Overview
Position Summary
The Director of Institutional Research & Data Quality provides leadership for the College''s institutional research, data governance, analytics, and reporting functions. Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Planning & Institutional Effectiveness, the Director leads efforts to ensure the integrity, accessibility, and effective use of institutional data in support of strategic planning, accreditation, and data-informed decision-making. The Director chairs the Data Management & Integrity (DMI) Team, advances college-wide data stewardship practices, and oversees the accurate and timely submission of mandatory federal, state, and accrediting agency reports.
Responsibilities
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Data Governance & Data Quality Leadership
- Chair the Data Management & Integrity (DMI) Team and lead institutional data governance efforts.
- Develop, implement, and maintain standardized data definitions, validation procedures, and reporting structures across the College.
- Establish and enforce data governance policies, standards, and practices to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and reliability.
- Conduct annual data quality audits, monitor reporting accuracy, and implement continuous improvement processes.
- Collaborate with the Registrar, Information Technology, and functional areas to ensure alignment and integrity of data across systems.
- Identify and address systemic data quality issues, including inconsistencies in coding, definitions, and reporting structures.
- Promote ethical and responsible data use and train campus stakeholders in data stewardship, data literacy, and appropriate data interpretation.
- Embed data governance practices into institutional effectiveness, planning, and reporting processes.
Institutional Research & Strategic Analytics
- Direct the design and execution of research studies and analyses to support strategic planning, enrollment management, program development, and institutional effectiveness.
- Prepare and present research reports, dashboards, and data visualizations for internal and external audiences.
- Respond to ad-hoc requests for data, research, and analysis, ensuring timely delivery of accurate and relevant information to support decision-making.
- Support grant development, community needs assessments, labor market analyses, and program feasibility studies.
- Provide analytical support for academic and administrative program review.
- Provide professional research support and technical assistance to faculty, administrators, and staff.
Compliance & External Reporting
- Ensure the accurate, timely, and complete submission of all mandatory external reporting, including but not limited to IPEDS, OSHE, MSCHE, SURE, VEDS, and Perkins reporting.
- Oversee data validation, reconciliation, and edit check processes to ensure compliance with reporting requirements and alignment with institutional data governance standards.
- Coordinate internal data collection and reporting processes to support federal, state, and accrediting agency requirements.
- Support and coordinate institutional participation in voluntary reporting initiatives.
- Represent the College in local, state, and national research and higher education forums.
Institutional Reporting & Data Accessibility
- Oversee the development and dissemination of routine institutional reports, including enrollment, retention, completion, and student success metrics.
- Maintain and enhance the Institutional Research SharePoint site and other data repositories to ensure data is accessible, relevant, and usable for decision-making.
- Ensure alignment between institutional reporting and established data definitions and governance standards.
- Administer institutional surveys and communicate findings to relevant stakeholders to support continuous improvement.
- Collaborate with Academic Affairs, Student Services, Information Technology, and administrative units to support data-informed decision-making and institutional effectiveness.
Supervision & Service
- Direct and supervise Institutional Research staff, including planning, assigning, reviewing, and evaluating work.
- Establish priorities and workflows to ensure timely completion of research, reporting, and data governance activities.
- Provide guidance and support to staff in the execution of research, reporting, and data management functions.
- Develop recommendations for operational and resource needs of the Institutional Research function.
- Serve on institutional committees and contribute to accreditation, institutional effectiveness, and planning initiatives.
Qualifications
Minimum Education & Experience Requirements
- Master's degree in discipline such as behavioral sciences, statistics, higher education, information systems, data analytics, or a related field or a Bachelor's degree with an equivalent combination of relevant education and progressively responsible professional experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in institutional research, higher education, data management, analytics, information systems, or a related field.
- Experience supporting data-informed decision-making, institutional reporting, or institutional effectiveness initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience working with large, complex datasets and developing reports, dashboards, or data tools for varied audiences.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
- Strong understanding of data governance, data quality, and data stewardship frameworks, including the development of standards, validation rules, and documentation practices.
- Advanced proficiency in data systems, data extraction, and reporting tools, such as SQL, enterprise reporting systems (e.g., Entrinsik Informer), and data visualization platforms.
- High level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel and data management tools, including the ability to manipulate, structure, and validate large datasets.
- Experience working with integrated data systems (e.g., ERP/SIS platforms such as Ellucian Colleague or similar systems) and understanding of relational data structures.
- Ability to design and implement efficient data workflows, including data collection, validation, transformation, and reporting processes.
- Proficiency with statistical and analytical tools (e.g., SPSS, R, Python).
- Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for non-technical audiences.
- Knowledge of higher education data environments and reporting requirements (e.g., IPEDS, state reporting, accreditation).
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across functional areas, including Academic Affairs, Student Services, Information Technology, and administrative units.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications & Special Considerations:
- Knowledge of Monmouth County and its communities.
- Occasional evening and weekend work and 10-15% local travel required.
Summary of Benefits: Administrative
Special Instructions to Applicants:
A review of applications will be ongoing until the position is filled. Submission of application materials by Monday, July 6th, 2026, is preferred to ensure full consideration.
Pay Rate
$90,405