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Research Analyst

• Title: Research Analyst
• Class: Academic Professional
• Exempt Status: Exempt
• Level: 5

Job Summary

Under the direction of the supervising manager, this position provides data and information to support institutional effectiveness, research, accreditation, planning, grants and college continuous improvement activities.  This position focuses on extracting data from numerous internal and external sources, programming to create complex data sets, conducting statistical analyses, reporting and communicating results.  Work includes both quantitative and qualitative data analyses.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

1. Utilizes programming expertise to develop complex data sets from numerous internal and external sources including the college enterprise resource planning system.
2. Creates models and uses statistical tools for analysis, data visualization and reporting.
3. Responds to ad hoc and scheduled data requests; identifies data sources, performs necessary programming, determines appropriate level of detail and produces needed deliverables.
4. Continuously checks and monitors work for accuracy; identifies and resolves programming or logic errors impacting data quality, models, analyses and reports.
5. Communicates technical information orally and in writing; customizes reports, slides and verbal presentations for audiences of differing data comprehension levels; utilizes feedback to improve communications.
6. Designs, administers, analyzes and reports survey findings; employs appropriate methods to determine population selections, sample sizes and analyses.
7. Fulfills Grants Office data requirements for proposals and post award reporting; proposes assessment methodology; may serve as an evaluator, on advisory boards and committees as assigned;
8. Organizes and leads focus groups; summarizes findings and identified common themes in report and presentation formats.
9. Assists with monitoring of internal and external environments to identify current and emerging trends.
10. Performs web searches to locate research studies on special topics; prepares executive summaries of findings.
11. Performs work in compliance with college policies and processes; understands and applies legal and ethical components involved in conducting research and maintaining data confidentiality (ie. FERPA, human subjects’ protection, etc.).
12. Positions in this classification may perform all or some of the responsibilities above; all positions perform other duties as assigned.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Work is typically performed in an office environment. Extended periods of time sitting at a desk using a computer is required.Depending upon position, occasional or frequent travel is required between campuses requiring the use of a personal vehicle and current driver’s license.

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree in education, social science, business or related field with emphasis on research and evaluation, statistics, policy analysis or other research-oriented discipline. Experience performing the duties of this job may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.  Two years of experience focusing on development of complex data sets, research design, survey design, statistical analysis and/or narrative and statistical reporting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Data collection, evaluation, and presentation methods and techniques;
• Research design and methods;
• Complex mathematical and statistical computations and quantitative and qualitative data analysis;
• K-12 and/or higher education issues;
• Program evaluation and assessment of educational outcomes;
• Enterprise Resource Planning/large complex database systems.

Skills in:

• Working with query languages, programming tools, statistical and analytical software;
• Researching, evaluating, manipulating and analyzing large data sets;
• Designing, writing, and editing complex research documents and queries;
• Communicating technical information verbally and in writing to broad audiences.
• Survey development, sampling strategies, analysis and reporting of findings;
• Working with diverse academic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of students and staff;
• Project management and independent problem solving.

Ability to:

• Analyze problems and make appropriate decisions or judgments relating to projects;
• Work independently and be self-directed;
• Prioritize multiple tasks and adapt to needed changes;
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing;

Revised: 4/2020; 7/2013

• Reviewed: 12/2018
• Replaces: 9/2007