Careers

About Sterling

Located in St. Petersburg, Florida, Sterling Research Group is a full market research firm that works closely with their clients to provide the best possible services. With over 40 employees, Sterling is small enough to effectively handle change and encourage employee dialogue, yet large enough to accommodate substantial business. Sterling offers a range of positions appealing to a variety of professional interests- from operations to technology to project management. Sterling provides an excellent benefits package, competitive salary, and a positive work environment.

Sterling Research Group is located in downtown St. Petersburg in the First Bank building, within walking distance of dozens of unique restaurants, offices, and just minutes from the beaches.

Benefits Package
We offer an excellent benefits package which includes: Paid Time Off, Personal Time, Paid Holidays, Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, STD & LTD insurances, 401(k) retirement savings plan, telecommuting, parking, and alternate work schedules.

How To Apply
Please contact Pamela Berger if you are interested in applying for any position. Email her on pberger@sterlingresearchgroup.com or fax your resume to (727) 867-4129. Remember to use the job title as your reference.

Sterling Research Group, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

Programmer Analyst II

Summary
Under limited direction, uses knowledge and skills obtained through education and experience to work closely with customers, business analysts, and team members to understand business requirements that drive the analysis and design of quality technical solutions. Involved in the full systems life cycle and is responsible for designing, coding, testing, implementing, maintaining and supporting applications software that is delivered on time and within budget. Makes recommendations towards the development of new code or reuse of existing code. Participates in multiple projects with significant scope and impact. Works independently on difficult assignments that are broad in nature requiring some originality and ingenuity with some latitude for un-reviewed actions or decisions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Adheres to established information technology standards and procedures.
Analyzes procedures, problems and information requirements to refine data for conversion purposes.
Analyzes system requirements, including identifying program interactions and appropriate interfaces between affected components and sub systems.
Analyzes user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
Collects and/or creates test data, tests programs.
Conducts special studies and investigations and develops new information systems to improve business processes, as required.
Consults with customers about software system design and maintenance.
Designs and/or modifies programs, including specifying logical and mathematical operations and designing files, input documents, reports, screens and user procedures.
Designs conversion procedures.
Determines appropriate actions in emergency situations to ensure data is secure and available for use as soon as possible.
Develops system documentation.
Identifies and corrects program defects.
Maintain currency in technical skills
May lead assigned projects, including assigning tasks, coordinating efforts, and monitoring performance of others.
May recommend new technologies and methodologies to management for meeting business needs, resolving problems and exploiting opportunities.
Obtains and evaluates information on factors such as reporting formats required, costs, and security needs to determine hardware configuration
Participates in software system testing and validation procedures, programming, and documentation.
Provides technical advice and assists in solving programming problems.
Writes and/or reviews system specifications, including output requirements and flow charts.
Assists in preparing project plans using project management tools.
Reviews test results; documents test activities, and records remedial actions.
Ensures proper analysis of problems and programming approaches to prevent rework or schedule slippage.
Works individually or coordinates database development as part of a team.
May participate in various committees to support department initiatives.
Adheres to all company and departmental policies, procedures, and quality standards.
Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications
Skills in the following:

Development in 1 programming technology, with mastery experience/exposure to a second programming technology, and 1 development platform, proficiency in ASP, VB, and .Net
Design in one development technology along with beginner architect abilities.
Demonstrate quick acclimation to new technologies.
Creating detailed system design documentation.
Presenting complex ideas and information to include both technical and non-technical audiences.
Processes of programming such as compiling, source code editing, debugging, testing and deployment.
Use of modern development tools.
Use of the Microsoft Office Suite of products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio) for use in development efforts.
Designing new or modifying existing systems.
Demonstrating appropriate frequency and level of detail in communications, both verbal and written.
Preparing project plans and using project management tools.
Operating standard office equipment and using required software applications.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering.
Requires technical and business knowledge in multiple disciplines and processes.
Requires a minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience.

~or~
Any equivalent combination of experience, education, and/or training approved by Human Resources.

Language Skills
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure; using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to create and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD), Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) desired.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Availability
Immediate.

Project Manager

Summary
A Project Manager plans, directs, coordinates, and completes, as necessary, tasks/activities on assigned accounts and other projects. These activities may or may not include all aspects of the research process from initial design to preparation of final reports and client presentations, depending upon the resource requirements of the account.

Responsibilities

Prepares and reviews research proposals and budgets to understand study objectives and ensure optimum recommendations are made regarding study design, methodology, and reporting
Develops detailed project plans/schedules and communicates project specifications to support departments through project planning meetings and internal communications
Demonstrates thorough knowledge and understanding in interpreting and communicating project specifications within work group and other groups/departments throughout the company
Coordinates and ensures adherence to project plans/schedules and completion of assigned project-specific, support department activities
Interfaces with clients regarding research objectives, project status, required project materials, and Sterling’s success in meeting needs
Develops data collection instruments to ensure they conform to research objectives and specifications
Develops edit plans, tab plans, and other data specification materials
Interprets data and develops and prepares written analysis
Completes ad hoc analytical requests
Checks deliverables and any other materials provided to clients from both client services and support departments to ensure adherence to relevant quality standards
Understands budget model assumptions and performs to budget specifications
Reviews assigned accounts for value-added opportunities in the areas of study design, methodology, data collection, and reporting and proactively recommends such to clients
Optimizes and improves the internal project process
Develops and implements solutions related to quality (e.g. checklists, project instructions, project documentation, quality control reports, quality control solutions)
Performs other duties as assigned

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Excellent computer skills and proficiency with all MS Office applications (Excel and Access primarily)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Detail-orientation and strong proofreading skills
Organization with the ability to work in a deadline-driven and multi-tasking work environment
Dependability and maturity to work independently under general supervision

Education / Background
Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university with a minimum of three (3) years related experience in market research environment and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. PC Windows-based software experience required with proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience with SPSS or equivalent statistical package preferred.

Position Availability
Immediate.

Salary
Commensurate with experience.

Associate Project Manager

Summary
We currently have an opening for an Associate Project Manager in our Clients Services department and are looking for a bright and ambitious person to help us serve our fast-growing client base.

Responsibilities
Performs assigned tasks on research projects, including:

Reviewing the research proposal to understand study objectives
Communicating the detail of project plans and other job specifications verbally and in written form
Coordinating and ensuring completion of inter and intra departmental project-specific activities
Assisting in developing data collection instruments (questionnaires, interview guides, moderator guides, etc.)
Assisting in developing edit plans, tab plans, and other data specifications
Checking project deliverables and in-process work outputs
Assisting in analyzing research results and preparing reports
Interfacing with the client as required on the project
Coordinating the implementation of client requests and changes to job specifications
Assisting in the development and implementation of solutions related to quality (checklist, work instructions, etc.)

Requirements

Excellent computer skills and proficiency with all MS Office applications (Excel and Access primarily)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Detail-orientation and strong proofreading skills
Organization with the ability to work in a deadline-driven and multi-tasking work environment
Dependability and maturity to work independently under general supervision

Education / Background
No experience required, although previous work in a position involving project management and data analysis is a plus. Must have completed college coursework in business related program and be in pursuit of BS/BA degree, or have a BS/BA degree. Background in business (finance; marketing) or mathematics is a plus.

Position Availability
Immediate.

Salary
Commensurate with experience.

Client Service Intern

Summary
Sterling is looking for interns who can assist our Client Services team in performing various project-related task including: preparing project plans, project schedules, deliverable mockups, account maintenance, report checking and summarizing research results.

Qualifications

Good organizational skills
MS Word and Excel
Attention to detail a must

Education / Background
No experience required, although previous work in a position involving project management and data analysis is a plus. Must have completed college coursework in business related program and be in pursuit of BS/BA degree, or have a BS/BA degree. Background in business (finance; marketing) or mathematics is a plus.

Position
Internship.

Hourly Rate
Commensurate on experience.

Schedule
Flexible. In accordance with school schedule.

Position Availability
Immediate.