Analyst, Educational Transformation

Ithaka S+R is a non-profit research and consulting service. Our growing team offers unique opportunities for your research and project management skills to play a vital role in helping the academic and cultural communities serve the public good and navigate economic, technological, and demographic change.

We are hiring for multiple Analyst roles within the Educational Transformation program, which studies and supports the adoption and scaling of policies, practices, and innovations that improve student postsecondary access and success. Depending on their skills, the Analyst will serve in a policy-, research-, or program management-focused role. The Educational Transformation team offers unique opportunities for your research and project management skills to play a vital role in shaping the national postsecondary educational landscape and improving the lives of students.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues on cutting edge projects such as the American Talent Initiative (www.americantalentinitiative.org); evaluations of data-informed student success interventions, online and adaptive learning, and college leadership training; equity-focused research on student debt, innovations in student and institutional financing of higher education, student veterans access and success, and higher education in prisons; and state and federal education policy analysis. Analysts contribute to multiple concurrent projects with ambitious deadlines, and are responsible for high-quality, on-time completion of tasks such as desk research, assisting in data collection and analysis, report drafting, and project management. Although the Analyst role is the junior role on our team, you will have significant, substantive responsibility, working with a variety of prominent and experienced colleagues, leaders, and researchers, managing their inputs and helping produce high-quality deliverables that have an impact on the field.

This position will report to a senior member of the Educational Transformation team.

Responsibilities:

• Research and analysis
  • Perform quantitative and qualitative research and analysis, which may take the form of:
    • Collecting and cleaning large datasets from distributed administrative systems
    • Conducting data analyses using descriptive and empirical methods, including quasi-experimental approaches
    • Conducting and synthesizing stakeholder interviews
    • Designing and administering surveys
    • Conducting desk research utilizing public, internal, and partner-provided sources
    • Analyzing the effects of education-related programs and interventions, such as state and federal policies, and a broad range of higher education student success initiatives
  • Provide logistical support for research, analysis, and strategic advising efforts, such as maintaining data, arranging interviews, managing relationships, and utilizing survey management and data analysis tools.
• Project management and communications
  • Coordinate and track activities of numerous stakeholders across multiple institutions and propose ideas for process improvement.
  • Develop and maintain project plans and keep individuals, teams, and collaborators on track to meet deadlines. Write emails, memos, and briefs to clearly communicate concepts and processes to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the creation of compelling reports and presentations of research findings and recommendations.
  • Represent Ithaka S+R at conferences, networking events, and partner meetings.
• Other
  • Help develop strong relationships with internal and external partners.
  • Organize and participate in brainstorming sessions to generate ideas and discuss project strategy.
  • Support the development of detailed project proposals and research plans.
  • Maintain awareness of major issues in higher education that may impact our projects.
  • When COVID-19 related travel restrictions are no longer in place, some travel required for research, reporting, and representation purposes – approximately 5-10% (or 10-15% if your permanent location is outside of the New York area).

Experience and Skills:

• Any combination of professional experience, volunteer work, coursework, and other transferable skills may be applied toward these qualifications. Candidates need not demonstrate all criteria to be considered for the role.
• Undergraduate or graduate training in a field that requires strong writing and quantitative analysis skills or equivalent experience and skills.
• Proficiency in a statistical analysis software (Stata preferred).
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex concepts and research data into compelling, accessible, and well-written reports and engaging presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in the context of complex projects, helping to move the work forward and communicating with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize and manage your own work, perform well under pressure, and meet deadlines, while ensuring acute attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work in our open, collaborative, and team-oriented culture.

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