Senior Research Associate, Secondary and Qualitative Research – Higher Education Team

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Assist higher education clients by conducting qualitative and secondary research

• Create, develop, and execute qualitative research studies

• Carry out secondary research projects, which include analyses of new academic programs, best practices reports, environmental scans, and competitive benchmarking analyses

• Oversee multiple projects simultaneously

• Engage with students, faculty, staff, industry employers, and higher education administrators

• Independently design interview and focus group protocols

• Identify potential contacts for in-depth interviews and focus groups

• Reach out to recruit participants for research

• Conduct and document interviews and focus groups

• Compile comprehensive notes and generate preliminary findings

• Analyze transcripts and perform thematic coding on your own

• Conduct secondary research addressing questions related to higher education

• Gather data from online resources and proprietary datasets

• Create client-ready deliverables, primarily using PowerPoint

• Independently manage all phases of the project lifecycle within tight deadlines, delivering reports that require minimal edits

• Complete additional research tasks as required

• Report directly to a Research Director within the team

⛳️ Requirements

• Self-driven and motivated

• Possess a strong intellectual curiosity

• Capable of working swiftly and independently

• Skilled at managing multiple concurrent research projects and effectively prioritizing project components

• Willing to address complex, often unfamiliar research challenges

• Adept at synthesizing content and developing insights

• Experience in professional interactions via phone or videoconference platforms

• High comfort level engaging with industry experts or senior administrators over the phone

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail

• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities

• Background in writing and researching for a business or professional audience

• Proficient command of the English language with demonstrated writing and editing capabilities

• High proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

• Bachelor's degree in English, History, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, or a related writing/research-intensive field is preferred; candidates with relevant experience and other degrees will also be considered

• Preference for candidates with a Master’s degree

• 1-3 years of business or academic experience in conducting secondary and qualitative research and professional writing is preferred

• Experience in applied market research is preferred

• Familiarity with the higher education industry is preferred

• Experience with datasets such as IPEDS, Chmura JobsEQ, or U.S. Census data is preferred

• Experience in qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews, UX methods, focus groups) is preferred

• Research experience gained as an undergraduate or graduate student is preferred

🏝️ Benefits

• Starting with 18+ days of Paid Time Off

• 14 paid holidays, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, Indigenous People’s Day, and personal holidays

• 401(K) employer matching program

• Comprehensive health and dental benefits package

• Health and wellness packages with discounts to local gyms

• Opportunities for community service

• In-office snacks and beverages

• Retirement benefits and medical coverage