Associate Director of Research for Academics

Job Function: The Associate Director of Research for Academics will develop and oversee research projects on the academic experiences of NCAA student-athletes to inform legislation and education efforts. The associate director will take the lead in research design, analyses and serve as a key communicator of findings to varied audiences. The associate director works directly with NCAA members, staff and other relevant parties to apply research insights to inform policymaking.

Job Responsibilities  

• Lead research projects related to student-athlete academic performance. This position, in conjunction with the Managing Director of Research, is responsible for directing research analysis of NCAA and national data, disseminating results, and informing policy on academic topics such as:

• NCAA initial eligibility standards, progress-toward-degree standards and prediction of college academic success;


• Academic impacts of transferring between four-year colleges;


• Successful transfer from two-year colleges to NCAA member institutions;


• Postgraduate retention and persistence;


• Measurement of team-level and school-level academic success (through the development of metrics such as the Academic Progress Rate, Graduation Success Rate or Graduation Passport);


• Impact of NCAA policies on student-athlete academic success, choice of majors, academic satisfaction and post-baccalaureate academic attainment;


• Methods for detecting and reducing academic risk among student-athletes;


• Benchmarking student-athlete academic trends (i.e., graduation rates, transfer rates) with the general student body; and


• Any other relevant topic requested by NCAA committees, member institutions or affiliated groups (e.g., the National Association of Basketball Coaches).

• Maintain a strong working knowledge of other NCAA research topics (e.g., characteristics of member schools, trends in institutional revenues and expenses, student-athlete wellbeing) that can inform other areas of research or policy discussions.


• Cultivate personal and staff expertise in important topics in higher education policy that have relevance to NCAA policymakers (e.g., enrollment trends, long-term value of a college degree, student academic pathways, federal policies impacting higher education, transfer infrastructure/outcomes, campus support services).


• Serve as key research connection and public presenter of research findings to NCAA governance bodies, executive staff members and the membership in the areas of enrollment, persistence, retention, transfer and graduation rates.

• Develop and enhance personal research skills as needed through independent study, collaboration with other staff and engagement with external scholars in the field.

Job Requirements      

• Education Required: Master’s degree in psychology, education, statistics, analytics or related field, or master’s degree with significant research experience. Doctoral degree preferred.

• Advanced skills in quantitative research design, descriptive and inferential statistics, statistical software programming (e.g., R, SPSS, STATA), database creation and management, and production of graphical displays.


• At least 5 years of experience in social science, educational or related policy research.


• Experience working with large research databases. Familiarity with higher education enrollment data (e.g., NSC data, IPEDS data, institutional-level enrollment and persistence data) strongly preferred.


• Familiarity with current issues in U.S. higher education.


• Knowledge of the NCAA, its membership structure and current academic policy issues that can be informed through research.


• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively to audiences with varied interests and technical backgrounds.


• Experience conveying research findings to the public, lawmakers and media.


• Demonstrated history of productivity as a researcher.


• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.


• Willingness to take on a wide variety of tasks and responsibilities.


• Ability to work well as a team member.


• Estimated Travel Required <10%


• This position will be based out of the national office in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Current work environment is hybrid; 2 days in the office and 3 days are remote.

Key Competencies            

• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.

• Attention to Detail: Allocates cognitive resources to achieve thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing tasks, no matter how small or large.

• Effective Communication: Can exchange ideas, thoughts, opinions, knowledge, and data so that the message is understood with clarity and purpose.

• Project Management: The discipline of planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of a specific project.

• Drives Vision and Purpose: Communicates a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action by: Talking about future possibilities in a positive way. Creating milestones and symbolizing support behind the vision. Showing personal commitment to the vision.

Core Values            

• Leadership: We actively listen and continually strive to provide vital solutions, counsel and advocacy for student-athletes and intercollegiate athletics.


• Inclusion: We seek and incorporate different perspectives and experiences to drive innovation and impact.


• Communication: We commit to an environment of openness to build trust and make timely decisions.


• Collaboration: We work together, based on mutual respect, to lead and serve our stakeholders.


• Accountability: We take ownership for our actions and results to add value every day.