Senior Research Associate

The Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute (FDPRI) is responsible for leading the research agenda of the UNCF, the execution of numerous methods that support the agenda, and central in the development of the organization’s stance on advocating for HBCUs. The Sr. Research Associate is a critical component of the FDPRI, directly informing research strategies and decisions at various levels. Additionally, the Sr. Research Associate is charged with developing and executing a broad range of research methods, including the evaluation, and learning work to inform strategy, practice, and future research. The Sr. Research Associate will support the research team in supporting program evaluation and assessment, the development of new knowledge through the collection of data, and the analysis of existing data. Additionally, the individual will work with academic and research partners to support the quality of their work and identify and undertake research to inform UNCF’s ongoing organizational and strategy development.

The Sr. Research Associate reports to the Assistant Vice President of the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute. S/he will support the development and execution of the learning and evaluation function for FDPRI and UNCF. The Sr. Research Associate will work closely and collaboratively with the FDPRI team, other UNCF staff participating institutions, and experts in the field to promote and support a program culture that values learning and evaluation that is both practical and useful for improving program and institutional effectiveness. S/he will provide strategic advice to FDPRI and UNCF by participating in evaluation planning, design, and implementation for programs. S/he will also promote several learning-oriented initiatives, both internal to UNCF and external to the participating institutions.

The successful candidate will be part of a team seeking to partner with HBCUs and PBIs to increase student success outcomes and UNCF member institutional health and will work with a broad range of individuals and constituencies across the United States. The position requires a highly motivated and collaborative individual, who can communicate effectively and possesses strong organizational, analytic, evaluation, and writing abilities.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Program Evaluation Design, Implementation, and Learning

• Design survey instruments with a knowledge of survey methodology for mixed-methods research, evaluation, and assessment.
• Manage quality mid-term, final, developmental, and other types of evaluations of projects that support strategic learning on HBCUs.
• Utilize public data sets (i.e., Census Data, IPEDS, etc.) to create the case for UNCF programmatic efforts and add to the existing FDPRI research portfolio.
• Managed research teams to conduct analysis and synthesis of key themes, achievements and lessons-learned from program evaluations.
• Collaborate with UNCF staff and external stakeholders to effectively share the lessons learned from programs, scholarships, and existing data sets for public audiences through presentations, report writing, etc.
• Contribute to fostering a “culture of evaluation” and expand the organization’s capacity and efforts by connecting program outcomes to evaluation and assessment impact.
• Facilitate training and development programming for UNCF staff and partners to use data in internal and external deliverables.

Other Duties

• Execute various methodologies and methods related to overall UNCF research strategy.
• Produce literature for the higher education field related to UNCF program analysis.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Master’s degree required, terminal degree or commensurate experience recommended, and a minimum of five years of related experience in Higher Education, Educational Policy, or Educational Research experience preferred.

Other Skills and Abilities

Experience with qualitative and quantitative research or program evaluation is required.

Ability to apply evaluation tools and techniques in diverse situations and scenarios.

Experience providing technical advice and assistance.

Demonstrated skill in prioritizing and balancing multiple competing tasks, projects, and deadlines.

Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

Demonstrated skill in working collaboratively and effectively.

Highly proficient in Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel, and

PowerPoint) and able to learn and use new databases proficiently.

Superior analytic, writing, and editing skills. Experience in writing program reports and best practices guides is ideal.

Commitment to education.

The Individual must be a self-starter, who is able to problem-solver and take on a wide range of tasks to deliver results; collegial and professional manner; excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

About UNCF

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization, has been an engine of minority educational achievement for more than 70 years. UNCF’s mission is to build a robust and nationally recognized pipeline of black students who, because of UNCF support, become highly qualified college graduates. UNCF is committed to closing the educational attainment gap between African Americans and other populations by increasing postsecondary access and success for students from underrepresented groups, particularly low-income and first-generation students.

Compensation and Benefits

Benefits include:

Medical, Dental & Vision

Vacation, Sick & Personal Leave

Life Insurance (Basic & Optional)

Flex Spending Accounts

403(b) Retirement Account

Holiday Savings Plan

Salary Range: $67,700.00 - $76,200.00 Compensation commensurate with experience. Position is located in Atlanta.

This is a Hybrid position.

UNCF is EOE M/F/D/V