MEPS – Field Interviewer

About the role

Westat is seeking Field Interviewers for the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a study of health care costs and usage in the United States sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). MEPS is a panel survey that conducts several rounds of interviews with the same respondents over two full calendar years. Field Interviewers conduct in‑person and computer‑assisted video interviews with adult household members using a Westat‑provided laptop, contact households in‑person or by phone to introduce the study and gain cooperation, set appointments, complete interviews, and collect and follow up on electronic and hard‑copy signed documents.

Responsibilities

• Contact households in‑person and/or by phone to introduce the study and gain cooperation
• Set appointments and complete in‑person or computer‑assisted video interviews
• Collect and follow up with electronic and hard‑copy signed documents
• Transmit electronic data daily on work days
• Comply with all required data security and confidentiality requirements
• Attend mandatory in‑person training (January 19‑25, 2027) and complete required web‑based home study and post‑training virtual training
• Travel to local and, at times, long‑distance households, including occasional overnight travel as needed

Requirements

• Be 18 years or older (or an emancipated minor) and able to enter binding confidentiality agreements
• Available to complete mandatory web‑based home study training (Jan 4‑15, 2027) including required Microsoft Teams video sessions
• Available to travel to and attend mandatory in‑person training (Jan 19‑25, 2027)
• Available to complete additional mandatory web‑based and virtual training activities (post‑training home study Jan 26‑31, 2027)
• Reside in and travel within project‑designated areas to contact assigned households
• Available to work the data collection period (expected Jan 2027 – Dec 2030)
• Able to work a minimum of 20 hours per week when work is available, mostly evening and weekend hours with limited daytime work based on household preferences
• Meet physical requirements: lift and carry 20 pounds of equipment, walk several blocks, climb stairs while carrying equipment
• Have consistent access to a fully insured, reliable vehicle meeting Westat’s minimum insurance coverage requirements
• Hold a current and valid driver’s license not under suspension

Qualifications

• In‑person interviewing experience and/or computer‑assisted video interviewing experience
• Public contact and/or cold calling experience
• Comfortable working in unfamiliar locations, knocking on doors, and communicating with people from diverse backgrounds

Benefits

• Health and welfare payment of $5.35 per week (up to 40 work hours), which may be reduced based on group benefit election
• Paid vacation and holiday leave based on hours worked
• Sick leave accrual based on hours worked
• Eligibility to participate in the 401(k) program (employer matching dependent on hours worked and subject to plan rules)
• Eligibility for overtime pay
• After accumulating 1560 hours from September through September of the following year, eligibility for health insurance and a health savings account (HSA) with coverage beginning January 1 of the year after eligibility is satisfied