Senior Research Analyst - Institutional Research

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is :

Grade : Professional 310

Pay Range : $88,300.00 - $132,400.00

Job Description

Ready to shape the future of education through mixed-methods research?

Join WGU and help us turn insights into action that improves student outcomes and drives innovation.

About the Institutional Analytics and Research (IAR) Department

The Institutional Analytics and Research (IAR) department supports and enables most university teams, departments, and colleges to make data-informed decisions that lead to better student outcomes. Our analysts, scientists, researchers, and managers are distributed across several teams : Institutional Research, Institutional Metrics & Insights, Outreach Analytics, Faculty Analytics, Curriculum Analytics, and Student Success Analytics.

About the Institutional Research Team

The Institutional Research team collects and analyzes data to support WGU leaders with their analytics needs. We conduct quantitative and qualitative research, identify key performance metrics, set analytics standards, and develop interactive data visualizations fueled by our massive data lake. The work we do is critical to the success of the university and our students.

As a Senior Research Analyst - Institutional Research , you'll lead the design and execution of research projects that inform strategic decisions across WGU. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams to uncover insights that drive student success, equity, and innovation.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives on solving complex research challenges, enjoys working across multiple domains, and excels at turning qualitative data into compelling stories that drive action.

What You'll Do

• Design and execute qualitative research projects using methods like surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify data sources and solve complex research challenges.
• Analyze and synthesize findings, presenting insights through clear visualizations and storytelling.
• Develop and maintain documentation for research processes, data assets, and project outcomes.
• Communicate results and recommendations effectively to stakeholders across the university.

What You'll Bring

5 years of experience in Research, Qualitative Analysis, Market Research, or a related field

Bonus Points if You Have

Experience in lieu of education

An equivalent combination of training, experience, credentials, or accomplishments demonstrating the ability to perform the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements.

What to Expect

At WGU, our mission drives everything we do-including how we hire. Our interview experience is designed to give qualified candidates the opportunity to show their best work through meaningful conversations, practical problem-solving, and authentic collaboration.

We thoughtfully review every application and invite forward the candidates whose experience and potential best align with the role and our mission. If selected, you'll hear from a recruiter or hiring manager who will guide you through the process and help you know what to expect at each stage. We aim to communicate decisions promptly and respectfully.

Here's what that typically looks like :

We're looking forward to getting to know you and seeing how you think, collaborate and build. Welcome to WGU.

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Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours) : This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply : If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer : The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations : Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity : All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.