Wild Student Researcher and Designer

Wild Student Researcher and Designer

Senior Director of Learning Operations and Strategy

The New York Botanical Garden seeks a thoughtful highly organized and mission-driven WILD Student Researcher and Designer to support Workforce Innovation and Leadership Development (WILD) a two-year professional development initiative funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums Empowered program. Reporting to the Senior Director of Learning Operations and Strategy this role serves as a research evaluation and program-design partner with primary responsibility for supporting Seeds of Growth and the evidence-gathering activities that help WILD remain responsive to staff needs.

The Student Researcher and Designer helps translate staff experience into practical program improvements by supporting surveys interviews listening sessions focus groups microgrant documentation project tracking and analysis of participation and feedback data. The role will work with departments receiving Seeds of Growth microgrants document what they implement and learn and organize promising practices into clear summaries reusable resources presentations and an end-of-project showcase.

This position supports WILDs alignment with Museums Empowered Organizational Management Objectives 4.1 and 4.2 by strengthening management practices evaluation and workforce development across NYBG. It is well suited to a graduate student who combines applied research and analysis with strong writing facilitation project coordination discretion and an interest in using evidence to improve learning experiences in a complex mission-driven cultural institution.

• Support the WILD Project Lead in coordinating the Seeds of Growth microgrant cycle including proposal timelines applicant communications informational materials submission tracking review logistics award documentation and follow-up with participating departments.
• Maintain project plans timelines trackers files and quarterly check-in records for Seeds of Growth projects to help departments meet milestones and document progress challenges learning activities and outcomes.
• Prepare templates guidance and practical tools that help department teams define learning needs articulate intended outcomes document implementation and share what they learned with colleagues across NYBG.
• Help design and administer surveys interview protocols focus group guides pulse checks and other feedback tools used to assess staff learning needs participation accessibility confidence and application of learning in daily work.
• Conduct and document selected interviews listening sessions focus groups and project check-ins with professionalism consistency and appropriate attention to confidentiality and participant experience.
• Collect clean organize and analyze qualitative and quantitative information including participation data LMS completion information survey responses department updates manager observations and other project evidence.
• Identify themes patterns participation gaps and actionable findings and help translate evidence into concise quarterly summaries briefings presentations and recommendations for the WILD Project Lead and internal partners.
• Document selected Seeds of Growth projects as practical case examples and reusable resources including project summaries templates implementation notes lessons learned and materials that can support adaptation by other departments.
• Support the Seeds of Growth end-of-project showcase and collaborate with the WILD Student Instructional Designer so participant feedback and evaluation findings inform revisions to Grow in Minutes and Sprout Library resources.
• Maintain accurate research files evidence logs project documentation and grant-supported time records; handle staff feedback and internal information with care discretion and adherence to NYBG policies.

• Current enrollment in a graduate program in organizational development learning sciences evaluation social or behavioral research human-centered design public administration museum studies education or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience conducting or supporting qualitative and/or quantitative research including surveys interviews focus groups data organization analysis and concise reporting.
• Excellent writing editing and communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear summaries presentations recommendations and practical resources for nontechnical audiences.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills including the ability to manage multiple timelines follow-up items records and stakeholder communications with care and consistency.
• Ability to facilitate or support respectful conversations with staff and managers across varied roles and to gather feedback without over-interpreting or steering participant responses.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications especially Excel PowerPoint Word Outlook and Teams; experience with survey analysis or visualization tools such as Microsoft Forms Qualtrics Power BI Tableau SPSS R or comparable tools is helpful.
• Demonstrated attention to data quality documentation confidentiality and responsible stewardship of internal information including the ability to recognize limitations and uncertainty in evidence.
• Experience with program evaluation organizational learning employee experience change management or applied research in a museum garden library university nonprofit public-service or other mission-driven setting preferred.
• Interest in workforce development equitable access to professional learning digital literacy and responsible use of emerging technologies including AI preferred.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this position the employee is regularly required to sit speak hear and use a computer and standard office equipment for extended periods. The employee may also be required to walk between locations across NYBGs campus stand for meetings or program support and occasionally lift or move materials weighing up to 15 pounds.

This role works in office classroom and meeting settings across the Garden with some approved remote work.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Baseline Work Schedule:

16 hours per week generally across 2 business days. With supervisor approval and based on project needs one scheduled workday may be worked remotely each -person attendance is expected for programs meetings interviews content-capture activities or other work requiring on-site participation.

Payrate: $30 per/hour

If you require an accommodation for any part of the application process please notify the Human Resources department atemailprotected.

If you are interested in applying for a position at the New York Botanical Garden please go to submit your application.

EOE