Virtual Assistant for Research & Data Collection

About the role I run a small agency and need a detail-oriented VA to handle recurring online research and data organization. The core work is collecting information from the web, structuring it properly, and maintaining clean datasets I can use to analyze workflows across different parts of the business. This starts as a short-term project. If we work well together, there's room to expand scope and go long-term. What you'll do Conduct recurring online research on assigned topics (competitors, platforms, market data, tools, etc.) Collect and record data accurately into spreadsheets/databases following a defined structure Maintain consistency across datasets — correct formatting, no gaps, no duplicates Flag anomalies, inconsistencies, or anything that looks off rather than guessing Occasionally build or refine simple trackers and templates Take on adjacent admin/ops tasks as the role develops What I'm looking for Strong English reading comprehension — you'll be pulling meaning out of articles, listings, and reports Comfortable in Google Sheets / Excel (filters, sorting, basic formulas) Genuinely detail-oriented — this role lives or dies on accuracy Follows written SOPs closely and asks questions when instructions are unclear Reliable communicator; gives status updates without being chased Self-directed once a task is defined — I don't want to micromanage Nice to have Experience with Notion, Airtable, or similar Familiarity with basic data cleaning Prior research or VA work for agencies Details Hours: 10 hrs/week to start Rate: $8-12/hr depending on experience. Duration: 4 weeks initially, with potential to extend Timezone: Some overlap with EST preferred (async-friendly otherwise) Tools: Google Workspace, excel sheets, md files. To apply Send a short message covering: Your relevant research/data experience A tool or system you use to stay organized Your availability and hourly rate Include the word "dataset" at the top of your message so I know you read this.