Senior Program Experience Researcher

Senior Program Experience Researcher

Company: Western Governors University

Job Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Category: Institutional Research and Planning

Type: Full-Time

Job Type: Full time

Job Number: JR-024990

Location: Salt Lake City, UT

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

The Senior Program Experience Researcher leads advanced qualitative and mixed methods research initiatives that inform the design, evaluation, and continuous improvement of educational programs. This role partners closely with Institutional Analytics and Research (IAR) to integrate quantitative data into qualitative insights and drive a comprehensive understanding of student experience and program effectiveness. Provides strategic research guidance, mentors junior researchers, and collaborates across Program Development and academic leadership to ensure data-informed decisions support institutional goals and student success.

Primary Responsibilities

Qualitative Research Design & Execution

• Leads the design and implementation of qualitative and mixed method 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 data using established methods (e.g., thematic analysis, coding) to surface insights and patterns.

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.

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

• 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 doctoral degree.
• 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)
• Experience in UX and UI design and research a plus
• 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.

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

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.

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Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's 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 recruiting@wgu.edu.

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