Program Experience Researcher

About this role

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 311

Pay Range: $100,000.00 - $150,000.00 Job Description

The Program Experience Researcher leads research initiatives that evaluate and enhance the quality of educational programs by examining student experiences, learning outcomes, and program effectiveness. This role is responsible for designing and conducting research studies using both qualitative and quantitative methods, translating findings into actionable insights, and supporting continuous improvement efforts across academic programs. With a collaborative and analytical approach, the researcher works cross-functionally to inform program development decisions and contribute to the institution’s strategic goals through evidence-based insight.   Location: This position will be located in our Salt Lake City, UT office.

Primary Responsibilities

• Designs and implements research studies focused on program experience, evaluation, needs assessment, and improvement opportunities. • Develops and applies appropriate qualitative and quantitative methodologies for data collection, analysis, and reporting. • Conducts program evaluation and assessment to measure learning outcomes, student engagement, and overall program effectiveness. • Performs needs assessments and gap analyses to identify discrepancies between desired and actual learner experiences. • Benchmarks program performance against internal goals, industry standards, and best practices. • Interprets research findings to surface actionable insights, patterns, and recommendations for program enhancements. • Collaborates with cross-functional teams—including academic departments, faculty, instructional designers, and analysts—to integrate research insights into course and curriculum design. • Shares research findings through clear reports, presentations, and visualizations for internal and external stakeholders. • Contributes to annual planning cycles by providing data-informed perspectives on student needs and program opportunities. • Promotes a culture of continuous improvement and evidence-based practice by sharing findings and best practices across teams. • Guides entry-level professionals or research assistants, supporting their development and contributions. • Ensures all research activities adhere to ethical guidelines and university policies regarding data collection and confidentiality. • Uses a systems-thinking approach to identify opportunities to improve research processes, data systems, and stakeholder engagement. • Stays current with trends in educational research, instructional design, adult learning, and online learning platforms.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Strong knowledge of research design, methodology, and data collection techniques, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches. • Ability to conduct program evaluation, needs assessments, and gap analyses to support continuous improvement. • Proficiency in analyzing complex data sets and translating findings into clear, actionable insights. • Familiarity with benchmarking strategies and industry standards in higher education. • Strong understanding of curriculum development, learning assessment, and program effectiveness principles, particularly in competency-based and online education models. • Proficiency in research tools and software, such as statistical analysis programs (e.g., SPSS, NVivo, R, or similar).Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present research findings to both technical and non-technical audiences. • Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including faculty, instructional designers, data analysts, and academic leadership. • Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple research projects and deadlines concurrently. • Commitment to ethical research practices, data confidentiality, and alignment with institutional policies and regulatory requirements. • Demonstrated curiosity, systems thinking, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Education           • Bachelor’s degree in Education, Psychology, Social Sciences, or a related field required.

Experience • 2+ years of experience conducting research and evaluation in higher education or a related field. • Demonstrated experience in research design, data collection, and analysis. • Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams to apply research insights in program or curriculum development.

Preferred Qualifications • Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Education, Research Methods, Psychology, Social Sciences, or a related field. • Experience conducting research in online or hybrid higher education environments. • Background in competency-based education or ad

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