Occupational Summary
The Research and Assessment Specialist supports the College’s institutional effectiveness functions by conducting applied research, assessment, and evaluation activities that inform planning and decision-making. This position collaborates with faculty and staff to design, administer, and analyze surveys; coordinate institutional assessments; and support data reporting for accountability and accreditation purposes. The Specialist also assists in identifying and tracking grant opportunities, supports proposal development, and maintains records and reporting compliance for awarded and declined grants.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Assists and supports the SACSOC liaison in the maintenance of SACSOC internal compliance audits
- Engages in ongoing, systematic institutional accreditation compliance efforts
- Assists in the annual strategic planning/budgeting process
- Develops and administers assessment/evaluative surveys and other assessment instruments using the Watermark CES platform to include student opinion of instruction, graduate follow-up, and service review surveys
- Supports departments in the annual program review process
- Under supervisory direction, plans, designs, and analyzes institutional research and benchmarking studies that support the College’s academic programs and institutional decision-making
- Manages the College’s Assessment and Reporting system including documenting assessment activities across the campus and training faculty, staff and administrators on Student Learning Outcome assessment data collection processes and reporting procedures
- Works with departments to ensure ongoing collection of learning outcomes
- Conducts research to identify potential grant and funding opportunities, assessing alignment with institutional goals and priorities
- Provides grant writing assistance by collaborating with faculty and staff to develop compelling proposals
- Collects and maintains institutional records of awarded and declined grants to support institutional reporting and planning
- Monitors and tracks post-award reporting requirements to ensure compliance with grant terms and timelines, collaborating with responsible departments to confirm timely submissions
- Coordinates data retrieval for surveys, student course evaluations, and grant proposals
- Participates in appropriate committees and task forces as assigned
- Performs other job-related duties and projects as assigned in support of the College’s mission, core values and goals
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
Three (3) years’ full-time experience working in a professional environment in technical writing, research, organizational assessment, or related field.
Preferred:
Bachelor’s degree in English from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
Experience in institutional effectiveness or assessment.
Experience utilizing Watermark Course Evaluations and Surveys and Colleague.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge
- Policies, procedures, and guidelines established by professional organizations and/or governing agencies
- Principles and practices of research, surveys, and analysis in educational settings
- Fundamentals of student learning outcomes assessment
- Business letter writing and report preparation
- Advanced knowledge of record control
- Customer service principles
- Data management and planning in an educational environment
- Applicable data privacy practices and laws
Skills
- Advanced computer skills and technical proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
- Advanced skills in editing and writing technical documents containing education terminology and consolidating such documents from multiple authors
- Attention to detail and high level of accuracy
- Excellent time management, coordination, and organizational skills to meet deadlines under time and resource constraints
- Highly developed analytical and critical thinking skills, writing and presentation skills, and communication skills that allow for effective communication with all stakeholders
- Interpersonal skills with proven ability to work in a team environment
Abilities
- Write using proper grammar and punctuation
- Organize and consolidate content from multiple sources into a singular location
- Apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
- Interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
- Absorb and apply construction criticism from peers
- Work independently with minimal supervision
- Provide high-quality internal and external customer service
- Work independently with minimal supervision
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
- Handle confidential information with absolute discretion
- Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; demonstrated ability to work effectively with a culturally diverse workforce, including those with different levels of academic preparation and varying physical and learning abilities, and socioeconomic levels