"Research Associate (SC TEACHER)"

Job Details

Posting Number: RTF00201PO25

USC Market Title: Research Associate

Business Title (Internal Title): Research Associate (SC TEACHER)

Campus: Columbia

Work County: Richland

College/Division: College of Education

Department: CED College of Education

Advertised Salary Range: Commensurate with qualifications.

Location of Vacancy: This position is a hybrid position.

Part/Full Time: Full Time

Hours per Week: 37.5

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm

Type of Staff Position: Staff Time-Limited (STL)

Basis: 12 months

Job Search Category: Other Professional

Advertised Job Summary: The Research Associate will support SC TEACHER in executing survey administration, district engagement, and research operations. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and has excellent communication and public speaking skills. This position requires close collaboration with the SC TEACHER team, with responsibilities spanning research (survey logistics and qualitative data support), engagement/communications (district outreach, tracking, and events), and other project management responsibilities and support. This is a hybrid position.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience: Requires a master’s degree in area of research specialty.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with school districts, education agencies, or education nonprofits. Familiarity with fundamental statistical concepts. Familiarity with data infrastructure tools and practices (e.g., data dictionaries, metadata documentation). Experience in qualitative data analysis, particularly coding open-ended responses. Interest in education policy and research, especially issues related to teacher recruitment, retention, and working conditions. Experience with qualitative coding software (e.g., NVivo, MaxQDA).

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Demonstrated experience with Qualtrics survey software. Strong communication skills, including public speaking and writing for professional audiences. Excellent organizational and time management skills. Experience with project coordination tools (e.g., Basecamp, Asana, Trello). Ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and priorities with minimal supervision. Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Job Duties:

• Survey Administration and Management: Coordinate all aspects of survey administration using Qualtrics, including programming, testing, distribution, monitoring response rates, and closing surveys. Coordinate with operations staff, external vendors, and the research team to ensure timely and effective survey deployment. Track and troubleshoot technical or operational survey issues throughout the administration process. Communicate with districts regarding teacher participation. (Essential Function: Yes, Percentage of Time: 30)
• District Engagement and Communication: Represent the research team in meetings with district stakeholders and external partners. Present research findings or survey updates in public settings and assist with disseminating knowledge. Support the Associate Director with district-specific engagement strategies and follow-up. (Essential Function: Yes, Percentage of Time: 25)
• Project Management and Team Support: Provide project coordination and task tracking using Basecamp to support timelines, accountability, and transparency within the SC TEACHER research team. Take detailed notes during team and stakeholder meetings and assist with documenting decisions and next steps. Serve as a liaison between the research team and the broader SC TEACHER initiative, ensuring alignment and communication. (Essential Function: Yes, Percentage of Time: 20)
• Research and Data Infrastructure Support: Collaborate with the research team to help develop and maintain a data dictionary for SC TEACHER’s data infrastructure. Conduct thematic coding of qualitative data from open-ended survey responses. Assist in the review and synthesis of SC TEACHER reports to build fluency with key findings and messaging. (Essential Function: Yes, Percentage of Time: 15)
• Administrative and Logistical Support: Help coordinate logistics related to SC TEACHER’s work with Litmus Policy Solutions and other external partners. Support the preparation of materials, scheduling, and documentation for meetings, trainings, and events. (Essential Function: Yes, Percentage of Time: 10)