Senior Research and Policy Analyst

University of North Carolina System • Raleigh, NC

22h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Research and Policy Analyst supports the UNC System Office’s Division of Strategy and Policy by conducting research and data analysis, examining policy issues, and developing clear, decision-ready materials for senior leaders, the Board of Governors, and other stakeholders. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Research, this position works across a broad range of higher education policy and strategy topics, with a particular focus on student access and success. The analyst will conduct literature and policy scans; analyze institutional, state, and national data; prepare policy briefs and executive presentations; monitor strategic plan metrics; and contribute to a combination of recurring, rapid-response, and longer-term research and policy projects. The analyst will also contribute to division and cross-divisional projects and initiatives designed to improve access and student success in partnership with UNC System institutions. The successful candidate will be a versatile and intellectually curious researcher and policy professional who can move comfortably between data analysis, policy research, writing, presentation development, and collaborative problem-solving. This position is well suited for someone who enjoys varied assignments, works effectively with colleagues across functional areas, and can translate complex information into clear findings and practical considerations for decision-makers. This position is a hybrid work arrangement and will work at least three days per week onsite at the Dillon building in downtown Raleigh's Warehouse District. UNC System employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a 2-hour commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in public policy, higher education, social science, economics, data analytics or related discipline and at least two years of related training or experience; or a doctoral degree in a related field and equivalent combination of training and experience.
• All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear and concise reports, policy briefs, memoranda, presentations, and other decision-ready materials for technical and nontechnical audiences
• Strong organizational and project-coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple assignments while working both independently and collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders
• Experience conducting higher education research, policy analysis, or closely related applied research
• Experience conducting descriptive and comparative analysis using large datasets, such as administrative student data, IPEDS, College Scorecard, or National Student Clearinghouse data

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a higher education institution, system office, state agency, policy organization, research center, or similar environment strongly preferred
• Experience using statistical software such as SAS, Stata, R, or a comparable tool
• Experience developing data visualizations with Tableau, Power BI, or a similar tool
• Familiarity with UNC System, North Carolina higher education, or state higher education policy

Responsibilities

• Conducting research and data analysis
• Examining policy issues
• Developing clear, decision-ready materials for senior leaders, the Board of Governors, and other stakeholders
• Conducting literature and policy scans
• Analyzing institutional, state, and national data
• Preparing policy briefs and executive presentations
• Monitoring strategic plan metrics
• Contributing to recurring, rapid-response, and longer-term research and policy projects
• Contributing to division and cross-divisional projects and initiatives designed to improve access and student success in partnership with UNC System institutions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior