employees and their dependents, (including significant others and dependent children who live at home) private counseling on personal issues. The plan is confidential and is free of charge.

PARKING and COMMUTER BENEFITS: Employees may set aside pre-tax dollars to cover work-related parking as well as public transportation coupons. IRS limits are up to $215 per month for parking and $110 per month for transportation coupons.

To See All Updated News.

http://www.norc.org/News/