Research Associate (Research Development and Philanthropy)

Are you looking for more than just a job and want to make difference? If so, then join the National Student Clearinghouse talent community and discover your impact today!

We are a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization and the leading provider of educational reporting, data exchange, verification, and research services. Serving the education, workforce and learner communities has been at the heart of our mission for over 25 years. Our work - performed in a trusted, secure, and private environment - provides numerous time- and cost-saving benefits to students, schools, administrators, and requestors.

This position plays a core role in custom research work with a wide variety of clients, translating project designs into code which captures both the specs and intentions of the project. Just as important, the position must also be able to work closely with team members and outside contacts to refine questions and research ideas, translate the outputs of their findings into meaningful answers in formats that are understandable and usable by the client. The Specialist II is comfortable creating their own data sets from the Clearinghouse's data collection and designing the codes to work through the client's requests with close attention to detail required for accurate and actional results.

Currently, this position is 100% telework, however, as our company starts to return to our new normal, a hybrid work pattern, this position may be required to periodically work on-site at our office and the frequency would depend on the department/division's requirements. Therefore, candidates must either reside within a reasonable distance to commute to our office or be willing to travel to our office in Herndon, when required.

• Demonstrate the Clearinghouse competencies, which align with our corporate values. Manager will provide more detail to candidates as needed.
  
  
  
  • Core Competencies include: Customer Focus, Optimizes Work Processes, Collaborates, Communicates Effectively, and Be Open and Authentic.
  
  
  
  

• Validate research results to include validating the calculations, matching logic, and visualizations.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of quantitative research and data analysis by manipulating large-scale data and conducting analysis.
• Use data visualization tools including dashboards and presentation formats to help audiences understand and utilize Clearinghouse data.
• Work with customers through multiple phases of projects including scoping, pricing, planning, project management, and delivery.

Optimizes Work Processes:

• Effectively manage multiple research projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.
• Actively monitor internal processes for potential improvements as well as collects customers' feedback and requests for process refinement, quality control, and engage in customer relationship management.
• Utilize project management tools to streamline the project process, establish clear goals and objectives for each project phase, ensure timely delivery of each project, and optimize the work process for the internal team.

Collaborates:

• Work closely with teams to identify opportunities and ideas to innovate research efforts, as appropriate.
• Works with internal Clearinghouse resources as needed on specific projects, who at times may need assistance regarding data processing and/or calculations for the respective products.

Communicates Effectively:

• Effectively communicate the data insights through objective and impactful narrative and data visualization.
• Translate technical terminology and/or concepts into useful language for a broader set of audiences.
• Communicate clearly with internal or external stakeholders to facilitate both the completion of projects and understanding of the current workload.
• Present findings/project to relevant audiences.
• Communicate effectively internally and externally over change of project scope, timeline, resources, and deliverables.

Be Open and Authentic:

• Demonstrate openness to new perspectives and ideas.
• Build trust with internal and external stakeholders by demonstrating consistency between words and actions.

Position may be required to perform other duties as required. These essential functions are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Information/Data Science, Social Sciences, Statistics, or a related field. A combination of education and experience, including through military service, will also be considered.
• Proficiency with a combination of some of the following (typically acquired by 3-5 years of directly related work experience):
  
  
  
  • Conducting quantitative research projects,
  • Manipulating and analyzing large-scale data,
  • Administering quality assurance control checks,
  • Writing research findings.
  
  
  
  
• Experience with SAS programming or other command line driven programming (Python, R, STATA, SPLUS, or SPSS syntax).
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the demonstrated ability to communicate technical terms to a diverse audience.
• Exceptional attention to detail, time management, and analytical skills.
• Team player and the demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively on a team.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage projects, prioritize and work on multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced team environment.
• Demonstrates the Clearinghouse's core competencies: customer focus, optimizes work processes, communicates effectively, collaborates, and is open and authentic.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and other collaboration tools.
• Working knowledge of Tableau or other data visualization software.
• Must live within a commutable distance to Herndon, VA or in one of the Clearinghouse's approved States for hiring purposes. Refer to our HR Policies Page, located on our Careers site at https://www.studentclearinghouse.org/careers/human-resource-policies/, for more details.

Additional Desired Requirements:

• Strong research planning and project management capabilities with a demonstrated ability to conceptualize the design and develop the implementation plans to complete work timely.
• Salesforce knowledge or experience with another CRM.
• General knowledge of the educational environment in the United States.
• Experience working with large SAS databases.
• Familiarity with national and state data sources in secondary and postsecondary education.

• Use of a computer for 8 or more hours a day.
• Use of a copy machine and telephone.
• Frequently required to sit for 7 or more hours per day; when in the office may work in close proximity to others in an open office environment.
• Occasionally required to use hands and fingers to operate, handle, and reach.
• Vision abilities include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Travel via car and airplane when needed for conferences, training, or professional development (up to 10%).

The National Student Clearinghouse provides a robust benefit program designed to help meet the needs of each employee and their family, both now and in the future. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as life and disability insurance benefits, for employees and their qualified dependents. Health care, dependent care, and limited purpose flexible spending accounts, as well as a health savings account, are options available for employees to set aside pre-taxed dollars for certain qualifying expenses. We offer a very generous 401k matching contribution program with the opportunity to defer pre-tax and Roth contributions, as well as catch-up contributions for those who are eligible! We are proud to offer a competitive paid leave program consisting of vacation, sick, and personal time, as well as paid holidays. Vacation time will accrue based on length of service, and new full-time hires can accrue up to 13 days of vacation and up to 10 days of sick time per year. On an annual basis, new employees may use up to 32 hours of accrued sick time as personal time. Additionally, the Clearinghouse observes at least 11 paid holidays per year.

Another perk is that employees have the option to get reimbursed for basic wholesale company and roadside assistance memberships (e.g., Costco and AAA) and to request a buy back on portions of unused accrued vacation based on tenure and certain other qualifications. Employees can further their education and professional development by using our Employee Education Assistance Program, which establishes reimbursement for qualified education expenses upon successful completion of the program, and leveraging the enterprise-wide LinkedIn Learning subscription. There are additional employee benefits, to find out more, please request a copy of our complete benefit package!

We reasonably believe that the salary range for this position is between $74,934 to $83,000 annually.

The requisition will be open for a minimum of three days, and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position if filled.

Internal Candidates: If you feel that you qualify and meet the requirements of the job, we highly encourage you to apply and focus on preparing for the application process. Once the final candidates are selected, they can anticipate a review of the compensation prior to any offer made.

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Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)