"Senior Program Experience Researcher"

Senior Program Experience Researcher

Company: Western Governors University

Job Location: Salt Lake City Office

Category: Institutional Research and Planning

Type: Full-Time

Job Type: Full time

Job Number: JR-022974

Location: Salt Lake City Office

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider 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: $106,700.00 - $165,400.00

Job Description

Primary Responsibilities

Qualitative Research Design & Execution

• 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 Development's 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 IAR's 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.

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

• Master's degree in Education, Psychology, Social Sciences, or a related field required

Experience

• 5 years of experience with a bachelor's degree, or 3+ years with a master's 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.