RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

CSUAOA; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

UEI retirement plan

Paid vacation time

Paid sick time

Paid holidays

Excellent medical benefits

Educational assistance

Wellness center discount

Job summary

Education Insights Center (EdInsights) in Sacramento is seeking a Research Associate to contribute to education research and evaluation across college systems and student success initiatives. You will coordinate projects, conduct qualitative and quantitative analyses, and prepare reports for diverse stakeholders.

The role emphasizes equity in public higher education, with collaboration across teams, and opportunities to present findings at meetings and conferences. A hybrid schedule is supported.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public policy/administration, economics, political science, sociology, education, or related field.
• Experience with qualitative data collection and analysis methods (surveys, interviews, focus groups) and quantitative data analysis.
• Experience with Word, Excel, Internet; proficiency with statistical software (Stata, R, SPSS, SAS).
• Ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong writing and communication skills; experience with research manuscripts.
• Knowledge of educational equity and diverse student outcomes.
• Background check required.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to research and evaluation projects ranging from large-scale initiatives to campus student success programs.
• Coordinate and manage project components using project management tools.
• Conduct descriptive and statistical analyses; manage, clean, and analyze data; prepare surveys and administer interviews.
• Develop research and evaluation proposals; support complex study designs.
• Participate in client and staff meetings; prepare reports and present findings.
• Represent EdInsights at statewide and national meetings.
• Provide work direction to Research Assistants with support from a Manager or Director.

Skills

Qualitative and quantitative research

Survey design

Interview and focus group facilitation

Data cleaning and analysis

Program evaluation

Effective written communication

Collaborative work

Education

Master’s degree in public policy/administration/economics/political science/sociology/education

Tools

Stata

R

SPSS

SAS

Job description

Education Insights Center (EdInsights)

Research Associate

Education Insights Center (EdInsights)

SALARY: Full range: $5,859-$8,729 per month ($70,308-$104,748 per year); Anticipated hiring range: $5,859-$7,274 per month ($70,308-$87,288 per year)

TYPE: Full-Time / Benefited / Exempt / Salaried / Hybrid

REQUISITION: 722092698

EdInsights is a self-supporting unit of Sacramento State. Established in 2001 as the Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy and renamed in 2015, EdInsights works to inform and improve educational practice and student success in community colleges, and public universities through applied research, program evaluation, professional learning, and leadership development. The Center’s location in the state capital provides ready access to educators, institutional and system leaders, and other partners working to strengthen public higher education.

Education

EdInsights’ current research and evaluation work focuses on understanding and improving programs, practices, and institutional initiatives that affect student success and equity in public higher education. Current and recent projects include:

• An evaluation of the Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative, focused on supporting the California Community College’s Chancellor’s Office in continuously improving professional learning opportunities for college administrators, faculty, and staff.
• The Sacramento City College Momentum Point Study, which examined whether students’ use of institutional supports was associated with reaching early transfer milestones and recommended equity-centered practices that could help students build momentum.
• An evaluation of Umoja community college programs, which identified program design and support practices that strengthen Black student success, belonging, and academic self-efficacy.

Additionally, EdInsights’ professional learning and leadership development work brings together educational leaders to build knowledge, develop relationships, and take action to advance opportunities and outcomes for students. Through initiatives such as the CSU Student Success Network and the California Education Policy Leadership Fellows, EdInsights creates collaborative spaces for participants to learn across roles, apply evidence to practice, and develop strategies to improve student success.

Across these projects, EdInsights works in partnership with colleges, universities, system leaders, and practitioners to produce actionable research findings, evaluation results, professional learning experiences, and other resources that strengthen educational programs and practices. EdInsights receives financial support from philanthropic foundations, postsecondary system offices and institutions, and non‑profit organizations.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to research and evaluation projects ranging from large-scale community college initiatives to campus student success programs using a mix of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches.
• Coordinate and manage individual project components, including using project management software to coordinate and document progress.
• Conduct descriptive and statistical analyses, manage and clean data, prepare and administer surveys in Qualtrics, schedule and conduct interviews and focus groups, conduct literature reviews and secondary research, collect observational data, and analyze and interpret qualitative and quantitative data.
• Contribute to research and evaluation proposals, including the development of complex research and evaluation studies
• Participate in and/or facilitate client and staff meetings.
• Prepare written reports, and present research findings at meetings and conferences.
• Represent EdInsights at statewide and national meetings of researchers, policymakers, philanthropic leaders, and other similar interest-holders.
• Provide work direction to Research Assistants, with support from a Research Manager or Director.

BENEFITS

• UEI contribution to a TIAA retirement plan after one year of service
• Paid Vacation Time – starting at 10 hours accrued/month
• Paid Sick Time – 8 hours accrued/month
• Paid Holidays – 14 paid holidays per year including paid time off the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day as the CSUS campus is closed
• Excellent medical benefits – 100% employer-paid medical & dental for employee-only coverage and low cost for family coverage
• Educational Assistance Program for employees and/or dependents
• Discounted membership to The WELL, Sacramento State’s on-campus fitness center
• View a comprehensive list of all of the benefits at https://www.enterprises.csus.edu/wp-content/uploads/UEI_Benefits-At-A-Glance-Brochure_Projects.pdf

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public policy/administration, economics, political science, sociology, education, or other field requiring statistical analysis and social science research, or equivalent combination of education and/or work experience.
• Demonstrated experience with qualitative data collection and analysis methods, such as designing and administering surveys, conducting interviews and focus groups, and coding qualitative data; and/or experience managing, cleaning, and analyzing quantitative data from surveys, administrative records, or other large-scale education datasets.
• Demonstrated experience with word processing, spreadsheets, internet, and statistical software packages such as Stata, R, SPSS, or SAS.
• Demonstrated experience balancing multiple projects and priorities and meeting competing deadlines.
• Strong technical and public (such as for policymakers) writing skills. Experience authoring/co-authoring research manuscripts.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Knowledge of educational equity and familiarity with disproportionate impacts for traditionally underserved communities.
• Must pass a background check, which may include fingerprinting. Must continue to meet the established standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the California Community College system.
• Experience conducting program evaluation such as identifying program objectives, analyzing processes to meet objectives, and determining/measuring if the program has met the objective.
• Experience designing and creating data visualizations.
• Experience working in a highly collaborative environment.

Conditions Of Employment

This is a full-time, exempt from overtime, benefited position, covered under the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. Continued employment in this position is dependent upon the mutual consent of University Enterprises, Inc. (UEI) and the employee, and either University Enterprises or the employee can, at any time, terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause.

The selected candidate must furnish proof of eligibility to work in the United States. University Enterprises, Inc. is not a sponsoring agency (i.e. H-1B Visa).

UEI is not a multi-state employer. UEI only employs candidates who live and work in the state of California. If selected for the position you must reside in California and all work must be performed in the state of California throughout the course of employment.

FILING DEADLINE

Open until filled; Priority review date November 2, 2026

Note: This position vacancy is with University Enterprises Inc., an auxiliary organization of California State University, Sacramento. This is not a University position; the incumbent will be an employee of University Enterprises. University Enterprises operates commercial enterprises on the California State University, Sacramento campus; it is responsible for grant and contract management and fiscal services for University research and sponsored programs and provides fiscal services to University related agencies and activities. University Enterprises is a non‑profit corporation governed by a board of directors in conformance with the appropriate State of California codes and policy directives of the Board of Trustees and the campus administration.

University Enterprises is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of University Enterprises that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All recruitment, hiring, placement, and promotions will be on a basis of qualifications of the individual for the position being filled, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age (over 40 years), sex, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (diagnosis or history of cancer)*, citizenship, veteran status, or physical or mental disability. Any persons who feel that they have been discriminated against in connection with an application for employment should contact University Enterprises’ Director of Human Resources at [phone]. *As defined in Section 12926(F), Government Code 12990.

***AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER***

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Police and Campus Crime Statistics Act, California State University, Sacramento has made crime reporting statistics available on‑line at www.csus.edu/police/cleryact.htm. Print copies are available in the CSUS library and by request from the CSUS Office of Public Safety and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.