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About the Role

The Director of Institutional Research & Data Analytics serves as the university's primary data strategist and analytics expert. This hands-on technical lead and decision-support partner is responsible for extracting, synthesizing, analyzing, and visualizing institutional data to support evidence-based decision-making, enrollment and retention strategy, internal operations, and compliance reporting.

Responsibilities

Serve as the university's primary coordinator and keyholder for all mandatory state and federal reporting, including IPEDS and NYSED.
Lead the completion, validation, and submission of major external guidebook and benchmarking surveys (e.g., U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, College Board, NSSE).
Build and maintain a sustainable institutional census data model using Entrinsik Informer, creating automated snapshot workflows to capture, freeze, and archive point-in-time enrollment and related data.
Design, build, and maintain interactive business intelligence (BI) dashboards and self-service data tools for executive leadership, deans, and department heads using modern visualization tools.
Translate complex quantitative data into clear, compelling narratives, visualizations, and executive summaries to inform university strategy and policy.
Execute ad-hoc analytical queries and specialized research studies in response to emerging institutional priorities and leadership requests.
Conduct longitudinal cohort studies, predictive retention modeling, and student success research to identify drivers of persistent student retention and graduation outcomes.
Partner with individual academic and administrative departments to build program-level retention and outcome models tailored to support specialized program reviews, grant reporting, success initiatives, and localized operational decision-making.
Provide necessary data sets, trend analyses, and benchmarking evidence required for university accreditation (MSCHE) and specialized academic program accreditations.
Supply core performance metrics, KPI tracking, and comparative peer group data to support the University's strategic planning workflows.
Assist academic and administrative departments with survey design, methodology, and statistical analysis for core institutional surveys.
Collaborate with Information Technology (IT) and other stakeholders to ensure data integrity, consistent definitions, and robust data hygiene across enterprise systems.
Contribute to institutional data governance initiatives, establishing standard data definitions, data dictionary documentation, and single-source-of-truth reporting protocols.
Maintain absolute confidentiality and compliance regarding student (FERPA), employee, and proprietary institutional data.

Requirements

Master's degree in a relevant field.
Minimum 4-5 years of progressive experience in institutional research, data analytics, business intelligence, or decision support, preferably in higher education.
Experience in a solo or small-team institutional research environment.
Experience with compliance reporting.
Experience with Entrinsik Informer.
Ability to perform responsibilities in a normal manner that includes sitting for written and other desk-related work.
Tasks include working on PC or laptop computers, calculators, fax machines, cell, smart, or landline telephones, copy machines, and other office technologies where each requires and involves extensive hand and wrist movements.
All individuals are required to be able to perform these movements without significant risk of injury to themselves or others.

Skills

Statistical Analysis: Demonstrated expertise in statistical analysis, modeling, and software tools (e.g., SPSS, R, Python).
Data extraction & Manipulation: Demonstrated expertise in constructing and manipulating large datasets, creating repetitive reporting workflows.
Data visualization: Demonstrated expertise in designing user-friendly dashboards.
Enterprise systems: Experience working with enterprise software (e.g., Ellucian Colleague, Slate, Canvas) and underlying data structures.
Autonomous execution: Proven ability to manage competing priorities and complex projects independently.
Data translation & Storytelling: Ability to communicate technical, statistical, and complex findings clearly to non-technical audiences to facilitate understanding and decision-making.
Collaborative mindset: Strong interpersonal skills to build positive cross-departmental relationships at all levels of the organization.
Accuracy & Discretion: Exceptional attention to detail, commitment to data precision, and a strong track record of maintaining confidentiality.

Experience Level

Minimum 4-5 years of progressive experience

Education Level

Master's degree

Benefits

Low-cost health benefits
403b employer contribution
Affordable tuition at Niagara University for you and eligible immediate family members
Tuition exchange at other designated universities for eligible dependent children
Generous holidays (20 days annually)
PTO
½ day Fridays throughout the summer
Approved employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
Free parking
On-site dining options
Fresh coffee at Tim Horton's and Starbucks

About the Company

Campus life is vibrant and offers free parking, on-site dining options, and fresh coffee at Tim Horton's and Starbucks, all in a beautiful park-like setting.
If you'd like to know more, check out all of the NU Facts.