Strategic Enrollment Management Research Analyst

Merrimack College is a selective, private college in a beautiful, residential setting — just minutes from Boston, Massachusetts.

Position Overview & Responsibilities
Reports to the Director of Enrollment Systems and works closely with the Enrollment Management leadership team to inform institutional strategy for enrollment and financial aid planning. The position will produce research and analytics that inform the setting and achievement of Merrimack’s new student enrollment goals as well as to forecast and tracing continuing student retention and persistence goals for the schools in alignment with broader institutional goals at the undergraduate level. S/he will develop and maintain dashboard reporting for all aspects of the enrollment funnel. Individually and in partnership with internal and external colleagues, s/he will work at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels and work will be summarized and presented in a manner that is accessible to non-technical audiences in a timely, precise, and concise manner. The Analyst must have the ability to understand the uses and storage of institutional data and work to enhance the quality and utility of reports from multiple systems. This position must ensure that data can meet standard and ad hoc reporting and analytic needs as well as develop and standardize reporting procedures, streamline reporting activities, and procedures and establish efficient methods of prioritizing, monitoring, and reporting.

Responsibilities Include:

• Develop and provide access to standard reports on recruitment, enrollment activity, student/parent geo-demographic data, enrollment process activities, student persis data as well as institutional data. Provide access for Enrollment and Retention (E&R and others to standard E&R data sets which can be condensed and/or joined to ad hoc service questions, research questions, and address other analytical needs).
  
  
• Collaborate with Enrollment and Retention units and across the institution to identify, analyze and document data needs and improve reporting capabilities. Develop, maintain, and produce “service” reports. Design, implement, and enhance a single reporting environment that pulls across all source databases.
  
  
• Conduct analytic research to support the attainment of annual enrollment goals at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Includes research on Merrimack’s market and competitors, the admissions funnel, retention, the impact of financial aid on enrollment outcomes, projections of new and continuing student enrollments, and miscellaneous ad hoc projects.
  
  
• In partnership with other institutional offices develop and manage a comprehensive research agenda for Enrollment & Retention that includes market research, surveying and evaluating retention efforts, disseminating reports, and responding to ad hoc requests from institutional leadership.
  
  
• Provide support to the VP, including preparation for meetings and presentations to Senior Leadership Team, the Board of Trustees, and other internal and external audiences.
  
  
• Work with Institutional Effectiveness & Planning and external groups to produce data in accordance with compliance standards for internal and external reporting.
  
  
• Work with Enrollment and Retention units, Institutional Effectiveness & Planning, and Institutional Technology to define operational data definitions and ensure efficient passing of data between systems. Monitor data standards/consistency for the division. Facilitate resolution of data discrepancies and data quality issues. Provide authoritative data to ensure consistent results.
  
  
• Collaborate with institutional Research on surveys, the assessment, and analysis of survey research and consult on survey preparation as well as collect and prepare analysis for the vice president.
  
  
• Maintain and improve the existing systems and processes utilized to report out of the Admissions and Financial Aid systems and that provide the basis for enrollment and budget-related forecasting.
  
  
• Ensure that the required data extracts are produced in a timely and accurate manner and are available to be used division-wide for reporting.
  
  
• Participate in enrollment planning meetings responsible for setting strategies to attain enrollment goals.
  
  
• Provide data reporting and registration reports at admission signature events.
  
  
• Other duties and projects as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree, preferred in an appropriate field or significant relevant experience.
  
  
• Must have at least 2-4 years of reporting and assessment experience that includes the development and production of analytics.
  
  
• Ability to develop a robust reporting and analysis structure in a multi-system environment.
  
  
• Advanced practical experience with BI and data analysis software (Tableau, SPSS, Cognos, Basic SQL, advanced EXCEL, SAS, or other report/data generating skills. (Programming experience R, Python a plus).
  
  
• Thorough understanding and ability to implement data management best practices.
  
  
• Understands technology and is capable of leveraging technology and effectively with particular knowledge of admission/enrollment systems.
  
  
• Commitment to providing exceptional customer service to internal and external customers.
  
  
• Organized and detail-oriented with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities at all times.
  
  
• Demonstrated understanding of data structures, extraction, visualization, and data transformation.
  
  
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to effectively document policies and procedures.
  
  
• Flexibility and willingness to occasionally work outside of normal business hours and extended days with the ability to juggle competing priorities effectively.
  
  
• Preferred understanding of the higher education marketplace.
  
  
• Commitment to and experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion especially as relevant to enrollment management research and analytics.
  
  
• Flexibility and willingness to occasionally work outside of normal business hours and extended days with the ability to juggle competing priorities effectively.
  
  
• Preferred understanding of the higher education marketplace.
  
  

To Apply: Please apply with a resume and cover letter.
Merrimack College is committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community, based on the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. Candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that values diversity and inclusive excellence at Merrimack College.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Statement on Our Mission
Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack’s Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Augustinian mission, our Catholic faith, and our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Required Vaccinations & Remote Work:
Unless otherwise stated above, this is an on-campus position. This is not a remote or hybrid position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

Merrimack College currently has a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Students, faculty, and staff are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

About Merrimack College
The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 5,000 undergraduates and graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries, and comprises schools of liberal arts, science and engineering, health sciences, education and social policy, and business. The college’s 260- acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges & Universities/Medium Programs institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest-growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, coming in 46th out of 170 schools ranked in the Regional Universities North category in 2020. Merrimack is also listed as one of the top 10 most innovative schools and placed 35th for best undergraduate teaching programs among schools in the U.S. News category.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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