Research Specialist, Strategic Policy, Innovation, and Research

Research Specialist, Strategic Policy, Innovation, and Research 100% Remote within California, Must reside in California The Success Center at the Foundation for California Community Colleges supports California Community Colleges in advancing equity-centered student success through policy development, research, strategic innovation projects, field engagement, and professional development. This work is engaging, fast-paced, ever-evolving, and requires a flexible personality who enjoys working in a team-based environment.

The Foundation for California Community Colleges is the trusted partner of the California Community Colleges— facilitating collaboration, accelerating innovation, and increasing system-wide resources.

The Specialist, Strategic Policy, Innovation, and Research (SPIR) will contribute to advancing student success and equity in higher education. This role involves research and evaluation of multiple initiatives that drive state- and system-wide goals, while fostering strong relationships with diverse stakeholders. The position is primarily remote with some travel required. Support the planning, design, and implementation of research and evaluation initiatives that advance student success, equity, and Success Center strategic priorities.

Collect, clean, validate, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data from internal and external sources. Independently conduct quantitative analysis using tools such as Stata and support the construction and analysis of large datasets, including COMIS, IPEDS, Census, and other publicly available data using SQL and Stata. Prepare and analyze qualitative data using methods and tools such as Atlas.ti, ensuring data quality, consistency, and accuracy throughout the research process.

Conduct literature reviews, background policy research, and other secondary research to support research projects, evaluations, proposals, and concept papers. Develop research briefs, reports, data visualizations, figures, tables, and presentations that translate complex findings into actionable policy and practice recommendations. Provide research and data expertise to SPIR and other Success Center teams and collaborate with external partners to support effective implementation of research and evaluation initiatives.

Develop and maintain project plans, track deliverables, milestones, and outcomes, and use tools such as Asana to keep multiple work streams organized and on schedule. Coordinate project meetings, activities, and deliverables across internal teams and external partners, helping ensure strong communication and alignment throughout implementation.

Minimum of three (3) years of related work experience in research, evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and/or project management. Experience working within higher education systems and structures, including working with a wide range of stakeholders. Experience conducting research, writing in-depth reports in a professional setting, and managing multiple projects with competing deadlines. Preferred:
Experience in higher education reform, systems change, or nonprofit/public sector environments. Proven research and evaluation skills, with expertise in qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and the ability to design, implement, and monitor research projects and reporting approaches. Strong analytical skills, with the ability to clean, analyze, and interpret large, complex data sets using software, data analysis software such as Stata, R, SQL and/or Atlas.ti

to develop evidence-based recommendations, inform decision-making, and support research and policy objectives. Working knowledge of the California Community Colleges system and higher education landscape,…