Student Assistant-Young Adult Secret Shopper- Ages 18-19 (Open to Students and Non-Students)

The Institute for Social Research (ISR) at Sacramento State is seeking to hire 25 student assistants to work with our research team on the Young Adult Tobacco Purchase Survey Project (YATPS). The project’s purpose is to assess the rate of tobacco sales to individuals under the age of 21 in California.

The role of the Secret Shopper is to attempt to purchase traditional or electronic tobacco products from retail locations while their research partner records the results and drives between retail sites. Research teams will travel over weekends only. All training and travel time are paid for. Flexible schedule to accommodate school schedules.

You must be 18 to 19 years old to apply for this position.

Conditions of Employment

This is a part-time, temporary, non-benefited, student position. Employment in all positions with University Enterprises, Inc. is dependent upon the mutual consent of University Enterprises, Inc. and the employee. This means that either University Enterprises, Inc. or the employee can, at any time, terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause.

UEI does not allow employees to hold more than one UEI Job at a time, or work in more than one college or center per pay period. UEI employees who are considering leaving their current UEI position for a different UEI  posting should inform their supervisor in writing and provide at least a week’s notice.

Depending on the type of position you are applying for, a pre-employment background check consisting of one or more of the following may be conducted: employment history, professional references, criminal check: educational verification (i.e., degree, license, or official transcript), DMV clearance.   Applicants will be required to pass required pre-employment checks to the satisfaction of University Enterprises, Inc. (UEI) and the hiring Agency or Department.

Prerequisites

Current Students: Must be enrolled in at least six-semester units (undergrad) or four-semester units (graduate) at your school or institution (proof required).

Non-Students: No school enrollment requirements. Note, non-students will be classified in the “casual employee” category, which has a limit of 19.5 hours per week. This weekly hour limit cannot be exceeded at any point for duration of project.

Majors/Fields of Study

All majors welcome.

Work Schedule

Flexible workdays and work hours. Most travel will occur on weekends and over school breaks. Final work schedule to be determined by supervisor.

Additional Work Schedule

Casual employees are limited to 19.5 hours total per week during the academic year as well as during breaks.

Student Assistant and Graduate Assistant employees generally work up to 20 hours per workweek (Sunday – Saturday) during the academic year and up to 40 hours per workweek during breaks; (winter, spring & summer).

Compensation

$20.00 - $21.00 per hour

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be 18 to 19 years of age.
• Must be available for periodic travel on weekends and over school breaks.
• Must be able to travel as a passenger in rental car or plane to selected destinations.
• Must be reliable and dependable for all scheduled travel.
• Must be able to follow all study protocols as directed by supervisor or research partner.

Preferred Qualifications

• Taken at least one course in research methods, or equivalent work experience in research-related field (not required for the role).

Duties and Responsibilities

• Travel by car or plane to reach destinations (no driving required).
• Conduct tobacco purchase attempts at predetermined store locations throughout California.
• Accurately recall and communicate field observations to research partner.
• Follow project protocols and all instructions provided by your research partner.
• Attend debrief meetings immediately following each trip.
• Punctual attendance at all project trainings and in-person meetings.
• Sit in a car for extended periods of time.
• Maintain accurate record of all travel expenses, purchase logs, and hours worked.

Physical Requirements

Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment including computer workstations, telephones, calculators, copiers, printers, and scanners with or without reasonable accommodation.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a traveling environment and office environment.

Application Instructions

Please complete all fields of the employment application. Include your educational history in the “Educational Experience” section and any employment history in the “Employment Experience” section of our application.

Apply by: 12/1/2026