Research Assistant

Special Information

• This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.
• This position is subject to the availability of funding. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.

About the Department/College

The W. A. Franke College of Business is one of eight academic colleges at Northern Arizona University and a leading AACSB-accredited provider of business education in Arizona. Our college enrolls approximately 3,600 undergraduate and graduate students. We are known for preparing outstanding, motivated professionals who are often first-generation college students. Our faculty conduct high-quality research, deliver an engaging classroom experience, and provide support and leadership within the academic community. We are interested in candidates who will bring excellence to our college by providing outstanding support for our Economic Policy Institute, working effectively with other internal and external stakeholders, exercising good judgment, professionalism, and having excellent communication skills.

About the Position

The Research Assistant supports the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) at Northern Arizona University by conducting research and data analysis for the HUD Native American Housing grant and other EPI projects. Responsibilities include literature reviews, data collection and management, statistical analysis, report writing, and quality control. Working closely with Research Associates and Principal Investigators, the position helps ensure timely research deliverables while providing project coordination and administrative support.

Responsibilities Include

65% - Support research activities for the HUD Native American Housing grant

• Coordinate and conduct desk research and literature review related to Native American housing needs, trends, and outcomes.
• Design and modify data collection instruments and sampling methods; collect and manage quantitative and qualitative data.
• Create, manage, and maintain research databases specific to the HUD grant.
• Assist with statistical analyses, interpretation of findings, and preparation of progress reports.
• Draft research briefs, summaries, and dissemination materials tailored to tribal and HUD audiences.

15% - Perform data analysis and reporting for other EPI research projects

• Analyze existing datasets, perform descriptive and comparative statistics, and prepare narrative summaries, tables, and data visualizations.
• Assist in writing technical reports, internal progress summaries, and external-facing materials for agency partners and funders.
• Recommend procedural or methodological improvements based on findings.

10% - Research Design, Instrument Development, and Quality Control

• Support the development of research designs and data collection plans for new EPI projects.
• Create and maintain documentation of procedures and file management standards to ensure research compliance and data integrity.
• Conduct quality assurance checks on research outputs, databases, and deliverables.

5% - Collaboration and Coordination with Research Team

• Collaborate closely with Research Associates and Principal Investigators to ensure alignment of research tasks, deliverables, and timelines.
• Assist in tracking project milestones and supporting internal communication among team members.

5% - Other

• Schedule project meetings, take notes, and track action items for EPI research teams.
• Support communication with research partners, stakeholders, and community collaborators.
• Maintain internal records, filing systems, and routine grant-related administrative documentation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in in Data Analytics, Economics, Finance, Business, or relevant discipline.
• 2 years of research support experience.

• A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on grant-funded research projects.
• Experience with statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, SPSS, Python).
• Experience conducting research with tribal or rural communities.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Intermediate knowledge of research design, data collection, and analysis methods.
• Familiarity with literature review techniques, research ethics, and data management best practices.
• Developing knowledge of housing policy, tribal community development, or related research domains.
  
  Skills
• Proficiency in managing datasets, conducting statistical analysis, and summarizing results in written and visual formats.
• Strong technical writing skills for preparing reports, briefs, and presentations.
  
  Abilities
• Coordinates and tracks research tasks and deliverables across multiple projects.
• Organizes complex data and information and supports evidence-based analysis.
• Balances competing priorities and meets deadlines in a fast-paced research environment.
• Communicates effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Compensation

Salary range begins at $51,085. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Immigration Support/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submit your Application

You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.