Position: Research Analyst – Continuous Improvement Initiatives
Location: Hybrid (Lansing, MI)
Employment Type: Contract, W2 Only (no third party candidates please)
Duration: 6 months (with potential extension)

About the Role
We are seeking a detail-oriented Research Analyst to join a dynamic team focused on driving process improvements and delivering measurable value to internal and external stakeholders. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on uncovering insights, shaping strategies, and translating data into actionable recommendations. Working in a hybrid environment, you'll partner with cross-functional teams to identify best practices, evaluate improvement opportunities, and design tools and metrics that guide impactful change.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and benchmark best practices from both public and private sectors.
• Gather, organize, and interpret qualitative and quantitative data to inform decision-making.
• Develop clear, compelling reports, presentations, and infographics that communicate findings to a variety of audiences.
• Lead workshops and collaborative sessions to capture input, refine ideas, and develop actionable plans.
• Create and refine metrics to measure the success of improvement efforts, including ROI analyses.
• Work closely with leadership to align recommendations with organizational goals and key performance indicators.
• Support the design of processes, tools, and resources that make improvement strategies intuitive and sustainable.

Required Skills & Experience

• 4+ years of professional research experience.
• Proven ability to develop and evaluate ROI for process or program improvements.
• Strong background in creating and integrating meaningful metrics into business operations.
• Experience crafting research plans, synthesizing results, and presenting to diverse audiences.
• Skilled at distilling complex information into clear, executive-ready summaries.
• Familiarity with Lean methods and iterative improvement models (e.g., PDCA).
• Strong facilitation skills for both in-person and virtual workshops.
• Excellent communication, data visualization, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Analyst Professional
• Certified Financial Analyst
• Financial Risk Manager

Example Project Areas

• Designing SOPs using AI to support improvement programs.
• Evaluating process mining tools for better decision-making.
• ROI analysis of customer experience and process improvement initiatives.

If you are driven by curiosity, energized by solving problems, and motivated to make a measurable impact, we encourage you to apply.