Research Associate (EdInsights)

University-Enterprises-In; Sacramento (CA); Remote; USD 65,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

TIAA retirement plan

Vacation time

Sick time

Holidays

Medical & dental benefits

Educational assistance

The WELL membership

Job summary

University Enterprises, Inc. via EdInsights Center seeks a Research Associate to conduct research and evaluation projects across community college initiatives and student success programs.

You will leverage qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches, coordinate project components, administer surveys, conduct interviews, analyze data, and prepare reports for dissemination. The role requires strong written and oral communication, experience with statistical software, and collaboration

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 writing skills. Experience authoring/co-authoring research manuscripts.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of educational equity and familiarity with disproportionate impacts for traditionally underserved communities.
• Must pass a background check, which may include fingerprinting.

Responsibilities

• Conducts literature reviews and secondary research, including search, review, synthesis, and write‑up of relevant existing literature/data.
• Contributes to the development and administration of logic models, evaluation plans, and data collection tools, such as surveys and interview protocols, by drafting instruments.
• Administers surveys in Qualtrics.
• Downloads, cleans, manages, and organizes data.
• Collects observational data of client events for evaluation projects.
• Schedules and conducts interviews and focus groups.
• Analyzes and interprets data, including coding qualitative data and statistical analysis of quantitative data.
• Contributes to research protocols and practices; documents existing protocols and practices; updates existing protocols and practices to reflect final decisions made by the team.
• Reads external publications related to postsecondary reform, as relevant to ongoing projects.
• Cross‑trains research assistants and other research associates in areas of established competency.
• Assists in the management of assigned project(s), such as coordinating and scheduling of evaluation activities.
• Uses project management software to coordinate project components and document component progress.
• Presents Senior Research Associate/Manager with periodic oral and written reports on the status of project components.
• Participates in and/or facilitates client and staff meetings and assists in or leads agenda creation and meeting summary.
• Maintains continuous team and client communication for project components, with Senior Research Associate/Manager support.
• Supports the development of a cohesive evaluation strategy inclusive of needs, goals, and concerns of various audiences.
• Participates in center‑wide discussions on equity and center strategic direction.
• Writes and provides feedback on evaluation and research reports.
• Provides direction to, collaborates with, and provides feedback to UX Design Analyst to create visuals for reports.
• Co‑presents findings at meetings and conferences.
• Represents EdInsights at statewide and national meetings of researchers, policymakers, philanthropic leaders, and other similar interest‑holder groups.
• Assists in the development of complex research and evaluation proposals and design.
• Independently designs components of a larger complex project.
• Contributes to proposal and design brainstorming sessions.
• Supports the preparation and submission of research and evaluation grant proposals to foundations and other external grantors.

Skills

Qualitative methods

Quantitative methods

Survey administration

Project coordination

Writing & reporting

Education

Master’s degree in public policy/administration, economics, political science, sociology, education, or related field

Tools

Stata

R

SPSS

SAS

Qualtrics

Job description

• Location 6000 J ST,SACRAMENTO, CA, 95819,United States
• Base Pay $5,859.00 - $8,729.00 / Month
• Job Category Benefited, Full-time, Education Insights Center (EdInsights)
• Employee Type Benefited Exempt

Broad Scope & Function

This position conducts EdInsights’ research and evaluation work, with projects ranging from studies of large-scale community college initiatives to campus-based student success programs. The work leverages qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches including fieldwork, interviews, document and program analyses, policy analysis, case studies, and statistical analysis of large and small data sets.

Depending on the specific study, the Research Associate may coordinate and manage individual project components, conduct descriptive and statistical analyses, prepare and administer surveys, conduct interviews and focus groups, prepare written reports, and present research findings. The incumbent may also contribute to research and evaluation proposals and represent EdInsights at statewide and national meetings of researchers, policymakers, philanthropic leaders, and other similar interest-holders.

Reporting Relationship

The position reports directly to and receives general direction from the Research & Evaluation Director or Research Manager. The position may receive work direction from Research Managers and Senior Research Associates. The position provides work direction to Research Assistants, with support from a Research Manager or Director.

• 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)
• 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

This position is open until filled with a priority review date of November 2, 2026. We will begin application review on this date.

Conditions of Employment

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).

This is a full‑time, exempt from overtime , benefited position with a defined contribution retirement plan through TIAA. (The position is not covered under the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.) Continued employment in this position is dependent upon funding and the mutual consent of University Enterprises and the employee, and either University Enterprises or the employee, can, at any time, terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause. Program continuation is contingent upon funding.

Duties and Responsibilities

Research and Evaluation

• Conducts literature reviews and secondary research, including search, review, synthesis, and write‑up of relevant existing literature/data.
• Contributes to the development and administration of logic models, evaluation plans, and data collection tools, such as surveys and interview protocols, by drafting instruments.
• Administers surveys in Qualtrics.
• Downloads, cleans, manages, and organizes data.
• Collects observational data of client events for evaluation projects.
• Schedules and conducts interviews and focus groups.
• Analyzes and interprets data, including coding qualitative data and statistical analysis of quantitative data.
• Contributes to research protocols and practices; documents existing protocols and practices; updates existing protocols and practices to reflect final decisions made by the team.
• Reads external publications related to postsecondary reform, as relevant to ongoing projects.
• Cross‑trains research assistants and other research associates in areas of established competency.

Project and Client Coordination

• Assists in the management of assigned project(s), such as coordinating and scheduling of evaluation activities.
• Uses project management software to coordinate project components and document component progress.
• Presents Senior Research Associate/Manager with periodic oral and written reports on the status of project components.
• Participates in and/or facilitates client and staff meetings and assists in or leads agenda creation and meeting summary.
• Maintains continuous team and client communication for project components, with Senior Research Associate/Manager support.
• Supports the development of a cohesive evaluation strategy inclusive of needs, goals, and concerns of various audiences.
• Participates in center‑wide discussions on equity and center strategic direction.

Writing, Reporting, and Dissemination

• Writes and provides feedback on evaluation and research reports.
• Provides direction to, collaborates with, and provides feedback to UX Design Analyst to create visuals for reports.
• Co‑presents findings at meetings and conferences.
• Represents EdInsights at statewide and national meetings of researchers, policymakers, philanthropic leaders, and other similar interest‑holder groups.

Proposal Development

• Assists in the development of complex research and evaluation proposals and design. Independently designs components of a larger complex project.
• Contributes to proposal and design brainstorming sessions.
• Supports the preparation and submission of research and evaluation grant proposals to foundations and other external grantors.

Requirements

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. E xperience 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.

Physical Requirements

With or without a reasonable accommodation: Sit for extended periods; frequent movement; manual dexterity and eye‑hand coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, printers, scanners, and fax machines.

Working Conditions

This is a primarily remote position. Work is performed at home and/or in an office environment. The position involves continuous contact with staff, campus community, government agencies, and other organizations. Travel to Sacramento is required for in‑person meetings approximately once per quarter and occasional travel is required to other areas for meetings, conferences, and fieldwork. Employees are responsible for covering their own travel expenses for Sacramento‑based meetings and events.

Work Schedule

• 40 hours per week
• Monday‑Friday
• This is a primarily remote position however travel to Sacramento is required for in‑person meetings approximately once per quarter and occasional travel is required to other areas for meetings, conferences, and fieldwork. Employees are responsible for covering their own travel expenses for Sacramento‑based meetings and events.

Summary

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.

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.

Additional Information

• Job Requisition # 722092698
• Agency/Department SPA - Education Insights Center (EDINS)