Assistant Director of Student Life Research

Position Summary

The Assistant Director for Student Life Research directly supports and partners on research and assessment projects with individual units to advance key initiatives. Engages actively across the Division to increase the culture of inquiry through management of the Student Life Research Liaison Network, organization of the annual Student Life Research Symposium, and creation and implementation of other professional development opportunities, trainings, and curricula to support unit-based assessment and research efforts.

Responsibilities

• UNIT-BASED ASSESSMENT EFFORTS (60%)
  • Aid units in identifying, conducting, and reporting on inquiries unique to their mission.
  • Through consultation, coordination, and provision of professional development opportunities for SL staff, support units engaging in inquiries extending beyond divisional assessment efforts.
  • Aid units in interpreting assessment findings and other relevant information related to key project areas through compelling visual and written documents relevant to broad constituent groups, including students, faculty, administrators, parents, and the broader public.
• PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF DIVISIONAL ASSESSMENT EFFORTS (20%)
  • Project management of the Division's data collection and assessment strategies, including planning, coordination, documentation of processes, and clear communication of project objectives and plans with multiple stakeholders.
  • Development of detailed, organized planning materials that incorporate smaller, individual projects into a comprehensive whole. Manage changes and adapt as necessary.
• SUPPORT COMMUNITY BUILDING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (10%)
  • Aid unit lead in increasing the culture of inquiry across the division through interaction with the Student Life Research Liaison Network, organization of the annual Student Life Research Symposium, and creation and implementation of other professional development opportunities, trainings, and curricula to support Student Life assessment and research efforts.
• STUDENT SUPERVISION (10%)
  • Using a developmental lens, supervise student employees and provide mentoring and professional development opportunities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a research-based field
• Four years of experience in qualitative research (ethnographic methods, reflexive analysis, narrative inquiry, or other relevant methodologies)
• Demonstrated proficiency in various qualitative/ethnographic research methods, such as in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and other participatory or human-centered study methods
• Demonstrated proficiency in qualitative data analysis, including creating codebooks, coding/theming data, narrative analysis, and using MaxQDA qualitative analysis software
• Project management skills to complete all aspects of a research project from design through reporting and distribution
• Strong commitment to equity-minded research frameworks and methods and the ability to articulate them

Desired Qualifications

• Master's degree in a research-based field
• More than four years of experience in qualitative research (ethnographic methods, reflexive analysis, narrative inquiry, or other relevant methodologies) in a higher education setting
• Sound understanding of the higher educational organization, culture, and values, including a strong sense of commitment, responsibility, and desire to serve the mission of the University
• Ability to use literature on college impact and student learning and development to ground inquiries