Senior Research Analyst

Bellingham Technical College•Bellingham, WA

About The Position

Bellingham Technical College seeks a 75% (30-hour-per-week) Senior Research Analyst for its Institutional Planning and Assessment department. The position will lead collaborative assessment of the College’s Competency-Based Education (CBE) implementation; help build centralized data systems and dashboards; collect and analyze data on student characteristics, enrollment, retention, and completion; and train employees to use data about CBE experiences and regional workforce needs. The analyst will support data and research requests, help the Title III grant team track project objectives, and assist with external evaluation processes as appropriate. The role advances the College’s culture of inquiry and evidence by providing data and analyses for planning and decision-making. The position is funded through a five-year Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant, Meeting Workforce Demand Through Competency-Based Education. The grant is scheduled to end September 30, 2031. Grant-funded positions are temporary, depend on project funding, and may end if funding is discontinued. The position is under the general direction of the Associate Director of Data and Research.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or an equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job.
One year of experience managing, extracting, analyzing, and presenting data, or an equivalent combination of experience and training.
One year of experience working with structured query language (SQL), or an equivalent combination of experience and training.
Strong collaborative leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Skills in research and assessment methodologies and design, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and concisely.
Ability to use technologies to manage, extract, analyze, present, and visualize data; troubleshoot data reporting and analysis problems; and learn and apply new technologies and best practices.
Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with College members of varied ethnicities, ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to research ethics.
Ability to present technical information to non-technical audiences and provide training and technical assistance to adult learners.
Ability to work under pressure and with ambiguity, prioritize competing demands, and work within a team.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution.
Experience with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods data analysis and assessment, including using multiple data resources to support institutional or organizational improvement and data-informed decision-making.
Experience with project management and collaborative work with colleagues.
Experience with Microsoft Office applications, SQL utilization software such as SSMS, statistical tools such as Python, R, SAS, or SPSS, visualization tools such as Shiny or Tableau, Oracle PeopleSoft, qualitative assessment tools such as SurveyMonkey or Microsoft Forms, and related data structures and reporting tools.
Experience teaching or providing training and technical assistance to adult learners.
Professional experience in higher education and/or a research setting.
Experience with SBCTC statewide data management systems, data warehouses, or processes related to allocation and funding.
Experience with Washington State labor market data.
Experience applying data visualization best practices, such as dashboards.
Experience maintaining data confidentiality and security and adhering to research ethics.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with campus partners to develop an outcomes-based assessment plan, assess the effectiveness of BTC’s CBE implementation, and identify areas for improvement.
Create or enhance data systems and dashboards tracking student enrollment, course success, persistence, time to completion, and credential attainment.
Design data collection instruments, conduct interviews and focus groups, and administer surveys.
Develop a workforce demand data system integrating existing regional and/or state resources and practices.
Develop and provide training to BTC employees on analyzing regional industry demand data and using it for workforce development planning.
Respond to and track relevant data and research requests from internal and external audiences.
Work with the Title III SIP grant team to track project objectives and assist with external evaluation processes as appropriate.
Provide project data and analyses to support planning and decision-making and contribute to BTC’s culture of inquiry and evidence.
Operate research and analytic applications, including SSMS, PeopleSoft Query, Tableau, R, and statistical features of Microsoft Access and Excel.
Work with appropriate departments to address data quality control issues, including input accuracy and consistency.
Apply legal and ethical research requirements, including FERPA and human-subjects protections.
Present complex information to non-technical audiences.
Maintain regular communication with Title III SIP grant team members and Institutional Planning and Assessment partners across campus.
Serve on committees or groups requiring data or accountability/performance measures and participate in the SBCTC Research and Planning Commission activities.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

8 hours per month of sick leave
16 hours per month of vacation leave
24 hours of personal leave per calendar year
12 paid state/college holidays per calendar year
Washington State insurance package with a choice of medical, dental, and vision plans
Life insurance
Long-term disability
Retirement plan choice of TIAA State Board Retirement Plan (SBRP) or Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Plan 3
Two voluntary investment programs: TIAA (403b) and State Deferred Compensation (457); these programs are not matched
Optional Medical Flexible Spending plan
Optional Limited Purpose Flexible Spending plan
Optional Health Savings Account
Optional Dependent Care Assistance
Discounts for automobile and homeowner insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Up to 21 days of military leave
Up to 5 days of paid bereavement leave
Paid civil/jury duty
Ability to participate in a shared leave program
State Employee Tuition Waiver when eligible