Program Experience Researcher

Western Governors University•Salt Lake City, UT

5d•$100,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Experience Researcher leads research initiatives to evaluate and enhance educational program quality by examining student experiences, learning outcomes, and program effectiveness. The role designs and conducts qualitative and quantitative studies, translates findings into actionable insights, and supports continuous improvement across academic programs. The researcher works collaboratively across functions to inform program development decisions and advance institutional strategic goals through evidence-based insights. The position is located in WGU’s Salt Lake City, Utah office and requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including attendance at designated company summits, typically one to two per year. Additional business-related travel may include conferences and visits to company locations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Psychology, Social Sciences, or a related field.
At least 2 years of experience conducting research and evaluation in higher education or a related field.
Demonstrated experience in research design, data collection, and analysis.
Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams to apply research insights in program or curriculum development.
Strong knowledge of research design, methodology, and qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques.
Ability to conduct program evaluation, needs assessments, and gap analyses for continuous improvement.
Proficiency in analyzing complex data sets and translating findings into clear, actionable insights.
Familiarity with benchmarking strategies and higher education industry standards.
Strong understanding of curriculum development, learning assessment, and program effectiveness, particularly in competency-based and online education models.
Proficiency with research tools and software, such as SPSS, NVivo, R, or similar.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, including presenting research findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to collaborate with faculty, instructional designers, data analysts, academic leadership, and other cross-functional teams.
Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple research projects and concurrent deadlines.
Commitment to ethical research practices, data confidentiality, and alignment with institutional policies and regulatory requirements.
Demonstrated curiosity, systems thinking, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Education, Research Methods, Psychology, Social Sciences, or a related field.
Experience conducting research in online or hybrid higher education environments.
Background in competency-based education or adult learning models.
Experience with large-scale program evaluation, benchmarking, or needs assessment.
Demonstrated ability to publish or present research findings to varied audiences.
Proficiency with research tools and software such as NVivo, SPSS, R, or similar.
Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS) and educational technology platforms.
Post-secondary coursework or certifications in program evaluation, assessment, or research methodology.

Responsibilities

Design and implement research studies focused on program experience, evaluation, needs assessment, and improvement opportunities.
Develop and apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Conduct program evaluation and assessment to measure learning outcomes, student engagement, and overall program effectiveness.
Perform needs assessments and gap analyses to identify differences between desired and actual learner experiences.
Benchmark program performance against internal goals, industry standards, and best practices.
Interpret research findings and identify actionable insights, patterns, and recommendations for program enhancements.
Collaborate with academic departments, faculty, instructional designers, analysts, and other cross-functional teams to integrate research insights into course and curriculum design.
Communicate research findings through reports, presentations, and visualizations for internal and external stakeholders.
Contribute data-informed perspectives on student needs and program opportunities to annual planning cycles.
Promote continuous improvement and evidence-based practice by sharing findings and best practices across teams.
Guide entry-level professionals or research assistants and support their development and contributions.
Ensure research activities follow ethical guidelines and university policies regarding data collection and confidentiality.
Use systems thinking to identify opportunities to improve research processes, data systems, and stakeholder engagement.
Stay current with trends in educational research, instructional design, adult learning, and online learning platforms.