Sr. Manager, Data Collection Staffing Strategy & Workforce Planning

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach-one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world's most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

The Center for Data Collection Services is seeking a Sr. Manager, Data Collection Staffing Strategy & Workforce Planning to lead the development and execution of a unified Staffing Center of Excellence (CoE) supporting RTI's field, telephone, and vendor-supported data collection workforce. This role is responsible for workforce planning, vendor and partner oversight, analyticsdriven staffing strategies, and operational excellence across multiple data collection workstreams. The position establishes scalable, datainformed staffing practices that ensure effective staffing models, improve operational readiness, and support highquality project delivery.

Staffing Strategy & Workforce Planning

• Lead development of strategic initiatives such as building staffing, forecast, and future demand models
• Lead the development and refinement of staffing models that support large-scale survey data collection, including field interviewing, call center operations, and multi-mode designs.
• Collaborate with project leadership, field operations, and Talent Acquisition to align staffing plans with project requirements, client expectations, and organizational capacity.
• Manage recruiting and retention planning for data collection staff, including interviewers, supervisors, and field support personnel.
• Oversee vendor-supported hiring, ensuring performance alignment, shared metrics, and coordinated workforce strategies.

Operational Management & Documentation

• Prepare and review project staffing budgets, including labor, training, travel, equipment, and related operational needs.
• Produce internal reports summarizing staff performance, productions trends, risks, and operational issues.
• Maintain historical production and staffing data to support institutional knowledge, forecasting, and strategic planning.
• Develop, document, and enhance operational best practices, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that address both current needs and emerging data collection challenges.
• Ensure staffing processes meet quality, productivity, and compliance standards across all modes of data collection.

Team Leadership & Mentoring

• Provide, coaching, mentoring, and performance support to professional and temporary project staff.
• Model RTI's values and Lead Forward behaviors, fostering accountability, collaboration, and inclusion.
• Support the professional development of team members through training, cross-functional exposure, and knowledge-sharing

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Identify process inefficiencies and implement improvements that enhance candidate pipelines, speed to hire, retention, and workforce quality.
• Use analytics to refine staffing models, forecast workload, and inform operational decision-making.
• Maintain current knowledge of survey methods, field operations, staffing technologies, and industry trends; participate in internal learning sessions and professional conferences.

Education & Experience Requirements:

• Minimum bachelor's degree and 15 years of staffing, data collection, or survey research experience or equivalent combination. This includes a master's degree and 12 years of experience or a PhD and 8 years of experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience working in or with organizations conducting large-scale field and telephone data collection is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience analyzing workforce capacity, forecasting talent needs, and aligning staffing strategies with organizational objectives.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with internal partners and external vendors.
• Ability to innovate, streamline processes, and enhance customer service and team productivity.
• Strong decision-making skills, including resource allocation and performance management.
• Understanding key HR processes (recruiting, onboarding, employment status, and personnel management).
• Experience with budget management, cost estimating, and evaluating cost drivers.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for engaging stakeholders across all levels.
• Demonstrated leadership, team building, and supervisory skills supporting diverse staffing teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and data/reporting tools.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa status, etc).

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For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is availablehere.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Applicants in Massachusetts Only:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.