Data and Research Consultant

Status:
Part-Time Consultant, Not Benefits Eligible

Hours:

Up to 14 hours per week

Reports to:

Vice President of Campus Programs and Portal Initiatives

Deadline:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

The Presidents' Alliance is looking for a Data and Research Consultant to manage data updates, support recurring research reports, assist with external research partnerships, and help organize a new Research Library on the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. This individual will be responsible for updating the data for the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, ensuring that national and state-level data remain current, accurate, well-documented, and accessible to higher education leaders, policymakers, practitioners, researchers, advocates, and the public.

The role requires two equally important skill sets: strong quantitative research and data analysis and strong writing skills. The ideal candidate can independently analyze datasets, identify meaningful findings and trends, assess the quality and limitations of available data, and translate complex quantitative information into clear, compelling reports, briefs, and digital content for nontechnical audiences.

In addition to maintaining established data resources, the consultant will support original research, special projects, and research collaborations across the Presidents’ Alliance.

• Update recurring national and state-level data updates for the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.
• Manage timelines with partner organizations for three recurring reports:
  Undocumented Students in U.S. Higher Education, Immigrant Origin Students in Higher Education, and Undocumented Students Graduating High School;
  Review and provide feedback on data analysis; maintain methodological explanations and consistency
• Implement and carry out processes and timelines for updating data on undocumented, immigrant-origin, international, refugee, and other relevant student populations in higher education.
• Analyze datasets received from research and data partners, and independently identify key findings, trends, changes, and implications.
• Conduct quantitative analysis when needed to answer emerging research and policy questions.
• Maintain a clear understanding of the underlying methodologies, definitions, sources, and limitations of datasets used by the Presidents' Alliance.
• Conduct rigorous quality assurance and quality control before publication, including checking calculations, comparisons, citations, definitions, and consistency across Portal pages, reports, and other Alliance materials.
• Proactively identify when data are outdated or when new data releases require updates to the Portal or related Alliance publications.

• Provide quantitative research and analysis for special projects across the Presidents’ Alliance; translate quantitative findings into clear, concise, and compelling graphics and language
• Support the development of new research products in response to emerging policy questions, organizational priorities, and developments in the field.
• Help assess emerging data needs and identify opportunities for new research that advances the Presidents’ Alliance’s mission and strengthens understanding of immigrant and international students in higher education.
• Maintain and improve the Higher Ed Immigration Portal’s data calendar and related internal tracking systems.
• Ensure research methodologies, source files, documentation, and processes are organized and accessible so that the Alliance maintains strong institutional knowledge over time.
• Support the build-out of a new Research Library on the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.
• Performs other…