Research Analyst I

Description/Job Summary

Summary Statement: The Research Analyst I reports to the Director of Institutional Research and provides general institutional support through data collection, analysis and reporting, as well as survey design and administration. The position designs and administers statistical models, performs data collection and analysis, and disseminates findings that address critical issues in the areas of planning, institutional effectiveness, accreditation student retention, and student satisfaction. The Research Analyst I supports the College’s compliance reporting requirements to ensure that the institutional strategy for research aligns with the mission, vision, values, and strategic direction of the College.

Responsibilities/Duties

1. Provides statistical analysis, modeling, and interpretation of data to support executive decision-making, institutional planning, and policy development.
2. Implements and summarizes research into coherent reports for use in operational decision-making based on the statistical analysis of institutional data.
3. Extracts, compiles, analyzes, and interprets data using various software applications including Banner, Argos, Survey Monkey, and Excel.
4. Collects, formats, and prepares research data and narrative for internal and external reports.
5. Conducts mandated and ad hoc surveys; analyzes results, produces reports, conveying results to the Director and other decision makers.
6. Reviews guidelines, specifications, record/file layouts, and prepares files for submission to the Maryland Higher Education Commission and other oversight bodies.

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s Degree in social science, math, information systems or computer science, or closely related field.
2. Four (4) years of demonstrated research experience in higher education.
3. Experience utilizing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
4. Ability to gather, compile, and analyze research data in a variety of formats.
5. Experience working with large data sets, including building queries to extract data as well as creating and merging output.
6. Strong computer skills, including considerable experience with data extraction, data visualization, and statistical analysis software such as Argos, Tableau, Power BI, SQL, SPSS, and/or SAS.
7. Proven ability to respond to information requests quickly and on short notice in a fast-paced environment and with attention to details.
8. Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to convey complex analysis to a non-technical audience.
9. Work effectively, both independently and collaboratively within a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Master’s Degree in social science, math, information systems or computer science, or closely related field.
2. Six (6) years of demonstrated research experience in higher education.
3. Experience utilizing Banner enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
4. Experience working in a community college.