Current Open Positions

Senior Associate – Apply here!

Reports To: Vice President
Employment Category: Full-time
Location: Hybrid (Boulder, CO office 2 days/week; remote possible on a case-by-case basis)

About NCHEMS

• Vision: NCHEMS envisions a future where postsecondary education expands opportunities for all, strengthens communities, and advances the public good.
• Mission: NCHEMS partners with postsecondary institutions, systems, government, and community leaders to effectively use evidence to improve strategic decision-making in postsecondary education.
• Values: Collaboration, pragmatism, rigor, learning, and independence.
• Our Team: Comprised of data analysts, researchers, and influential leaders in higher education, our team focuses on providing third-party analysis and recommendations to address pressing challenges in public higher education.

About the Position

• Seeking passionate candidates dedicated to higher education’s role in expanding opportunity.
• Senior Associates translate this passion into analytical techniques that create impactful stories and actionable recommendations for partners.
• Requires a critical thinker with knowledge of higher education policy and practice who brings data and evidence to bear on challenges.
• Senior Associates oversee and conduct detailed, data-driven analyses in support of NCHEMS projects (models, reports, blogs, presentations, etc.).
• Works collaboratively to identify desired outcomes, design projects and methods, and adept at project management.
• Lead multiple projects simultaneously and provide mentorship to staff. Depending on team needs, may provide direct supervision for 1.0-2.0 FTE. Consistently model NCHEMS’ values.
• Serve as a representative of the organization and actively seek opportunities to expand awareness of NCHEMS.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Planning and Project Management:
  • Stay abreast of emerging issues and developments in postsecondary policy.
  • Collaboratively design and manage projects that yield high-quality deliverables within timelines and budgets.
  • Effectively communicate with internal team members and external clients and partners.
  • Develop analytical approaches to complex problem-solving and assess solutions.
  • Assist in the preparation of project proposals.
  • Mentor, delegate, and provide feedback to project staff.
• Communication:
  • Prepare and present presentations, reports, papers, and other content to partners, clients, and stakeholders.
  • Serve as a spokesperson for the organization.
  • Establish and cultivate relationships with external partners (federal/state agencies, policy organizations, postsecondary institutions, etc.).
  • Serve as a main point of contact for clients and constituents and employ astute political judgments.
• Research and Analysis:
  • Perform quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods analyses to produce reliable results.
  • Conduct literature reviews and prepare summaries.
  • Ensure all analytical methods are appropriately documented.

Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated expertise in applying qualitative and quantitative analyses to develop solutions and recommendations for public policy or institutional performance.
• Experience working effectively with key constituents in postsecondary education (policymakers, state/institutional leaders, etc.), including political acuity.
• Exceptional verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated success in managing multiple projects concurrently and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff and colleagues; supervisory experience preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel (approximately 20%).
• Experience developing analytical tools and crafting project scopes/proposals preferred.
• Substantial knowledge and technical expertise in postsecondary education topics.
• A cultivated national and/or regional network is a plus.
• Technical Skills:
  • Expertise in one or more of the following analytical tools: R, SPSS, Stata, and Qualtrics (preferred).
  • Expertise in one or more of the following datasets: federal datasets such as IPEDS, Census, and other surveys; Jobs EQ and/or Lightcast; postsecondary institutional data obtained through MOUs; state longitudinal data systems (SLEDS).
  • Expertise in Claude.ai or other AI tools preferred.

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree plus 8-10 years of relevant experience.

Salary Range and Benefits

• Salary Range: $95,000 – $115,000 per year.
• Comprehensive benefit package including health, dental, vision insurance, flexible spending/health savings accounts, commuter benefits, retirement benefits, life/disability insurance, and paid time off.

Equal Opportunity Employer

• NCHEMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity in all facets of the organization’s work.

Submit your application for this role here.