Institutional Research Consultant

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Organizational Effectiveness (OE) unit in Penn State Outreach and Online Education (O&OE), which includes Penn State World Campus, the online campus of Penn State, is seeking an Institutional Research Consultant who is eager to work alongside a team of dedicated professionals. The successful candidate will be responsible for undertaking strategic analysis, institutional research, and operational reporting.

Dedicated to enhancing organizational performance through data-informed strategies and insights, the OE unit specializes in using analytics and technology to uncover and translate data into meaningful and actionable insight for the organization. OE works collectively to serve as a central source of data, knowledge, and self-service solutions to O&OE to ensure other units have the right data to operate effectively. The team also leverages data to inform strategy and goal ideation, highlight action opportunities, and report on impact and progress toward the organization’s goals holistically.

The Institutional Research Consultant role is part of the Institutional Research (IR) team within OE. Our team of professionals is dedicated to conducting research related to retention, graduation, and student success with the goal of improving student outcomes. This includes understanding and addressing disparities in student outcomes. We also create and maintain student success dashboards to facilitate executive decision making. Furthermore, we conduct analysis to support strategic planning and external reporting.

The Organizational Effectiveness unit operates fully remotely and offers this position as a remote work opportunity, with the option to work fully remotely from most U.S. states.

As a new team member with OE, you will be expected to be a proactive problem solver with an analytical mindset who approaches challenges with creativity and innovation and who commits to continuous improvement and skill growth. To help ensure your success, OE will provide a supportive and inclusive environment, appropriate onboarding period, check-ins with peers and supervisors, and an open door to the Executive Director.

Responsibilities:

• Combine and interpret data to inform strategic decision-making processes.

• Prepare reports, presentations, and briefs that communicate research findings and recommendations to senior leadership and key stakeholders.

• Participate in cross-functional teams and committees to provide expertise and insights on strategic initiatives and projects.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to design, develop, and maintain interactive dashboards that provide access to key performance indicators and metrics.

• Use statistical software and tools to collect, interpret, and understand data related to institutional metrics, student outcomes, enrollment trends, and other relevant areas.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of academic and support programs aimed at enhancing student success and retention.

• Work with faculty, staff, and administrators to assess practices that promote student engagement and persistence.

• Develop systems for retrieving and interpreting data based on customer needs, researching various methods for system development, and evaluating the impact and implications of different methodologies on reporting efficiency.

• Review and provide feedback on the work of other OE staff to ensure accuracy, quality, and compliance with established standards and procedures.

We seek a candidate who will proactively pursue continuous professional growth by staying current with the latest advancements in data interpretation, data reporting, and higher education institutional research. They will also share acquired insights and knowledge with the team to foster a collaborative learning environment.

The successful candidate will have the following:

• Knowledge and skills related to data analysis and reporting.

• Proficiency in statistical analysis, including experience with statistical software such as R, STATA, or SPSS.

• Understanding of various statistical techniques, including t-tests, chi-square tests, and regression analysis.

• Ability to format and present data interpretation effectively in written, verbal, and visual formats.

• Ability to extract data from existing systems and restructure it to facilitate analysis.

• Strong analytical thinking and proactive problem-solving skills.

• Comfort working as part of a team in a remote work environment.

Education and Experience:

This position will be filled at the intermediate or advanced level, which minimally requires a bachelor’s degree and 1 year of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. At least three years of relevant experience is required for this position to be filled at the advanced level. To be successful in this role, the ability to learn new concepts and processes quickly, excellent organizational and time management skills, strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to build effective relationships within the University in a remote work environment are equally as critical as technical proficiency. The candidate should also exercise judgment to take initiative, solve problems, demonstrate critical thinking skills, adapt to shifting priorities, and be willing to take an innovative approach to finding solutions.

Preferred Experience:

The ideal candidate will have experience in statistical analysis and predictive modeling, with the ability to apply these skills to support strategic decision-making processes. They should have experience creating, modifying, and running queries in relational database systems such as Microsoft SQL or Microsoft Access. A good understanding of various statistical techniques, such as t-tests, chi-square tests, and regression analysis, as well as predictive modeling techniques, like time series analysis, decision trees, and clustering, is highly desirable. Experience with Microsoft Office 365 applications, particularly expertise in Microsoft Excel (Pivot tables, Power Query, Macros, etc.), is also desired. Experience with Business Intelligence tools such as Microsoft Power BI or Tableau is a plus. Prior experience working in Higher Education is preferred.

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resumé as part of their application. The cover letter should detail prior experiences related to the position and highlight how your background and expertise make you a suitable candidate for this role.

Review of applications will begin on July 15.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society and nature, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:

$56,200.00 - $89,600.00

Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure. 

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here .

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. 

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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