Strategic Research Fellow

About the Opportunity
The University of North Carolina System Office is accepting applications for the position of Strategic Research Fellow (anticipating filling 1-2 positions). The primary goal of the position is to leverage analytical expertise and rich institutional data to inform the UNC System's efforts to achieve strategic plan goals in access, affordability, student success, and economic impact. The position will be housed in the Division of Strategy and Policy. The research conducted by the Fellow will be guided by and informed by a steering committee of senior leaders across the UNC System Office. Research methods will vary by project, but may include descriptive statistics, data visualization, quasi-experimental and experimental designs, and other social science statistical methods.

The Strategic Research Fellow will work with UNC System Office staff and other partners to conduct research on topics identified by the steering committee, including examining trends in and drivers of access, student success, affordability, and equity across the System and at individual universities. Analyses will also assess the impacts of policy changes and initiatives at the System level and project the impacts of potential policy changes on students. Most data will be drawn from the UNC Student Data Mart, which houses student unit record data from all 17 UNC institutions. The Fellow may have to incorporate outside data sources to supplement the System's current data.

This is a two-year limited position, and the Fellow will be expected to live in the greater Research Triangle area during their fellowship. The UNC System Office is located in downtown Raleigh, NC. The Fellow will have the opportunity to publish results of different research projects conditional on System Office review. The position will include funding to present research at least once per year at a relevant conference of the Fellow's choosing.

This position is a hybrid work arrangement and will work at least 3 days per week at the Dillon building in downtown Raleigh's Warehouse District. UNC System employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a 2-hour commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

About the UNC System Office
The UNC System Office includes the offices of the President and other senior administrators of the multi-campus University of North Carolina System. The UNC System is a treasured public institution dedicated to serving the people of North Carolina through world-class teaching, research, and community engagement. Today, nearly 250,000 students are enrolled in our 16 universities across the state and at the NC School of Science and Mathematics. System Office staff are responsible for executing the policies of the UNC Board of Governors and providing University-wide leadership in the areas of academic affairs, business and financial management, long-range planning, student affairs, research, legal affairs, and government relations. The UNC System Office also has administrative oversight of a number of University affiliates, including PBS North Carolina, the North Carolina Arboretum, the NC State Education Assistance Authority, and University of North Carolina Press.

About the Team
The Strategy and Policy division is charged with enhancing and furthering the UNC System's strategic goals. The division partners with the President and chancellors on System-wide strategic initiatives, is responsible for the institutional performance measurement framework, and serves as a higher-education policy expert to the President, the Board of Governors, and the NC General Assembly. The division also tracks and assesses state and national trends in higher education, and their likely impact on the UNC System, and proactively identifies new initiatives to support System strategies. The division also provides oversight of the University and P12 Partnerships unit as well as the GEAR UP Program.

Minimum Education, Experience, and Skills
- Doctoral degree in public policy, education, political science, economics, or a relevant social science discipline (or completed by August 2025) - Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in higher education and educational structures, equity, and policy - Knowledge of social science research methods and concepts (regression, quasi-experimental methods, data mining, etc.)

Required Competencies
- Attention to detail - Strong organizational skills - Ability to work both as part of a team and individually while meeting deadlines - Ability to multitask and prioritize between multiple projects and deadlines - Knowledge of higher education trends relating to student success, finance, and equity

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills
- Experience working on multiple phases of research projects (project and research question formation, data management, analysis, dissemination) - Experience with coding in at least one statistical package (SAS, STATA, R, Python, etc.) - Experience using educational data and understanding its limitations - Experience with large, complex datasets and merging disparate data sources - Familiarity with state and national education datasets such as IPEDS, National Student Clearinghouse, and Department of Education surveys - Knowledge of higher education trends relating to student success, finance, and equity

• Classification: Research Professional
• Appointment Type: Time Limited
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Employment Type: EHRA
• EHRA Category: Instructional, Research and Information Technology
• Location: Raleigh, NC USA
• Position Number: 20054127
• Special Instructions to Applicants: The posting remains open until filled, but applications received by Friday, February 7, 2025 will receive priority consideration.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Other Information
The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.
The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
To claim veteran's preference, all eligible persons must indicate their eligibility as requested on the application. A DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, may be required later in the selection process.
The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Human Resources Contact Information
Applicants needing assistance with the application process are asked to contact: recruiter@northcarolina.edu.