Ascension is seeking a Human Capital Research Analyst (Research Analyst II) to support the National Science Foundation (NSF), Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) in advancing workforce analytics, program evaluation, and evidence-based decision-making.

This role is critical to supporting NSF’s mission by delivering high-quality workforce research, HRStat/GPRA-aligned evaluations, and data-driven insights that inform strategic human capital planning and enterprise transformation. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in survey design, workforce analytics, benchmarking, and program evaluation, and will play a key role in helping NSF transition from ad hoc reporting to structured, governed, and actionable analytics capabilities .

Position Summary

The Human Capital Research Analyst will support the design and execution of workforce studies, employee research initiatives, and program evaluations aligned with federal human capital frameworks (OPM HRStat and GPRA). This role requires a detail-oriented, analytical professional who can independently manage research efforts while collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders.

The ideal candidate is:

• A self-driven problem solver who can work in a dynamic federal environment
• Skilled in translating complex qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights
• Capable of supporting enterprise-level human capital analytics initiatives
• Experienced in navigating federal data governance, privacy, and compliance requirements

This role supports NSF’s need to:

• Improve workforce data quality and consistency
• Deliver timely and accurate analytics products
• Enhance employee engagement through research and surveys
• Strengthen program evaluation and compliance reporting capabilities

Day-to-Day Activities

• Design and implement workforce research studies, surveys, and evaluation frameworks
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative data analysis using statistical and analytical tools
• Develop HRStat- and GPRA-aligned program evaluation reports and performance metrics
• Analyze workforce trends, employee engagement data, and organizational effectiveness indicators
• Support benchmarking and environmental scans using federal datasets (e.g., FedScope)
• Collaborate with HR, IT, and program stakeholders to identify research needs and priorities
• Develop dashboards, visualizations, and reports to communicate findings to leadership
• Ensure data integrity, validation, and compliance with federal data governance standards
• Translate business needs into research questions, analytic approaches, and data products
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership and program offices
• Support continuous improvement of workforce analytics processes and methodologies