Help ensure Scottish voices are heard - and turn everyday experiences into insight that shapes decisions.
Can you commit to at least 20 hours per week over 3 days, including availability across weekdays, evenings and weekends?
Talk to people. Capture stories. Help Scotland be represented.
As a Field Interviewer, you'll visit people in your local area and carry out in-home research interviews on issues that matter - including health, housing, transport, and everyday life.
This is about listening, not selling. You'll represent a trusted research organisation in your community, helping make sure the realities of life in Scotland are reflected in the decisions that affect services, funding and policy.
People you visit will usually have been contacted in advance. Your role is to make it easy for them to share their perspective - with warmth, respect and good listening.
You'll be assigned a defined area, with practical route planning support to help make your patch manageable. In many Scottish communities, travel is a key part of the role, and you'll need to be comfortable travelling throughout your assigned area. Some projects may also require longer journeys and occasional overnight stays. Paid travel time is available on most projects, alongside mileage allowance.
Using a NatCen device, you'll guide thoughtful, respectful conversations and accurately record responses. The stories and experiences you capture help inform decisions made by governments, universities and charities - ultimately helping improve lives across the country.
You'll be fully trained before you go out on your own, including:
Shadowing experienced interviewers
Role-play and guided practice
Supported doorstep visits
Once you're up and running, you won't be doing this alone. You'll have regular check-ins, practical route planning support and a named contact to help you stay on track, build confidence and keep improving.
But when someone says yes, invites you in, and shares their story? That's when it clicks. You'll know that by listening, you've helped give people a voice and played a part in creating positive change.
What you'll earn
Additional support in this area
Work with visible public value - helping people in Scotland be counted and heard
Route planning support to make your week efficient
Paid travel time on most projects and mileage allowance
Full training and support from day one
What you'll need
Valid UK driving licence and sole use of a car
Class 1 Business insurance
Right to work in the UK
Willingness to complete a DBS check
Reliable home broadband
Confidence using basic technology
At least 20 hours available per week (minimum 3 days a week)
Flexibility to work across weekdays, evenings and weekends. While you can plan your schedule, the role requires availability to carry out interviews at the times participants are available, including evening and weekend appointments.
Strong verbal and written English
Who this role suits
This role suits people who enjoy talking to others, are comfortable working independently, and want flexible work with purpose.
You don't need a particular accent or background - just the ability to build rapport, ask questions with empathy, and listen carefully. If you're curious about people and motivated by work that truly matters, you'll do well.
It's a great fit if you've worked in retail, hospitality, admin, driving, sales, or any other customer-facing role. You don't need previous research experience; full training is provided. You can typically expect to travel around 30-60 minutes each way.
We're looking for reliable, approachable people who take pride in doing work that matters. It's especially well suited if you're looking for flexible, part-time hours that can fit around family, studies, or other commitments.
Personal qualities
Good at talking to people
Friendly, respectful and professional
Resilient and confident
Self-motivated and independent
Good time management and prioritising skills
About the Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen)
At ScotCen, we believe that social research has the power to make life better. By really understanding the complexity of people's lives and what they think about the issues that affect them, we give the public a powerful and influential role in shaping services that can make a difference to everyone. As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, we focus our time and energy on meeting our clients' needs and delivering social research that works for society.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the interview process, please make us aware and we will endeavour to support you so you can showcase your best self during our
