Research Analyst

College of Lake County; Grayslake (IL); On-site; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The College of Lake County seeks a Research Analyst to support the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Planning and Research. You will compile, analyze, and report data to inform college planning and compliance.

You will design and interpret research studies, create data visualizations (Power BI), assist in surveys, and prepare presentations for diverse stakeholders across the college.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with emphasis in statistics, psychology, economics, education, social sciences, or a related field
• Minimum five (5) years' career experience performing educational, social, or market research analytics
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Familiarity with state and federal economic, population, and educational data sources
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize work and handle multiple tasks and deadlines
• Meticulous attention to detail, commitment to analytical rigor and intellectual honesty
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel, Power Bi, and Word; and SPSS
• Ability to maintain discretion in sharing sensitive or confidential information in compliance with federal law, college policy, and departmental directives
• Ability to perform this work in an office environment, with or without reasonable accommodations
• Proven ability to work effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities; demonstrate sensitivity to and ability to work with the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff, including those with disabilities; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Responsibilities

• Compiling, analyzing, and reporting on data. Ad-hoc data requests and standard projects from design to reporting.
• Analyzing data using Excel, SPSS, and the college’s data warehouse in relation to qualitative and quantitative research activities.
• Providing consultative and technical support to college stakeholders on research design and interpretation of findings.
• Assisting with design, administration, and analysis of surveys and focus group research, course evaluations, and program evaluation activities.
• Writing reports and preparing presentations and visualizations for audiences to communicate findings.
• Data visualizations (Power BI)
• Assisting with data and research components of department review processes and other institutional initiatives.
• Data validation and quality assurance activities; verifying quality of data and reports.
• Active participation on committees and project teams
• Documentation of research methodologies and processes.
• Help maintain data tools and software; prepare SQL syntax; SharePoint management
• Assisting in preparation of state/federal reports and accreditation data
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Autonomy & collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in statistics, psychology, economics, education, social sciences, or related field

Master’s degree in relevant field

Tools

Excel

Power BI

SPSS

Word

SharePoint

SQL

Job description

The Research Analyst position supports all key functions of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Planning and Research in fulfillment of its departmental mission to uphold the college’s culture of inquiry and evidence-based decision-making and partnerwith all areas of the college to identify strategic opportunities and advance efforts toward achieving institutional excellence. Key departmental functions include: Assessment & Evaluation, Continuous Improvement, Compliance, Institutional Research, Planning, and Office Administration. The Research Analyst primarily supports these key functions by compiling, analyzing, andreporting on data as well as by providing consultative and technical support to college stakeholders on the design of research studies and the interpretation and use of data. The work of the Research Analyst helps to inform college planning and decision-making, assess the effectiveness of college initiatives, and fulfill reporting requirements of state and federal agencies and the regional accrediting body.

Project and Process Management (55%)

1) Compiling, analyzing, and reporting on data. Ad-hoc data requests and standard projects from design to reporting. Analyzing data using Excel, SPSS, and the college’s data warehouse in relation to qualitative and quantitative research activities. Manage large datasets.

2) Providing consultative and technical support to college stakeholders (i.e., individuals, committees, project teams) on the design of research studies, statistical tools, analytical methods and software, and the interpretation of research findings.

3) Assisting with the design, administration, and analysis of survey and focus group research, course evaluations, and program evaluation activities.

4) Writing reports and preparing presentations for various audiences to facilitate the communication of research findings to college stakeholders. Designing and preparing visually appealing and informative statistical tables, charts, graphs, and other illustrations.

5) Data visualizations (Power BI)

1) Assisting with data and research components of the department review processes and other institutional initiatives.

2) Conducting data validation and quality assurance activities. Verifying the quality and accuracy of data and reports prepared by other members of the IEPR team.

3) Active participation on committees and project teams

4) Assisting in the development and documentation of research and data methodologies and processes.

Technological Support (15%)

1) Helping to maintain data tools and software

2) Prepare SQL syntax for custom user tables needed for data visualization or reporting

3) SharePoint site management

Institutional Reporting (3%)

1) Assisting in the preparation and checking of data for state and federal reports, regional accreditation requirements, and other compliance-related activities.

Other (2%)

1) Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with emphasis in statistics, psychology, economics, education, social sciences, or a related field
• Minimum five (5) years' career experience performing educational, social, or market research analytics.
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Familiarity with state and federal economic, population, and educational data sources
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize work and handle multiple tasks and deadlines. Ability to adapt to competing and shifting priorities.
• Meticulous attention to detail, commitment to analytical rigor and intellectual honesty
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel, Power Bi, and Word; and SPSS
• Ability to maintain discretion in sharing sensitive or confidential information in compliance with federal law, college policy, and departmental directives
• Ability to perform this work in an office environment, with or without reasonable accommodations
• Proven ability to work effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities; demonstrate sensitivity to and ability to work with the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff, including those with disabilities; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Desired qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field from accredited institution
• Familiarity with a variety of databases, especially Workday (or other student information systems), credit reporting agency data, and other industry data sources.
• Experience using mapping software (e.g. Arc GIS), as well as other data visualization software
• Experience presenting complex findings in a compelling and entertaining way to lay and technical audiences
• Experience using survey tools such as SurveyMonkey, or Qualtrics
• Experience writing and conducting data queries
• Engagement in professional, scholarly associations
• Bilingual Spanish and English

Hiring Rate: $65,400/year. The salary is competitive for this role and not subject to negotiation.