Executive Director of Institutional Research and Assessment

at University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont, United States

Job Description

• Lead the development and execution of a strategic institutional research, data, and analytics agenda that provides timely, credible, and actionable insights to support University leadership, advance strategic priorities, and strengthen planning and decision-making;
• Provide institutional leadership, in partnership with Enterprise Technology Services, and other key stakeholders, for data governance, stewardship, architecture, access, privacy and security, records management, and lifecycle practices to ensure secure, accurate, reliable, and accessible data that supports regulatory reporting, contractual obligations, external requirements, and institutional accountability, and lifecycle management practices that ensure data is collected, maintained, used, and retained in ways that are purposeful, efficient, and sustainable and that data is properly destroyed at the end of life in accordance with the University's Records Retention Schedule;
• Advance an enterprise business intelligence and analytics strategy, including institutional metrics, dashboards, and self-service capabilities, while building campus- wide capacity for data-informed decision-making, data literacy, and the responsible and ethical use of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, and lead adoption of these tools and practices across units to ensure consistent and effective use;
• Champion the University's compliance, privacy, information security, acceptable use, and records management programs and principles, modeling responsible data use and guiding others in the ethical, secure, and appropriate use of institutional data;
• Advance assessment strategies and analytics that enable academic and administrative units to interpret and apply evidence of instructional quality, student learning and support, and operational effectiveness;
• Oversee the design and implementation of a strategy for the administration of internal surveys, the development of performance metrics, and the interpretation of benchmark data to support evidence-based institutional planning;
• Lead institutional research, assessment, and analytics efforts that support student success, persistence, retention, and degree completion, providing actionable insights that inform institutional strategy and student-centered decision-making;
• Provide strategic direction and day-to day leadership for research analysts and professional staff who support institution-wide data, analysis, reporting, assessment, and data strategy objectives; establish office priorities, staff assignments, workflow, and budget practices that support departmental and divisional goals; develop approaches to assess productivity, communication, and service effectiveness; and collaborate with directors and vice provosts to ensure alignment of OIRA's work with university priorities; and
• Represent OIRA across the university, participate in national organizations, and contribute institutional data expertise on standing and ad hoc leadership groups, task forces, and University committees.

• A master's degree or higher in data management, computer science, statistics, educational research, higher education, public policy, or a related field;
• At least five years of significant, progressively responsible experience in higher education or a comparably complex organization, including experience supervising employees, building high-performing teams, and leading data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting functions;
• Demonstrated expertise in institutional research, assessment, reporting, and qualitative and quantitative research design and analysis;
• Broad and sophisticated understanding of data strategy, governance, stewardship, architecture, privacy, information security, and analytic methods in a university environment;
• Experience with research software applications (e.g. SAS, SPSS) and integrated higher education management software;
• Advanced skills in statistical analysis and software applications used to extract, integrate, analyze, visualize, and communicate data;
• Demonstrated literacy and efficacy with artificial intelligence, including the capacity to evaluate AI-enabled tools, apply them responsibly to institutional research and assessment functions, and guide others in their ethical and effective use;
• Exceptional ability to translate complex data into clear strategic insights, compelling narratives, and actionable recommendations for a wide range of audiences;
• Knowledge of applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures;
• Intellectual rigor, sound judgment, and a professional reputation that inspires credibility and trust among senior leaders, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively, collegially, and diplomatically in a complex shared-governance environment; and
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

• A letter of interest addressing the strategic objectives and qualifications identified in the profile;
• A current curriculum vitae; and
• The contact information (email and phone) for five professional references, including their relationship to the candidate (References will be contacted at a later date in the search process and only with the permission of the candidate)