Student Assistant - Youth Secret Shopper (Age 16-17)

The Institute for Social Research (ISR) at Sacramento State is seeking to hire eight 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. Travel expenses paid for. Flexible scheduling to accommodate your schooling and extracurricular activities.  This study is for research purposes only and is being conducted by ISR on behalf of California Department of Public Health. Retailers are not penalized or policed as a result of being part of the study.

You must be 16 to 17 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

• Must be age 16 to 17.
• Must be able to obtain parent/guardian permission to participate in the project.
• Must be able to obtain valid work permit through your school.

Majors/Fields of Study

All majors welcome.

Work Schedule

Flexible workdays and work hours. The final work schedule will be determined by the supervisor. Work takes place primarily on weekends during normal business hours (approximately 8AM to 5PM).

Additional Work Schedule

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 per hour

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be 16 to 17 years old.
• Must be available for periodic travel on weekends (Saturday & Sunday only during normal business hours - roughly 8AM to 5PM).
• Must be able to travel as a passenger in a rental car to destinations within driving distance of your place of residence (no driving required).
• 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

• Interest in research, health-related studies or youth tobacco prevention.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct tobacco purchase attempts at predetermined store locations.
• Follow project protocols and all instructions provided by your research partner.
• Accurately recall and communicate field observations to research partner.
• Attend debrief meetings immediately following each trip (remote options available depending on residency).
• Punctual attendance at all project trainings and meetings.
• Maintain accurate record of all travel expenses, purchase logs, and time worked.
• Travel with rotating partners (adults age 30+).
• Adhere to all safety rules and protocols when traveling.

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 travel 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 12/31/2026