Survey Programmer
full-time•London•£32k - £43k
About this role
Survey Programmer
Application Deadline: 4 February 2026
Department: IT and Systems
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: London, UK
Reporting To: Nas
Compensation: £32,500 - £43,000 / year
Description
The Survey Programmer is responsible for scripting, testing, launching, maintaining, and processing data for survey research projects. The role supports projects end-to-end, from initial specification and sample delivery through to final data outputs for clients. This position requires strong technical expertise in survey software, attention to data quality, and the ability to manage multiple projects while working collaboratively across teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Use survey software to set up, maintain, and support research projects from initial specification through to final data delivery.
- Script complex multimode surveys and provide post-launch technical support.
- Process survey data and sample files to generate required outputs.
- Conduct quality assurance activities, including checking, validating, and cleaning data.
- Build reusable code, templates, and utilities to improve efficiency and consistency in programming tasks.
- Lead survey programming across multiple concurrent projects.
- Manage timelines, monitor risks, and provide regular status updates to stakeholders.
- Ensure all technical deliverables are completed to agreed deadlines and quality standards.
- Complete monthly financial reviews for projects where acting as lead survey programmer.
- Attend internal and external meetings related to project planning, design, monitoring, and review.
- Work closely with Survey Programming Management to meet departmental objectives and priorities.
- Mentor and support junior programmers through code reviews and sharing best practices.
- Contribute to a collaborative, high-quality delivery culture within the team.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Minimum of 4+ years’ experience in survey programming within social or market research environments.
- Strong experience with Computer-Assisted Interviewing (CAI) software, particularly Blaise and UI/Dimensions, including advanced scripting requirements.
- Ability to set up, support, and troubleshoot in-house systems for survey projects.
- Experience using version control systems (Git), including branching strategies, pull requests, code reviews, and conflict resolution.
- Sufficient knowledge and confidence to represent the survey programming function in project, inter-departmental, and client-facing meetings.
- High attention to detail with a strong focus on data integrity, logical design, and issue resolution.
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a collaborative and customer-focused approach.
- Proven ability to manage competing priorities and adapt to changing project requirements.
- Reliable and consistent in delivering high-quality outputs.
- Advanced programming expertise in CAI software, particularly Blaise.
- Experience working with additional survey programming platforms.
- Hands-on experience with Azure DevOps, including:
- Managing work items and backlogs using Boards
- Running CI/CD pipelines for survey builds
- Automating quality checks (e.g. linting or testing) prior to deployment
What you'll do
- The Survey Programmer is responsible for scripting, testing, launching, maintaining, and processing data for survey research projects. This role supports projects end-to-end, from initial specification and sample delivery through to final data outputs for clients.
About the National Centre for Social Research
At the National Centre for Social Research, we believe that social research has the power to make life better.
We engage with and listen to the public, ensuring their voice and experience helps to shape the decisions and services that affect their lives. Built on excellence in research methods and data collection, enabling the gathering, analysis and presentation of high-quality evidence to those with the power and influence. 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.
For more information, visit our site natcen.ac.uk or our career site natcen.pinpoint.com/en
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the National Centre for Social Research pay for a Survey Programmer?
the National Centre for Social Research offers a competitive compensation package for the Survey Programmer role. The salary range is GBP 33k - 43k per year. Apply through Clera to learn more about the full compensation details.
What does a Survey Programmer do at the National Centre for Social Research?
As a Survey Programmer at the National Centre for Social Research, you will: the Survey Programmer is responsible for scripting, testing, launching, maintaining, and processing data for survey research projects. This role supports projects end-to-end, from initial specification and sample delivery through to final data outputs for clients..
Is the Survey Programmer position at the National Centre for Social Research remote?
The Survey Programmer position at the National Centre for Social Research is based in London, United Kingdom. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.
How do I apply for the Survey Programmer position at the National Centre for Social Research?
You can apply for the Survey Programmer position at the National Centre for Social Researchdirectly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process.