[Hiring] Senior Research Associate, Survey @Hanover Research

Role Description

The Senior Research Associate will work closely with Research and Content Directors, and other analysts on survey research projects that deliver actionable insights in addressing clients’ research questions. In this role the analyst will draw on logical and critical thinking skills to create high-quality survey instruments and will develop their knowledge of survey tools to program instruments with extreme accuracy. They will also analyze survey results to craft a compelling narrative that supports clients’ decision-making on pressing education needs.

Our clients include colleges, universities, and related organizations. This position allows for the swift development and refinement of a comprehensive set of market research skills and provides the opportunity to develop a relationship with a young and rapidly-growing enterprise. We expect all employees to be intellectually curious, ambitious, and interested in assuming increasing levels of responsibility. This position will report directly to the Director of Higher Education Survey.

The Higher Education Survey Team works on a wide variety of project types, including:

• Brand Awareness & Perception
• Prospective Student & Program Demand
• Stakeholder Satisfaction
• Alumni Outcomes & Engagement
• Tuition Sensitivity

Responsibilities

• Design and refine higher education survey instruments that translate client research objectives into analytically sound, decision-oriented data.
• Write high-quality survey questions that are clear, unbiased, logically structured, and aligned with higher education research best practices.
• Program standard and complex surveys in Qualtrics, including advanced skip logic, quotas, piping, and embedded data, ensuring fidelity to the survey document and internal QC standards.
• Apply data quality controls throughout the survey lifecycle (e.g., screening logic, attention checks, speed flags, open-end review).
• Thoughtfully incorporate AI-enabled tools into research workflows to improve efficiency and support research activities, while independently reviewing and validating AI-generated outputs.
• Manage multiple survey projects under tight deadlines, producing outputs that require minimal revision while adhering to standardized templates and workflows.
• Analyze survey data using established analytical plans, including segmentation logic, cross-tabulation, and descriptive statistics.
• Produce clear, accurate charts, tables, and summaries that support higher education decision-making and align with standardized deliverables.
• Collaborate with Research Directors and Content Directors to ensure alignment across survey design, analysis, and reporting.
• Contribute to continuous process improvement by adopting new tools, templates, and analytical approaches that increase efficiency and consistency across projects.

Qualifications

• Strong command of written English, with demonstrated ability to write, edit, and QA survey instruments and analytical outputs.
• Advanced proficiency with Qualtrics survey programming, including complex logic and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing survey data and translating results into clear visual and written outputs for applied research audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively and responsibly use AI-enabled tools, coupled with strong judgment in evaluating the accuracy, quality, and appropriateness of AI-generated content.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work in a deadline-driven, fast-paced research environment.
• Experience with higher education research contexts (e.g., institutional research, assessment, enrollment, student experience, alumni, or employer studies) strongly preferred.
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills, with consistent adherence to standards and documentation.
• Ability to accept feedback constructively and iterate efficiently within standardized workflows.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across research and client-facing teams.

Education Requirement

• A Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in Economics, Business, Psychology, Education, Sociology, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related discipline is preferred.

Experience Requirement

• Professional or academic experience conducting research or survey design and analysis is strongly preferred.

Location

• USA Remote
• Office is located in Arlington, VA

Benefits

• Starting at 18+ days Paid Time Off
• 14 paid holidays including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, Indigenous People’s Day, and personal holidays
• 401(K) employer matching program
• Comprehensive health and dental benefits package
• Health and wellness packages with discounts to local gym
• Community service opportunities
• In-office snacks and beverages