Senior Director, Institutional Research

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Current WGU employees should submit an internal application before 9/16/2024 to be considered.

Position Overview
The Senior Director, Institutional Research (IR) leads a dynamic team dedicated to providing data-driven insights that guide strategic decision-making across the University. Reporting to the Vice President of Institutional Analytics and Research (IAR), this role is central to managing and disseminating institutional data to enhance student outcomes and achieve key university objectives, particularly in areas such as completion, access, and equity.

The Senior Director is responsible for ensuring the timely and accurate delivery of reports and insights to external agencies, accrediting bodies, and internal stakeholders. This includes overseeing compliance with state and federal reporting requirements and maintaining alignment with accreditation standards. The Director collaborates with university leaders to develop and manage integrated reporting systems and platforms that deliver actionable information, supporting the University's strategic goals and regulatory obligations.

In addition, the Senior Director stays abreast of emerging trends in higher education and data analytics, ensuring that the University's institutional research activities are forward-looking and aligned with best practices in the field. The Director also oversees the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure compliance with research standards, while focusing primarily on advancing the university's mission through impactful data and analytics.

Primary Responsibilities

Leads the design, development, and management of a comprehensive reporting ecosystem, including dashboards, reports, and analytical tools to support equitable student outcomes and advance university objectives.

Oversees the production and distribution of high-impact reports, such as the University annual report, Board of Trustees reports, senior executive summaries, and external communications.

Collaborates closely with the other analytics teams and other university leaders to ensure that reporting systems are aligned with strategic goals and deliver actionable insights.

Directs the management and reporting of critical national datasets, including IPEDs, National Student Clearinghouse, and Collegeboard, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and accuracy in data submissions.

Leads university-wide data-sharing initiatives, fostering collaboration and data integrity across all IR-led projects.

Oversees the preparation and submission of essential institutional reports to state, federal, and accrediting agencies, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to regulatory requirements.

Maintains a deep understanding of evolving compliance standards, guiding the Institutional Research department to consistently meet or exceed these benchmarks.

Supervises and enforces compliance with federal, state, and local laws governing research involving human subjects, ensuring the protection of research participants and the security of sensitive data.

Acts as an IRB Chair and coordinates the IRB Committee. Leads the administration of the university's IRB processes, promoting ethical research practices and ensuring compliance with all regulatory and institutional standards.

Collaborates with the University EdTech department to establish and uphold rigorous data management practices, including data sourcing, compilation, and reporting of institutional metrics.

Ensures the integrity, security, and reliability of institutional data through the implementation of robust ETL processes, data warehousing, and comprehensive documentation strategies.

Manages relationships with external contractors and vendors, ensuring they provide reliable support for maintaining the university's reporting infrastructure.

Provides strategic leadership in managing the university's enterprise reporting platforms, such as Tableau, ThoughtSpot, and Power BI, optimizing their functionality for enhanced insights and decision-making.

Coordinates with external vendors and technical experts to ensure seamless integration and operation of reporting tools, maintaining strong vendor relationships to support ongoing needs.

Leads the design, execution, and management of institutional surveys and focus groups, including course evaluations, alumni surveys, and accreditation-related assessments.

Oversees the deployment and maintenance of software and tools for qualitative data collection, ensuring their effectiveness in capturing meaningful insights.

Serves as a key representative of the University at conferences, professional organizations, and higher education forums, enhancing the university's reputation and influence.

Participates in executive-level meetings, providing data-driven insights and strategic recommendations to support university-wise planning and decision-making.

Collaborates with university leadership to define and articulate the strategic vision for the Institutional Research department, ensuring alignment with the university's long-term goals.

Leads the development and implementation of strategic plans for the department, setting clear objectives and timelines for both short-term and long-term initiatives.

Regularly engages with key stakeholders across the university to identify and address their data needs, ensuring that Institutional Research initiatives are responsive to various departmental objectives.

Partners with the Finance department to set targets for institutional metrics, prepare materials for board meetings, and support financial reporting and analysis.

Facilitates workshops, training sessions, and presentations to promote data literacy and the effective use of institutional research across the university.

Provides visionary leadership and mentorship to the Institutional Research team, fostering a culture of collaboration, professional growth, and high performance.

Leads recruitment and talent management efforts, ensuring the department attracts and retains top talent with a diverse range of skills and perspectives.

Oversees the budgeting and resource allocation for the Institutional Research department, ensuring resources are utilized effectively to achieve strategic objectives.

Identifies and implements cost-saving measures while maintaining the quality of research and reporting activities.

Manages budget-related aspects of external vendor contracts and service agreements, ensuring value for money and alignment with departmental goals.

Stays at the forefront of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in institutional research and data analytics, ensuring that the University's research activities are innovative and aligned with industry standards.

Implements continuous improvement processes, ensuring that data management, reporting, and research practices remain efficient, effective, and relevant.

Monitors and analyzes industry trends, regulatory changes, and advancements in higher education research and data analytics.

Brings external industry insights into the organization, leveraging this knowledge to inform and enhance the University's institutional research practices and strategic initiatives.

Identifies and mitigates risks associated with data management, research activities, and regulatory compliance, ensuring all research adheres to ethical standards and institutional policies.

Addresses compliance issues proactively, ensuring the university's research activities are conducted with the highest standards of integrity and responsibility.

Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Expertise in Institutional Research with in-depth understanding of institutional research methodologies, data analysis, and reporting practices in higher education settings.

Regulatory knowledge specifically with federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing research involving human subjects, as well as accreditation standards and compliance requirements.

Excellent data management skills. Proficiency in data governance, management practices, and tools for sourcing, compiling, and reporting institutional metrics.

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to interpret complex data sets and generate actionable insights for institutional improvement.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly to diverse audiences, including senior leadership, stakeholders, and external agencies.

Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple initiatives simultaneously and meet deadlines.

Strong collaboration skills with the ability to foster effective working relationships across various departments and with external organizations to promote data-informed decision-making.

Education

Master's degree in Social Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Statistics, Business, Higher Education Administration, or a related field with coursework in statistics and research methods.

Experience

10 years of experience in institutional research, data analytics, or a related field, with at least 5 years of experience in a leadership or supervisory role within a higher education environment.

Demonstrated expertise in business intelligence, including experience with reporting tools, data warehousing, and ETL processes. Proficiency in BI platforms such as Tableau, Power BI, or similar is essential. Strong skills in data visualization and analysis tools.

Proven track record of managing external reporting requirements and submissions to accrediting bodies and government agencies (e.g. IPEDS, National Student Clearinghouse).

Experience in budget management and resource allocation for research initiatives and departmental operations.

Preferred Qualifications

Proven track record of at least 5 years of experience in managing and mentoring other managers, demonstrating strong leadership and team-building skills.

Extensive experience in overseeing Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes, ensuring rigorous adherence to ethical research standards and regulatory compliance.

Proven expertise in leading change management initiatives, particularly within data systems or institutional processes.

Demonstrated success in implementing and managing transformational projects, including effectively guiding teams through periods of change and adaptation.

Experience with statistical software.

Experience in lieu of education
An equivalent combination of training, experience, credentials, or accomplishments demonstrating the ability to perform the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements.

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The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Pay Range: $180,800.00 - $325,500.00

WGU will accept applications for this position until 12:00 AM ET, 09/13/2024

How to apply
Apply online.

Full-time Regular Positions

(FT classification, standard working hours = 40)

This is a full-time, regular position that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

The University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

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