Research Analyst

Maryland Higher Education Commission
Baltimore, MD
Date Posted:  August 20, 2021
Closing Date:  September 7, 2021

The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) is the State of Maryland’s higher education coordinating board responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and private colleges and universities and for-profit career schools. MHEC also administers state financial aid programs that affect students on a statewide basis.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission is seeking an experienced and energetic individual to fill the position of Administrator II (Research Analyst).
The Research Analyst is responsible for analyzing statistical data, preparing information reports, and handling research-related assignments. The position is responsible for aiding in statewide data projects that support the Governor’s education agenda, supporting reporting and analysis, writing research reports, and using statistical techniques to analyze large statewide and national data sets. These efforts provide important information that serve as the basis for decisions regarding statewide higher education policy, and advise and inform key stakeholders such as the Secretary of Higher Education, Governor’s Office, General Assembly, Department of Budget and Management, Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center, and others.

POSITION DUTIES

The Research Analyst:

  • Prepares information reports and studies about current higher education topics. These include mandated reports, annual reports, and ad hoc research reports and may be requested by the Commission and the secretary.
  • Maintains and updates the Commission’s annual Data Book.
  • Prepares data sets, runs syntax, validates results and prepares tables; manages and oversees all aspects of preparation for publication.
  • Responds to requests for statistical data, both from members of the Commission staff and from external audiences, including the campuses, other state agencies, Maryland businesses, the general public, and out-of- state educational organizations, including SREB.
  • Plans and organizes procedures for coding, tabulating and analyzing data, drawing appropriate conclusions and recommendations as indicated.
  • Completes special projects and assignments requested by the Director, including work related to the Commission’s performance accountability report, Managing for Results submission, enrollment projections, and annual Data Book publication.
  • Conducts research and analysis of policy-relevant post-secondary education issues and summarizes findings.
  • Applicants should have strong writing, communication, and analytical skills.
  • Applicants should also be abreast of current issues in higher education, and have experience managing projects with fixed deadlines, working collaboratively as part of a team, and assisting with interagency work groups.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Four years of experience in administrative staff or professional work.

Notes:

1. Additional experience in administrative staff or professional work may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Additional graduate level education at an accredited college or university may be substituted at the rate of 30 semester credit hours on a year-for-year basis for the required general experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer involving staff work related to the administration of rules, regulations, policy, procedures and processes, or overseeing or coordinating unit operations or functioning as a staff assistant to a higher ranking commissioned officer on a year-for-year basis for the required education and experience.

SELECTIVE QUALIFICATIONS

  • One year of professional experience with Stata (preferred), SPSS, SAS. R, or other statistical package.
  • One year of work experience across several areas of basic statistical methodologies (e.g., descriptive statistics, GLM/regression, statistical tests, analysis of variance).
  • A minimum of nine (9) credit hours, credit hours in research methodology and/or applied/theoretical statistics.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • At least one year of experience in data analysis in education, higher education, government, or public policy.
  • Experience writing policy reports.
  • One year experience working with PowerBI or other data visualization tools.

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