Senior Program Experience Researcher

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
 

Grade: Professional 312

Pay Range: $106,700.00 - $165,400.00

Job Description

The Senior Program Experience Researcher leads advanced qualitative and mixed methods research initiatives that inform the design, evaluation, and continuous improvement of educational programs. This role partners closely with Institutional Analytics and Research (IAR) to integrate quantitative data into qualitative insights and drive a comprehensive understanding of student experience and program effectiveness. Provides strategic research guidance, mentors junior researchers, and collaborates across Program Development and academic leadership to ensure data-informed decisions support institutional goals and student success.

 

Primary Responsibilities

Qualitative Research Design & Execution

• Leads the design and implementation of qualitative and mixed method research studies to assess program effectiveness, student experience, and curriculum alignment.
• Conducts interviews, focus groups, surveys, and observational studies to collect rich, actionable data.
• Develops and refines qualitative research frameworks for both formative and summative program evaluation.
• Analyzes data using established methods (e.g., thematic analysis, coding) to surface insights and patterns.

Insight Sharing & Communication

• Presents research findings to stakeholders, including department leadership, academic teams, and cross-functional partners.
• Develops reports and visualizations that integrate qualitative and quantitative data for actionable insights.
• Builds research literacy across Program Development through workshops, presentations, and mentorship.
• Creates narratives and visual presentations to effectively communicate student experience trends and program impact.

Strategic Program Evaluation

• Evaluates the effectiveness of educational programs using qualitative data and feedback.
• Assesses alignment between curriculum design and actual student experience.
• Identifies barriers to learning, engagement, and progression through direct student and stakeholder input.
• Studies and reports on emerging instructional practices and their impact on student outcomes.
• Educational Innovation & Research Leadership
• Leads research into innovative educational methodologies, tools, and technologies in online/hybrid environments.
• Studies and recommends evidence-based practices to enhance learning, engagement, and assessment.
• Guides program teams in implementing improvements based on research findings.
• Champions the role of qualitative research in driving continuous program improvement and strategic planning.

Educational Innovation & Research Leadership

• Leads research into innovative educational methodologies, tools, and technologies in online/hybrid environments.
• Studies and recommends evidence-based practices to enhance learning, engagement, and assessment.
• Guides program teams in implementing improvements based on research findings.
• Champions the role of qualitative research in driving continuous program improvement and strategic planning.

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time wit