Description

The Council is seeking candidates for a research fellowship position within the Research Division of the Washington Student Achievement Council. The position is for 3 years, into 2025, contingent upon grant funding continuity.

Why work for the Washington Student Achievement Council?
At the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), we are committed to increasing educational opportunities and attainment in Washington. We believe that every person living in the state of Washington should have access to educational opportunities and be encouraged to pursue education or training beyond high school. To achieve our mission, we:

• Lead statewide strategic planning to increase educational attainment.
• Administer programs that help people access and pay for college.
• Advocate for the economic, social, and civic benefits of higher education.

Learn more about the work of the Washington Student Achievement Council and our equity statement (Download PDF reader).

At WSAC
Our programs and policies work with diverse communities to eliminate barriers to people pursuing education beyond high school. As an employer, we strive to hire, cultivate, and retain a competitive workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

• We offer flexible/alternative work schedules, wellness activities, and teleworking opportunities.
• Eligible employees who are new parents or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when returning to work.
• Employees have access to tuition assistance and tuition waiver programs,
• If you have experience advocating for communities of color or others who are experiencing educational inequities-including those directly impacted by the criminal justice system; people who identify as queer, trans, lesbian, gay or bisexual; veterans; and people with disabilities you are strongly encouraged to apply, even if you don’t meet all the desired/preferred qualification listed.

About the Research Division
The Research Division provides information and analyses that guide the Washington Student Achievement Council's efforts to advance higher education attainment in the state. The Research Division is committed to creating a workplace where all researchers thrive personally and professionally. This includes continued professional development and training, opportunities to collaborate and learn from leading national research organizations, and opportunities to be part of innovative research projects.

We also believe that our division should reflect the rich diversity of the student population we aim to serve—in race, gender, age, culture, sexual orientation, ability status, and beliefs—and we support this diversity through all our research practices. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral values of the WSAC Research division, and a key strategic focus for WSAC as an agency. To continue to prioritize these values and associated activities, research staff centers the agency’s equity lens and the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee’s equity strategy to drive our work.

About the Grant Project
The U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $23.5 million grant to The Washington Student Achievement Council to create the Washington Jobs Initiative program. This program will connect jobseekers with local quality jobs through its career pathway project, which supports the state’s largest industries through a coalition of industry, organized labor, state government and other stakeholders. The program will build sectoral partnerships in six high-demand sectors: advanced manufacturing and aerospace, construction, energy and clean technology, financial services, healthcare, and information technology and cybersecurity.

The funds will enable Washington State to immediately serve an additional 5,000 impacted workers and fill a minimum of 3,000 jobs during the grant period by putting Washingtonians back to work. Importantly, this funding will enable Washington to scale and sustain the Career Connect Washington (CCW) infrastructure to equitably serve tens of thousands more Washingtonians over time. Learn more about the grant.

Duties

About the Position
Research activities in the first phase focus on supporting the planning for new programs and scaling existing CCW programs. This includes understanding employer talent needs, identifying occupation clusters with high demand and projected growth, and identifying gaps in the current workforce training landscape (e.g., the gap between the employer’s need for specific skills and the availability of relevant training programs). This research will also focus on analyzing and reporting on the equity in the utilization and success rates of training programs across populations and communities. Research activities in the second phase focus on support for program implementation. This includes monitoring of programs and evaluating the impact of the program on job placements.

WSAC is seeking candidates who have experience collecting data and a strong command of statistical software, along with an interest in improving the lives of disadvantaged people. This position will be responsible for analyzing quantitative data on training program participation and success, conducting qualitative research with program participants and stakeholders, and reporting on findings. A strong command of statistical software is a necessity. The ideal candidate would bring mixed-methods research experience, and enthusiasm to continue growing in these areas throughout the project duration. The position will involve close collaboration with the project team including members of the policy team and external collaborators such as Employment Security Administration (ESD), Washington STEM, Washington Roundtable, Association of Washington Businesses, Governor’s Office of Equity, and Labor Council.

Essential Functions:

• 
  Quantitative research: conduct data analysis using SAS, SQL, or R and create reports including tables, figures, and written descriptions of data.
• Qualitative research: conduct focus groups, interviews, and/or surveys with students and families, analyze findings, and report on takeaways.
• Report on research findings: draft reports to share research findings from project data and existing literature. The position will also help co-author research briefs as part of the grant project.
• Project coordination/management: coordinate research project activities on behalf of the WSAC team, ensure timelines and deliverables are met, track project progress, and communicate between WSAC and external partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Education, Experience and Competencies for the Role:

• 
  Minimum master's degree in Economics, Social Science, Statistics, Public Policy, Mathematics or other relevant field
• Demonstrated knowledge of quantitative data collection and analysis techniques and research methodologies
• General knowledge of qualitative data collection, protocol development, and facilitation skills and interest in contributing to qualitative research activities
• Ability to produce written reports in a variety of formats for easy interpretation and use, and to design and prepare graphs, tables, and other visuals
• Ability to identify findings from research and data, evaluate alternatives, and draw conclusions relating to policy or practice
• General knowledge of and experience working with datasets such as academic, workforce, economic, census, fiscal, or administrative data
• Demonstrated computer skills to perform data analysis using at least one of the following statistical software packages: SAS, SQL, or R
• Ability to use create compelling visuals for presentations or reporting findings
• Experience in a role requiring collaboration in a complex organization and working with external organizations
• Organizational skills to plan and prioritize work efficiently and productively to meet competing deadlines
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and ability to translate these values into research work

Supplemental Information

As stated in Governor’s Proclamation 21-14, all employees engaging in work for the Washington Student Achievement Council are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination will be verified by the Office of Human Resources after an employment offer has been extended and accepted. Please reach out to the Office of Human Resources at HR@wsac.wa.gov if you need information on a medical or religious accommodation.

Application Procedures

To be considered for this position you must possess the required qualification listed above. Find this job posting and complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov. which must include the following:

• 
  Letter of Application. A letter of application that addresses how you meet the required education and experience described in this announcement. Applications with generic cover letters will be considered nonresponsive and may eliminate the application from further consideration.
• Resume. A detailed resume including all educational and professional experience.
• Report sample. A PDF version of a professional, academic, or published report. The report sample should showcase your writing and research skills.
• References. A list of names, titles, and current telephone numbers of three (3) employment references.

QUESTIONS? For questions about this recruitment contact Alisha Rollins at AlishaR@wsac.wa.gov or by phone at (360) 485-1203.

EEO Statement
The Washington Student Achievement Council is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all applicants and employees. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons over 40 years of age, and veterans are encouraged to apply. If you need accommodations in the application process or wish to receive this job announcement in an alternative format, please call 360.485.1138 or email HR@wsac.wa.gov.

Please Note: Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.