Senior Research Analyst

U24

Office of Institutional Research

Thomas Edison State University was founded in 1972 to break down barriers to degree completion. Fifty years later, it proudly serves a diverse body of adult students with innovative and professionally relevant academic programming in a predominantly online delivery. Our team of high-energy student-focused professionals is welcoming new members who are making their mark in education and are ready to help change the lives of thousands of adult students across New Jersey and around the world.

Candidates who are excited by changing lives, committed to the success of all and want to be challenged by new and innovative opportunities, should submit an application.

Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Senior Research Analyst to join the Office of Institutional Research, dedicated to providing data, analysis, and research that supports strategic and operational decision-making for the University. The Sr. Research Analyst will have primary responsibility for the design, development and implementation of research projects and reporting tools focused on tracking student engagement and persistence from admissions through graduation as well as post-graduation outcomes. The ideal candidate will have advanced knowledge of statistical analysis, expertise in developing interactive data reporting dashboards, and experience working in the field of institutional research.

Key Responsibilities:

Research and Data Analysis

-Design, implement and report on research and statistical analysis pertaining to issues of importance to the University (e.g., enrollment forecasting, student recruitment and enrollment, persistence and graduation, course completions, student success factors, and post-graduation outcomes).

-Leverage statistical analysis (e.g., data mining, predictive analytics) to reveal trends related to student success, identify equity gaps in student achievement, and detect potential barriers to student progression towards a credential.

-Respond to specific research questions and data requests from within and outside the institution.

-Utilize external databases (e.g., National Student Clearinghouse, IPEDS database tools, Alumni Pathways, etc.) to address issues related to students as well as to obtain peer comparison data.

Reporting

-Prepare user-friendly data visualizations for use in presentations (PowerPoint), reports (MS Excel and Word) and interactive dashboards (Power BI). Provide narrative summaries of research findings.

-Produce information needed to complete external compliance surveys and reports (e.g., federal (IPEDS), regional, state, partnerships, etc.).

-Assist with the design, development, and implementation of a University Fact Book.

Data Governance and Integrity

-Assist with the development and maintenance of a data glossary and documented standard operating procedures.

-Assist with the development and maintenance of IR Office databases and data files.

-Identify, documents, and resolve data integrity and coding issues. Establish and maintain procedures for proofreading, editing, and checking accuracy of work.

-Maintain confidentiality of student information. Follow protocols for securing data files.

Other

-Assist the Director with producing data reports, developing papers and/or presentations for internal and external audiences.

-Establish liaisons and coordinate activities with other University staff and/or organizations that relate to and/or impact assigned responsibilities.

-Participate in University-wide committees, workshops, and activities.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

-Must be knowledgeable about issues related to college student success with knowledge about the motivations and behavior patterns of adult learners a plus.

-Must have experience with statistical analysis, report writing, research design, oral presentations, and assessment validation.

-Must have advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and statistical software applications (SPSS preferred).

-Must be proficient with interactive data visualization tools (Power BI preferred).

-Must be able to extract, edit, compile, and evaluate data. Knowledge of SQL a plus.

-Must be able to communicate research results in a clear manner, including the preparation of executive summaries and narrative reports.

-Must possess strong analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, excellent writing skills, and understand descriptive and inferential statistics, including data mining, multivariate and predictive analytics. Experience with enrollment forecasting a plus.

-Must be detail-oriented and able to work in a fast-paced office. Must be flexible and able to organize, prioritize, and multitask. Must be experienced in handling confidential information.

-Must be able to work both independently and as part of the group. Should embrace and enjoy a strong collaborative work approach.

-Should have experience working with data from external sources (e.g., IPEDS Data Center, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.).

Requirements:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor’s degree supplemented by a Master’s degree in a field related to the position to be filled or an equivalency as determined by the appointing authority. Degree should be in a field with an emphasis on data analysis, research, and/or assessment (e.g., social sciences, statistics, or other closely related field).

Experience: Two years professional experience in a field in a higher education institution that is directly related to the functions of the position to be filled (e.g., Institutional Research, academic data analysis, student success, etc.), or equivalency as determined by the appointing authority.

-Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute required experience on a year-for-year basis (30 credit hours are considered one year of college).

-A Ph.D. or Ed.D. may be substituted for two years of the required experience.

Preferred Requirements:

The preferred candidate will have three or more years of Institutional Research experience, be experienced in conducting extensive and technical statistical analysis, has experience working with career outcome tools, is experienced with academic program reviews, accreditation, and compliance reporting, has experience with interactive data reporting tools (PowerBI) and possesses strong knowledge about issues related to adult college students’ motivation and factors that predict their success in college.

Work Hours: 8:30-4:30 M-F (hybrid schedule)

How to apply:

All applicants are expected to attach a cover letter that includes a description of how their experience and education specifically relates to the requirements of Sr. Research Analyst position.

*TESU strives to offer a flexible work environment while balancing the operational needs of the University. As such, we have several options for hybrid-work schedules. Positions determine what type of hybrid-work schedule is available and, if necessary, adjustments are made to support University operations.

Thomas Edison State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer