Institutional Research Analyst

Job Code: 006948

Job Open Date: 10/5/2023

Application Review Begins: 10/20/2023; open until filled

Department Code (Name): GRAD (DEAN OF THE GRADUATE DIVISION)

Percentage of Time: 100%

Union Code (Name): 99 Non-Represented

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff (Career)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classified Indicator (Personnel Program): PSS

Salary Grade: Grade 22

Work Location: 3117 Cheadle Hall/Remote

Working Days and Hours Monday-Friday; 8:00am - 5:00pm

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: Hybrid or Remote

Hiring/Budgeted Salary Range: $74,300 - $90,000/yr.

Full Salary Range: Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for the position is $74,300 to $134,500/yr. The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $74,300 to $90,000/yr.

Special Instructions

For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

Department Profile

The Graduate Division promotes excellence in graduate education and ensures our graduate students are successful and prepared for careers across the professional spectrum. Stellar graduate students attract world-class faculty, serve as mentors and teachers for undergraduates, conduct cutting-edge research, and go on to leadership positions in California, the United States, and the world.

Benefits of Belonging

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC

Brief Summary of Job Duties

Provides direction and leadership for comprehensive, graduate student-centered institutional research supporting the academic mission of the Graduate Division. Serves as primary contact for data and reporting requests from campus constituencies and external agencies. In collaboration with the Deans, manages Division's institutional research team (comprised of key members from each unit within the Graduate Division). Acts as liaison to the UCSB Institutional Research and Planning Director. Identifies areas of study and proposes strategies and solutions for addressing institutional needs and priorities. Initiates, oversees and conducts statistical analysis and institutional research, synthesizing and interpreting multifaceted budgetary, financial and academic information in order to prepare concise, incisive analysis. Conducts analytical, planning, and assessment studies related to graduate student affairs. Oversees and implements the Graduate Division's institutional research survey operation, including survey questionnaire, survey data analysis, report writing and presentations. #LI-KA1

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• 1-3 years experience in Data Analysis & Reporting in Higher Education.
• Ability to take general directions and statements of research goals and implement research studies to address issues under study.
• Demonstrated strong analytical skills to identify issues; to determine sources of information; to gather and synthesize data from multiple sources; to find, evaluate and recommend alternative solutions to problems; to formulate logical and objective conclusions and recommendations; and to organize and summarize concepts and conclusions in both written and oral form.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly with staff, colleagues and researchers; interpersonal skills in order to work with both technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization.
• Knowledge of quantitative research methods and statistics with the ability to process and synthesize large amounts of data; experience with graphical representation in Excel or other charting/graphing programs; ability to learn new technologies. Sensitivity for handling restricted and confidential data.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience using SQL and query tools.

Special Conditions of Employment

• Satisfactory conviction history background check
  
• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Job Functions/Percentage of Time/Duties

30% - Information Management

Provides direction for comprehensive, graduate student-centered institutional research supporting the academic mission of the Graduate Division. Serves as primary contact for data and reporting requests from campus constituencies and external agencies, notifying the Deans of requests.

Under direction from the Deans, and working with the Database Developer, collaborates with key members from each unit within the Graduate Division on institutional research projects. Acts as liaison to the UCSB Institutional Research and Planning unit in the Office of Budget and Planning.

Identifies areas of study and national trends, and proposes strategies and solutions for addressing institutional needs and priorities. Proactively initiates, oversees, and conducts complex studies, providing analytical reports, big picture assessment, and resulting recommendations to the Graduate Division Deans and managers. This includes synthesizing and interpreting budgetary, financial, and academic information in order to prepare concise analysis. As appropriate, communicates analysis to campus departments, UC Office of the President, and institutions of higher education nationwide.

Manages research projects, establishes data parameters and definitions, gathers data and prepares analysis for internal and external survey reports and research projects. Ensures accuracy and consistency in data provided. Develops and manages Division's central repository of institutional research.

Possesses a high level understanding of University, campus, and academic department program goals, objectives, and policies. Develops extensive knowledge of other institution's policies and best practices in order to allow for appropriate institutional comparison studies.

Provides reports to departments on defined schedules and in agreed upon formats. Works with departments independently to develop format and regular schedules for reports.

Represents Division on various campus and systemwide committees dealing with graduate student matters and institutional research.

30% - Graduate Education Research and Analysis

Provides studies related to student retention rates, academic probation rates, graduation rates, time-to-degree, and other annual performance reports segmented by student demographic characteristics, academic preparation characteristics, and other criteria deemed to be important in understanding the variation of these outcomes across the student population.

Conducts ad hoc analytical, planning, and assessment studies related to graduate student affairs and communicates this research to Graduate Division Deans and managers so that they may use this information to formulate policy and planning related to graduate student matters.

Conducts profile studies (historical or point-in-time) on enrolled students (e.g. ethnic and gender diversity) and alumni and creates summary reports of such studies intended for an internal campus audience and additional reports intended for the general public.

Conducts peer comparison studies related to enrollment and student affairs. Coordinates with UCSB's Institutional Research Office and other UC campus Graduate Divisions and Institutional Research units to obtain comparative data when necessary.

Provides analytical and planning support for policy matters related to graduate enrollment, admissions, and financial support.

20% - Data Management

Uses major statistical package such as Stata, SAS, SPSS, or R to query specialized databases and information systems. Develops and maintains a collection of data to support quarterly and annual reports and publications, program reviews, student outcomes, and accreditation. Provides support, technical assistance, and consultation related to research reports, data analysis, and special research projects. Extracts, verifies, compiles, analyzes and formats data from databases and other sources for planning, decision making, evaluation and accountability purposes. Performs queries and creates reports from databases using a variety of query tools and report writers.

Consults with Deans, Information Systems team, and Division staff to design, develop, and program reports to support Divisional needs.

15% - Survey Development and Analysis

Oversees and implements the Graduate Division's institutional research survey operation, including survey questionnaire design and construction, survey data analysis, report writing, and presentations. The survey operation provides high quality survey research studies as requested by the Deans or other campus constituencies. Surveys are designed to gather information from UCSB staff, students, faculty, and alumni. Survey research topics include, but not limited to, graduate student support, student life, campus climate, academic success, and enrollment planning.

Conducts or assists in assessment and qualitative studies (e.g. focus groups) related to graduate education research.

5% - Other Duties

Special projects and other duties as assigned.