Research Associate

The American Council on Education (ACE) is the major coordinating body for the nation's colleges and universities. The Research Associate role involves conducting research, policy analysis, and impact evaluations to support the core activities of the Research unit, ultimately informing public policy and institutional practices in higher education.

Responsibilities

• To conduct research and adjacent activities that establish benchmarks and measure collective impact of the postsecondary sector
• To provide timely analysis of public policy issues that inform and enhance advocacy efforts of the Council and its partners
• To conduct summative and formative assessment of the Council’s activities that inform and catalyze its on-going organizational learning, as well as articulate its impact
• The unit produces various experiences and deliverables for internal & external audiences, including but not limited to internal briefings on emerging issues, thought leadership convenings, workshops and other learning experiences for institutional leaders, written reports, toolkits, data resources, and webinars
• Typically, the incumbent will be assigned to execute tasks associated with larger projects, including but not limited to background research, data analysis/visualization, qualitative/quantitative data collections, preparation of pre-/post-convening materials, and drafting of written materials (e.g., internal memos, talking points, briefs, and reports)
• As directed, the incumbent will have opportunities to engage and partner with colleagues across the Council (e.g., Carnegie Classifications System team, Government Relations, ACE Connect, and Learning Evaluations, etc.)
• As a full-time staff member, the incumbent will also be expected to fully participate in various departmental, division, and council-wide meetings and activities

Skills

• Master's degree in higher education, education policy, or related field
• Self-motivated with the ability to multi-task competing projects and priorities
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and propensity to thrive in a team environment
• Familiarity with the federal postsecondary and workforce data, as well as quantitative research methods
• Eagerness to build your expertise around current and emerging issues in higher education

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• 403B with matching incentive + employer contribution
• Short term disability/Long term disability/Life insurance
• Generous PTO package
• Paid Parental Leave
• 13 paid holidays + week between Christmas Eve & New Years Off
• Professional Development Opportunities
• ....and more!

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