Senior Program Experience Researcher

If youre passionate about building a better future for individuals communities and our countryand youre committed to working hard to play your part in building that futureconsider 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 312

Pay Range: $106700.00 - $165400.00

Job Description

• Leads the design and implementation of qualitative research studies to assess program effectiveness student experience and curriculum alignment.
• Conducts interviews focus groups surveys and observational studies to collect rich actionable data.
• Develops and refines qualitative research frameworks for both formative and summative program evaluation.
• Analyzes qualitative data using established methods (e.g. thematic analysis coding) to surface insights and patterns.

Data Integration & IAR Collaboration

• Identifies Program Developments quantitative data needs and effectively communicate them to Institutional Analytics and Research (IAR) teams.
• Collaborates with IAR analysts to ensure data collection aligns with program evaluation objectives.
• Translates IARs quantitative findings into complementary qualitative research questions and strategic recommendations.
• Socializes and contextualizes IAR findings across Program Development to foster data-informed decision-making.

Insight Sharing & Communication

• Presents research findings to stakeholders including department leadership academic teams and cross-functional partners.
• Develops reports and visualizations that integrate qualitative and quantitative data for actionable insights.
• Builds research literacy across Program Development through workshops presentations and mentorship.
• Creates narratives and visual presentations to effectively communicate student experience trends and program impact.

Strategic Program Evaluation

• Evaluates the effectiveness of educational programs using qualitative data and feedback.
• Assesses alignment between curriculum design and actual student experience.
• Identifies barriers to learning engagement and progression through direct student and stakeholder input.
• Studies and reports on emerging instructional practices and their impact on student outcomes.

Educational Innovation & Research Leadership

• Leads research into innovative educational methodologies tools and technologies in online/hybrid environments.
• Studies and recommends evidence-based practices to enhance learning engagement and assessment.
• Guides program teams in implementing improvements based on research findings.
• Champions the role of qualitative research in driving continuous program improvement and strategic planning.

Project Leadership & Mentorship

• Oversees end-to-end management of complex research projects including scoping timelines resource allocation and deliverables.
• Sets research priorities in alignment with Program Development goals and institutional strategy.
• Provides mentorship and guidance to junior researchers fostering development in qualitative methods and research communication.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and advocate for qualitative research within Program Development and across the university.

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of qualitative research design and methodology particularly in higher education settings.
• Expertise in conducting and analyzing interviews focus groups observational studies and thematic analysis.
• Strong understanding of curriculum evaluation instructional design and student success frameworks.
• Ability to contextualize and translate quantitative data from Institutional Analytics & Research (IAR) into qualitative inquiries and strategic recommendations.
• Familiarity with program evaluation models and continuous improvement processes.
• Deep understanding of student development theory learner engagement strategies and barriers to progression in online or hybrid programs.
• Awareness of ethical standards and regulatory requirements governing educational research.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex research into actionable insights for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in qualitative research tools (e.g. NVivo Dedoose or similar platforms); familiarity with mixed-methods integration.
• Ability to lead projects independently prioritize research efforts and mentor junior team members.
• Skilled in cross-functional collaboration with academic leadership instructional design teams faculty and data analysts.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to identify emerging trends research opportunities and data-informed improvements.
• Commitment to equity inclusion and learner-centered research practices.

Education

• Masters degree in Education Psychology Social Sciences or a related field required

Experience

• 5 years of experience with a bachelors degree or 3 years with a masters degree or a doctoral degree without additional experience.
• 5 years of experience in program evaluation educational research or a related field preferably within higher education.
• Demonstrated expertise in qualitative research design execution and analysis.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and translating research findings into operational or strategic improvements.
• Familiarity with program evaluation frameworks curriculum design and student-success research in online or hybrid education environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Education Research Methods Psychology Social Sciences or a related field.
• Experience developing or evaluating online educational programs and instructional design approaches.
• Certification or formal training in program evaluation assessment or accreditation processes.
• Familiarity with learning analytics student success metrics and LMS platforms.
• Proficiency in additional research or data tools (e.g. Tableau Python SQL).
• Record of scholarly activity through publications presentations or professional association involvement.
• Experience implementing quality assurance or continuous improvement initiatives in academic settings.
• Demonstrated ability to support inclusive student-centered program development through research and analysis.

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.