Position Summary
The Director of Institutional Effectiveness & Research leads the development, management, and continuous improvement of the institution's data infrastructure, reporting systems, and analytics capabilities. This position is responsible for enhancing institutional data capacity, supporting evidence-based decision-making, improving student success monitoring, and ensuring accurate reporting of enrollment, retention, completion, and post-graduation outcomes.
The Director collaborates closely with Information Technology, Student Services, Academic Affairs, and institutional leadership to strengthen data governance, automate reporting processes, and promote a culture of data-informed decision-making.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Institutional Data Management
- Lead institutional research, effectiveness, assessment, and reporting activities.
- Conduct comprehensive reviews of existing data systems, workflows, and reporting processes to identify improvement opportunities.
- Develop and maintain data dictionaries, metadata standards, and documentation for institutional datasets.
- Establish and monitor data quality standards, validation procedures, and data governance practices.
- Ensure compliance with FERPA and other applicable regulations governing institutional data.
Data Systems and Infrastructure
- Manage and utilize institutional data systems, including Student Information Systems (SIS), Learning Management Systems (LMS), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms, and degree audit tools.
- Design and implement system enhancements, automated data feeds, reporting dashboards, and standardized reporting processes.
- Reduce manual data processing through workflow redesign and automation initiatives.
- Collaborate with Information Technology staff to optimize institutional data architecture and integrations.
Student Success Analytics
- Develop and maintain dashboards that monitor student progression, retention, completion, and graduation outcomes.
- Track and analyze key student success milestones, including:
o Program entry
o Credit accumulation thresholds
o Gateway course completion
o Term-to-term persistence
o Graduation eligibility
o Credential completion
- Develop risk indicators and predictive reporting tools to support student success initiatives.
- Produce regular reports for leadership, faculty, advisors, and academic departments.
Reporting and Institutional Research
- Prepare institutional reports for internal stakeholders and external agencies.
- Develop and maintain a standardized reporting calendar for enrollment, retention, completion, equity, and student success metrics.
- Create data briefs and executive summaries that communicate key findings and trends.
- Support strategic planning, accreditation, grant reporting, and institutional effectiveness initiatives through data analysis and reporting.
Post-Graduation Outcomes Assessment
- Establish and maintain processes to track graduate outcomes, including employment, transfer, licensure, and continuing education.
- Utilize sources such as the National Student Clearinghouse, workforce data, surveys, and other available resources to assess student outcomes after graduation.
- Analyze and report post-completion outcomes to institutional leadership and stakeholders.
Data Literacy and Stakeholder Engagement
- Provide training and support to faculty, staff, and administrators on the use and interpretation of institutional data.
- Promote effective use of dashboards, metrics, and reports across the institution.
- Develop tools and resources that make institutional data accessible and actionable for decision-makers.
- Facilitate collaboration among Institutional Research, IT, Student Services, and Academic Affairs.
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in Higher Education, Educational Research, Statistics, Data Analytics, Public Administration, Information Systems, Social Sciences, or a related field.
- Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in institutional research, data analytics, higher education assessment, or related fields.
- Experience working with higher education data systems and reporting platforms.
- Strong knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
- Demonstrated experience preparing reports and dashboards for leadership and external stakeholders.
- Knowledge of FERPA and institutional reporting requirements.
- Advanced analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Title III grant reporting and compliance.
- Experience with business intelligence tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms.
- Knowledge of predictive analytics and student success metrics.
- Experience managing cross-functional projects and system improvement initiatives.
- Familiarity with SQL, data visualization, and data automation tools.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Data management and governance
- Institutional research methodologies
- Statistical analysis and reporting
- Dashboard development and business intelligence tools
- Project management and process improvement
- Effective written and verbal communication
- Training and facilitation skills
- Ability to translate complex data into actionable information for diverse audiences
- Ability to build collaborative relationships across departments
Reports To: Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Research
Employment Status: Full-Time, Exempt. This position is being funded through a federal Title III grant for five years.
Work Environment: Primarily office-based with regular interaction across academic and administrative departments. Occasional attendance at institutional meetings, training events, and conferences may be required.
Interested applicants can send a cover letter, resume/cv, and list of 3 professional references to [email protected].