Research Associate - Massasoit Community College

Massasoit Community College•Brockton, MA

39d•$64,000 - $80,000

About The Position

The Office of Institutional Research at Massasoit Community College advances student success and institutional effectiveness through high-quality data, analysis, and reporting. Guided by the College's mission and strategic plan, IR delivers timely, reliable, and actionable insights that support planning, strengthen programs and services, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. The Research Associate plays a central role in strengthening compliance reporting, data integrity, and automation of institutional processes. This position supports the development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures, enhances efficiency through systems improvements, and advances data literacy across the college. A particular emphasis is placed on supporting grant-funded reporting and initiatives, ensuring compliance, and building sustainable processes that improve access to accurate information. The Research Associate will also support academic program review and functional area review by providing data analytics, reporting, and labor market insights that inform decision-making and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Master's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Educational Research, Public Policy, Social Sciences with a strong quantitative focus, or a closely related analytical field.
Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in applied institutional research, data analysis, assessment, or grants management, preferably within a higher education setting.
Strong organizational skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills high level of attention to detail and proven ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel for data analysis and reporting.
Familiarity with higher education information systems (e.g., Ellucian Banner, Argos) or comparable large-scale institutional databases.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated proficiency with statistical software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R, Python for data analysis) and business intelligence/data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
Experience with compliance-related reporting to state and/or federal agencies, including but not limited to HEIRS and/or IPEDS reporting.
Demonstrated ability to advance process improvements and/or automation in data workflows.
Ability to translate complex data findings for diverse, non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

Support the development, maintenance, and improvement of processes and systems that ensure accurate, timely compliance reporting to state, federal, and accrediting bodies.
Advance automation in data workflows, reporting, and analytics to improve efficiency and reduce manual processes.
Conduct data analyses on enrollment, retention, completion, and other key performance metrics, with special attention to grant-funded projects and reporting requirements.
Contribute to survey design, administration, analysis, and reporting for institutional planning and grant-related initiatives.
Develop, document, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures to strengthen consistency, efficiency, and transparency in IR processes.
Provide data analytics and reporting in support of academic program review and functional area review, including preparation of datasets, trend analyses, and labor market information.
Ensure data integrity by auditing, validating, and reconciling data from institutional systems (e.g., Banner, Argos, Tableau) and external sources.
Promote data literacy by helping faculty, staff, and administrators understand, interpret, and use data effectively in decision-making.
Collaborate with Information Technology, Academic Affairs, Student Services, Grants, and other college partners to align reporting processes and ensure data-driven support for institutional goals.
Perform related duties as assigned.