Research Associate

POSITION SUMMARY:

The American Council on Education (ACE) is the major coordinating body for the nation's colleges and universities. ACE is a membership organization that mobilizes the higher education community to shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality practices. With a diverse base of member institutions, ACE represents nearly 1,700 college and university presidents and executives, serving as the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting institutions. ACE's mission includes serving 280 minority serving institutions, 25,000 higher education professionals, and 7.7 million students enrolled in colleges and universities. ACE membership extends to all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and 21 other countries.

The Associate program is designed to provide individuals with an opportunity to gain real-world experience harnessing the power of research and data – and co-designing solutions for and with the postsecondary sector. By being a part of a leading national higher education association, you will have opportunities to inform campus executives and leaders of higher education associations and organizations about emerging higher education issues and influence public policy and institutional practice. This is a two-year term, full-time position.

Under the general supervision of a Senior Analyst & Program Officer, the incumbent executes various assignments, tasks, and projects related to research, policy analysis, and impact evaluations, working with project/task leads within the unit, as well as across the Council.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES OR TASKS:

The incumbent will work in support of core activities of the Research unit, which consist of:

• Research: To conduct research and adjacent activities that establish benchmarks and measure collective impact of the postsecondary sector.
• Policy Analysis: To provide timely analysis of public policy issues that inform and enhance advocacy efforts of the Council and its partners.
• Planning & Impact: To conduct summative and formative assessment of the Council’s activities that inform and catalyze its on-going organizational learning, as well as articulate its impact.
• Through these activities, the unit produces various experiences and deliverables for internal & external audiences, including but not limited to internal briefings on emerging issues, thought leadership convenings, workshops and other learning experiences for institutional leaders, written reports, toolkits, data resources, and webinars.
• Typically, the incumbent will be assigned to execute tasks associated with larger projects, including but not limited to background research, data analysis/visualization, qualitative/quantitative data collections, preparation of pre-/post-convening materials, and drafting of written materials (e.g., internal memos, talking points, briefs, and reports).
• In addition, as directed, the incumbent will have opportunities to engage and partner with colleagues across the Council (e.g., Carnegie Classifications System team, Government Relations, ACE Connect, and Learning Evaluations, etc.). As a full-time staff member, the incumbent will also be expected to fully participate in various departmental, division, and council-wide meetings and activities.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s degree in higher education, education policy, or related field.
• Self-motivated with the ability to multi-task competing projects and priorities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and propensity to thrive in a team environment.
• Familiarity with the federal postsecondary and workforce data, as well as quantitative research methods.
• Eagerness to build your expertise around current and emerging issues in higher education.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:

This is a hybrid position based in Washington, DC. Team members work onsite at our One Dupont Circle NW office three days per week (Tuesday through Thursday), with remote work on Mondays and Fridays.

BUDGETED SALARY: $63,000.00

HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit a resume and cover letter with your application for consideration.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Applications will be accepted through April 30, 2026, or until we receive a maximum of 300 applications, whichever comes first. We encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible, as the posting may close ahead of the listed deadline based on volume.

BENEFITS OVERVIEW:

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including:

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• 403B with matching incentive + employer contribution
• Short term disability/Long term disability/Life insurance
• Generous PTO package
• Paid Parental Leave
• 13 paid holidays + week between Christmas Eve & New Years Off
• Professional Development Opportunities
• ....and more!

For a full summary of our benefits, please reach out to the Recruiting Team.

Please Note: ACE does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate referrals from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies. Any resumes submitted without a prior signed agreement will be considered the property of ACE, and no fees will be paid.