Director of Institutional Research

Director of Institutional Research

Requirements

• Master’s degree with 5 years of experience, including 3 years relevant experience (institutional research, report writing, data collection and analysis, data visualization, accreditation, federal/state reporting); doctorate preferred.
• Proficient in programming and statistical analysis
• Familiarity with reporting tools
• Ability to effectively collaborate and consult with institutional leadership
• Excellent project management skills
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of higher education data systems
• Ability to interpret statistics, design surveys and perform data analysis
• Ability to inform decision making and improvement through data collection, interpretation, and analyses

Responsibilities

• Oversee the vision, direction, and priorities for Institutional Research.
• Manage unit’s operating budget.
• Lead comprehensive Academic and Operational Effectiveness initiatives that provide key measurables to inform a change and improvement model.
• Coordinate the work of and provide supervision of the IR team, comprised of an Associate Director of Reporting & Compliance and a Research Analyst.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues in Academic Affairs and Registrar’s Office on compliance matters, data quality, data sharing, and reporting.
• Provide leadership on data consistency across institutional units (e.g., Enrollment Services, Information Technology, and other offices) as needed.
• Provide leadership for, and collaborate with institutional partners, to compile, validate and submit data in accordance with state and federal requirements, institutional and programmatic/specialized accreditation (e.g., HLC, IPEDS, MSBE, CCNE, DESE, etc.), and other regulatory bodies (e.g., athletics, VA compliance visits, etc.). Collaborate with partners to assure that essential data and outcomes are published, as required.
• Assist with prioritization, coordination, and completion of external marketing surveys (e.g., US News & World Reports, Best for Vets, KC Business Journal, etc.) and ad hoc data requests for institutional stakeholders.
• Lead an institution-wide data governance strategy, including policy, standardized definitions, data accuracy, use of systems for reliable data, and accessibility of data for analysis and decision making.
• Work closely with data stewards and IT to ensure data integrity and security through policies, standards, and procedures.
• Collaborate with data owners to identify primary sources of institutional data (e.g., LMS, SIS, CRM, etc.).
• Facilitate data collection and reporting for identified academic initiatives supporting student success (e.g., retention, course completion, graduation rates, etc.).
• Recommend changes to data collection, maintenance and use to improve data quality and integrity.
• Conduct advanced analyses to provide insights into trends, student outcomes, and key performance indicators; forecast future trends.
• Inform and maintain a comprehensive plan for data analysis and dissemination.
• Interpret results and make recommendations to serve institutional needs and strategic priorities, inform decisions, and enhance academic and operational functions.
• Utilize data to inform policy development and decision-making at all levels of the institution, and to refine benchmarks for measuring student success/outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate preferred