Emerson College, a nonprofit educational institution, draws independent minds from diverse backgrounds around the world through its highly regarded academic programs in communication, the arts, and the liberal arts.

Energized by engagement with the creative life of Boston, Los Angeles, and the Netherlands, our students are thinkers and doers who develop daring ideas and bring innovation, depth, and diversity to their disciplines.

Equity Research Analyst, Social Justice Collaborative

Join our community and experience Emerson College!

Emerson College is dedicated to the values of Equity, Access, and Social Justice (EASJ), and we are committed to deepening our institutional progress in these areas. To achieve this goal, we are seeking an experienced research expert to lead our data gathering, analysis, synthesis, preparation of executive summaries, reporting efforts, and the development of equity-centered dashboards and solutions. This role is an important partner to Institutional Research and integral to our College's mission of centering the lived experiences of our community members, identifying patterns, and tracking trends within Emerson's climate and culture.

The Equity Research Analyst, Social Justice Collaborative reports to the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Equity and Social Justice and is a vital part of the Social Justice Collaborative. The Equity Research Analyst is responsible for compiling and analyzing data, co-designing equity metrics, monitoring trends, and preparing compelling data briefs accessible to student, staff, faculty, and administrative audiences. This role also includes the critical function of building a robust communication feedback loop to inform institutional progress and foster equity-minded shifts at the College. Successful collaboration with multiple stakeholders is essential in this role.

The Social Justice Collaborative encompasses the Elma Lewis Center, Healing & Advocacy Collective, the Hub for Inclusive Visionary Engagement (HIVE), and the Office of the Vice President for Equity and Social Justice, and collaborates extensively with campus and community partners to advance access, healing, and liberatory social justice practices.

Our commitment to diversity is not just a statement; it's an integral part of our hiring process. We use various inclusive practices to ensure that all applicants have an equal opportunity to succeed. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds, regardless of whether they meet every qualification listed, to apply. Your application will be reviewed carefully, and we are excited to consider the skills and talents you could bring to the Equity Research Analyst position. Join us in advancing our mission of equity, access, and social justice. Your perspective and contributions matter to us.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Data Collection, Strategic Analysis and Metrics Development

• Partner with the Vice President for Equity & Social Justice and Director for Strategic Initiatives to develop strategic equity, access and social justice (EASJ) metrics.
• Utilize forthcoming EASJ metrics to analyze patterns and trends, and track progress across Emerson's multiple campuses, as well as with partner and special programs domestically and internationally.
• Design surveys, questionnaires, and other data collection methods to assess equity-related experiences across the campus community.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret qualitative and quantitative data related to equity and social justice initiatives.
• Utilize statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R, Python) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau) to derive meaningful insights.
• Disaggregate data to identify patterns and trends related to historically marginalized groups, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of diverse experiences within the institution.
• Collaborate with the Social Justice Collaborative (SJC) to analyze key SJC programs and initiatives.
• Take the lead in developing equity-focused dashboards aiming to transparently communicate SJC progress, identify gaps, and formulate strategies to address them as directed by the VP for Equity and Social Justice.
• Lead the administration of Emerson360: Community Climate Survey on behalf of the SJC, including co-chairing the climate committee, supporting updates to survey design, liaising with service providers, preparing reports, and preparing presentations on the results. This institutional survey occurs on a cyclical basis.

Collaborative Engagement and Communications

• Produce compelling data visualizations and regular reports on institutional progress, collating and aggregating reports into cohesive presentations or data briefs as requested by the Vice President for Equity & Social Justice, Director of Strategic Initiatives, or Institutional Research.
• Prepare compelling data briefs, reports, and presentations that communicate complex findings in an accessible manner to diverse audiences, including students, staff, faculty, and administrators to build and maintain a communication feedback loop
• Serve as a key strategic partner and consultant across the College for staff, faculty, and students to help them better understand EASJ-related data.
• Collaborate closely with Social Justice Collaborative, Institutional Research, Academic Affairs and other relevant departments to analyze data for curriculum development, program assessment, and policy formulation.
• Partner with Academic Affairs, Institutional Research, and faculty members to review anonymized data from student course evaluations, with a particular emphasis on questions related to (EASJ). Share valuable observations and emerging trends with the Provost, Deans, VP for Equity & Social Justice and department chairs to inform pedagogical improvements and support student success through equity-focused data analysis.
• Provide support to various departments in leveraging data-driven insights to enhance inclusivity and equity within their programs and initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS - Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform job.

• Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree preferred, preferably in statistics, mathematics, data science, social science, behavioral science, information science, or a related field, with equivalent experience.
• 4-7 years of relevant experience, including a minimum of 1-3 years in higher education, with a focus on institutional research and assessment and proficiency in research methodology.
• 3-5 years of experience in analyzing equity and social justice data to identify opportunities for enhancing policies and practices.
• Extensive experience in disaggregating data and a nuanced understanding of working with disaggregated data, including privacy and confidentiality considerations.
• Experience with statistical software (SPSS, R, Python) and data visualization tools (Tableau) highly desirable.
• Experience with using statistical methods, modeling, analytical methodologies, and data analysis to develop and deploy tools including dashboards, infographics, reports, and models to inform and support decision-making.
• Experience applying rigorous research methodologies and analytical best practices across the institution to discern patterns and trends, fostering advancements in equity, access, and social justice initiatives.
• Experience in developing and implementing strategies or recommendations to enhance inclusivity, accessibility, and social justice within educational or institutional settings.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with the job.

• Demonstrated history of advancing equity, access, and social justice practice, along with a deep understanding and appreciation of trauma-informed practices.
• Proficiency in navigating the complexities of engaging with institutional leaders and decision-makers, demonstrating the ability to comprehend and address varying expectations and needs related to campus-wide equity, diversity, and social justice initiatives.
• Advanced proficiency in gathering, editing, analyzing, and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data, particularly with large, complex datasets.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey analysis findings clearly to diverse, non-technical audiences.
• Keen analytical mind, a social justice analytical framework, and the ability to leverage data as a catalyst to advise and develop strategies for operational improvements and future social justice initiatives
• Knows how to mine, process, and analyze internal and external data using KPIs, institutional results, industry sources, competitor intelligence, and customer information.
• Develops a good understanding of the social justice model, objectives, issues, and challenges by interacting and collaborating with stakeholders.
• Track record of promoting inclusive practices and fostering a supportive environment for individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES - Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Requires ability to lift and move objects that are light
• Requires ability to move materials occasionally

WORK ENVIRONMENT - Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• Usual Office Conditions