Program Experience Researcher

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:

Job Description

• 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.
• Provides guidance to 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.

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

• 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 adult learning models.
• Experience with large-scale program evaluation, benchmarking, or needs assessment.
• Demonstrated ability to publish or present research findings to varied audiences.
• Proficiency with research tools and software such as NVivo, SPSS, R, or similar.
• Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS) and educational technology platforms.
• Post-secondary coursework or certifications in program evaluation, assessment, or research methodology.

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Position & Application Details

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.

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.