Senior Research Scientist

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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: Technical 409

Pay Range: $127700.00 - $191500.00

Job Description

The Senior Research Scientist is responsible for the design and execution of research projects with emphasis on owning the research plan selecting appropriate methods and overseeing research execution. They establish and maintain strong relationships with peers and leaders across multiple departments. They deploy a range of mixed (qualitative and quantitative) methods and tools to produce research supporting fact-based decision-making disseminating findings across the university and the broader scientific community.

Responsibilities

• Owns the research plan and executes following systematic and structured approaches that ensure the validity reliability and meaningfulness of research findings while remaining open to necessary adjustments and adaptations as circumstances require.
• Drives strategic research contributions and leads large-scale cross-functional initiatives.
• Drives tasks activities and large-scale projects with high levels of autonomy confidence and collaboration with peers and partners. Contributes to organizational discussions and activities to build culture and advance strategic direction.
• Sets and manages expectations about complex research tasks and activities through clear timely and effective communication with partners and stakeholders.
• Identifies adequate data sources and data sets to evaluate hypotheses build forecasts and support findings of research projects and experiments. Answers complex business questions requiring extensive knowledge of the universitys data assets across several domains and departments.
• Drives the documentation of data and research needs in projects of high complexity with a student and equity-centered lens collaborating with peers cross-functional partners faculty staff and leaders.
• Influences institutional decision-making by aligning research outcomes with strategic goals.
• Disseminates findings through professional conferences external publications and internal presentations to enhance the institutions reputation.
• Combines data analysis visualization and narrative structures to convey information in compelling ways that instigate deliberate action.
• Leads the translation of user stories into technical requirements.
• Creates and organizes information about processes projects operations data assets and insights from analyses and research making it accessible in ways that increase the universitys knowledge and efficiency.
• Mentors team members by creating professional development opportunities and providing ongoing coaching.
• Plays a prominent role in other team members development through constructive feedback and sharing of technical and institutional knowledge.
• Supports leadership in strategic planning and contributes to operational excellence across the department.
• Conveys information effectively to peers partners senior leaders and as projects require external audiences using a variety of resources and formats (synchronous and asynchronous verbal and written) such as e-mails presentations meetings and workshops. Is open and responsive to feedback to improve work.
• Tracks and reports own progress dependencies and challenges diligently. Breaks down complex goals into concrete tasks and activities and actively supports leader in project planning.
• Understands and abides by the relevant policies and methods to access use transform store and delete data in responsible secure and compliant ways.
• Works actively to improve own skills and knowledge through internal and external formal and informal structured and unstructured learning. Is a lifelong learner and embodies a growth mindset. Stays abreast of innovative developments in their area of work and plays an active role in deploying them in the department and at the university.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

KSAs

• Advanced knowledge in accessing retrieving manipulating inserting and deleting data from structured and unstructured databases.
• Advanced knowledge in accessing retrieving manipulating inserting and deleting data from structured and unstructured databases.
• Highly experienced in selecting and deploying methods and techniques to conduct studies including A/B testing quasi-experimental mixed methods and others.
• Ability to perform analysis tasks and follows research plans under minimal guidance and supervision. Has extensive experience working with qualitative research software (e.g. Recollective MaxQDA).
• Highly proficient and experienced in using tools like Google Scholar and peer-reviewed journals to identify valid and reliable sources of research using critical thinking judgment and reading skills.
• Highly experienced in the creation of surveys and survey software (e.g. Qualtrics) that elicit clear and relevant inputs from target groups and in using them to acquire data to draw meaningful conclusions.
• Advanced experience in the selection and deployment of a variety of mathematical models forecasting methods (e.g. time series inferential regression) descriptive statistics and classification algorithms to make predictions and identify relationships based on limited sets of data.
• Comfortable with common project management methodologies and frameworks (e.g. Waterfall Agile SDLC).
• Proficient in the MS Office suite including advanced Excel knowledge.
• Ability to apply sound judgment systems-thinking and analytical skills to assess risks perform root-cause analyses make recommendations and drive cross-functional decisions that contribute to the achievement of the universitys objectives.
• Ability to perform assigned tasks with very high levels of autonomy reliability self-direction and with a bias for action. Manages conflicting and concurrent activities with minimal need of supervision.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in a related discipline
• Minimum of 7 years of related experience in Research Learning Science Program Evaluation Statistics Decision Intelligence or Behavioral/Cognitive Psychology.
• This research job focuses on human subjects and you must have experience working with collecting data from and researching actual humans. We will only consider candidates for this role with experience conducting research with live people (either through qualitative interviews or the creation of custom surveysand optimally both) as it requires someone with extensive experience writing custom surveys and drafting custom interview protocols.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters or PhD in a related discipline strongly preferred
• 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.

Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.

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. Its 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

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