Director of Assessment & Continuous Improveme

Gwynedd Mercy University; Gwynedd Valley (PA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Gwynedd Mercy University seeks a visionary Director of Assessment and Continuous Improvement. You will lead university-wide assessment initiatives, oversee human-subjects research compliance, and support accreditation efforts.

This role partners with faculty, staff, and administrators to turn data into improvement actions and strategic decisions. You will design and deliver development opportunities, drive culture of evidence-informed planning, and ensure alignment with Mercy values and

Qualifications

• Master's degree required; doctorate preferred for senior leadership.
• Significant experience in higher education assessment, accreditation, and institutional research.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and communicate data to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and lead academic assessment activities across institutional levels.
• Provide oversight for IRB and human-subjects research compliance.
• Collaborate with deans, chairs, and administrators to use assessment data for improvement.
• Support accreditation efforts and ensure compliance with MSCHE and other bodies.
• Develop workshops and training to strengthen assessment literacy and impact.

Skills

Assessment leadership

Higher education experience

Data analysis

Stakeholder collaboration

Project management

Education

Master's degree

Doctorate preferred

Tools

IRB processes

Assessment software

Survey tools

Job description

Gwynedd Mercy University, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, is a comprehensive Catholic university committed to preparing students for meaningful careers, compassionate service, and lives of purpose. Rooted in the Mercy tradition, the University values intellectual inquiry, ethical leadership, respect for the dignity of all persons, and a commitment to the common good.

Since its founding in 1948 by the Sisters of Mercy, Gwynedd Mercy University has grown from a small junior college with just 48 students to a nationally ranked private Catholic university with more than 25,000 alumni. The University serves about 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds, and offers a mix of traditional, on-campus and fully online, accelerated options across more than 80 programs within the College of Arts, Sciences and Professional Studies and the Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions.

GMercyU is a place where students not only gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their careers but also become part of a mission-driven community that embodies its core values of integrity, respect, service, and social justice. Located on a 145-acre parklike campus just 30 minutes outside Philadelphia, GMercyU is large enough to provide rich academic, athletic, and real-world learning experiences of a larger university, but small enough that professors know each student by name. It’s why the University was named an Opportunity University by the Carnegie Foundation and recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a top performer on Social Mobility; ranked as a Best Value College by Niche; selected for the FirstGen Forward Network; and is a multi-year Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award winner.

In recent years the University has embarked on multiple campus transformation projects, including the opening of the 63,000 square-foot Frances M. Maguire ’55 Healthcare Innovation Center, addition of a new Crime Scene House, complete renovation of its oldest residence hall, addition of a newly renovated baseball and softball field complex, a new outdoor gathering space for students, and new dining facilities, to name a few.

GMercyU’s Mercy in Motion comprehensive fundraising campaign, which exceeded its initial goal of $25 million nearly by more than $10 million, focused on further enhancing the University’s nationally recognized leadership in healthcare education, investing in student success through additional scholarship funding, and sustaining the University’s Mercy mission.

GMercyU seeks a visionary, collaborative, and entrepreneurial academic leader to serve as Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Professional Studies (CASPS). This is an opportunity to lead a college that serves as the foundation of a Gwynedd Mercy University education and to enhance its prominence, impact, and reputation.

STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY

Reporting directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Director of Assessment and Continuous Improvement provides institutional leadership for assessment, outcomes evaluation, research compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives across Gwynedd Mercy University. The Director serves as the University's principal resource for assessment and institutional outcomes, partnering with faculty, academic leaders, staff, and administrators to advance a culture of evidence-informed planning and decision-making.

The Director oversees processes that support the assessment of student learning outcomes at the institutional, program, and course levels; leads the University's Institutional Outcomes Assessment Committee (IOAC); provides leadership for the Institutional Review Board (IRB); and supports institutional accreditation, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning efforts. The Director works collaboratively across all areas of the University to ensure the meaningful use of assessment data to improve student learning, institutional effectiveness, and organizational performance.

KEY LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES

• Advance a university-wide culture of assessment, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure institutional assessment practices align with the University's mission, strategic priorities, accreditation expectations, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead and strengthen the work of the Institutional Outcomes Assessment Committee (IOAC).
• Provide institutional leadership and oversight for the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and human-subjects research compliance as directed by the Provost.
• Partner with academic and administrative units to use assessment data to improve programs, services, and student outcomes.
• Support institutional and specialized accreditation efforts through effective assessment processes and documentation.
• Promote the effective collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of assessment and outcomes data.
• Foster collaboration among faculty, staff, administrators, and governing bodies in support of institutional effectiveness.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director serves as a visible institutional leader and trusted partner across the University and has primary responsibility for:

• Coordinating and providing leadership for all academic assessment activities, including assessment of institutional, program, and course-level student learning outcomes.
• Supporting assessment and continuous improvement initiatives in co-curricular, student support, and administrative units.
• Chairing and providing strategic leadership for the Institutional Outcomes Assessment Committee (IOAC) and serving as the primary liaison between the committee, academic leadership, and University administration.
• Directing the activities of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), ensuring compliance with federal regulations, ethical standards, and institutional policies governing research involving human subjects.
• Ensuring assessment policies, procedures, reporting processes, and documentation meet the expectations of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), NC-SARA, specialized accrediting bodies, and other regulatory agencies.
• Collaborating with academic deans, department chairs, program directors, Institutional Research, Student Affairs, and other campus leaders to support assessment, planning, and effectiveness initiatives.
• Overseeing the University's course evaluation system and related reporting processes.
• Reviewing and enhancing institutional assessment policies and practices to ensure alignment with emerging best practices and accreditation standards.
• Supporting institutional research, survey administration, outcomes reporting, and data-informed planning efforts.
• Developing and facilitating workshops, presentations, and professional development opportunities that strengthen assessment literacy and effectiveness across the University.
• Supporting academic programs and administrative units in interpreting assessment findings and implementing improvement plans.
• Supporting institutional and program-level accreditation activities through assessment planning, implementation, analysis, and reporting.
• Maintaining a highly visible and engaged presence across campus to support consultation, collaboration, committee leadership, and institutional effectiveness initiatives.
• Performing other duties as assigned by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT EXPECTATION

This position is a primarily on-campus leadership role. Success in the position depends upon regular face-to-face engagement with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and institutional committees. The Director is expected to maintain a substantial campus presence and actively participate in the collaborative work of the University community.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree from an accredited institution; earned doctorate preferred.
• Significant experience in higher education assessment, institutional effectiveness, accreditation, institutional research, or a closely related area.
• Demonstrated knowledge of assessment of student learning outcomes and continuous improvement processes at the institutional, program, and course levels.
• Understanding of accreditation standards and expectations, including those of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and other specialized accrediting bodies.
• Demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and communicate assessment and institutional data to diverse audiences.
• Experience leading committees, collaborative initiatives, or institution-wide projects requiring consensus building and relationship management.
• Strong organizational, analytical, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and administrators across diverse disciplines and functional areas.
• Commitment to the Mercy Catholic mission, values, and student-centered educational philosophy of Gwynedd Mercy University.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned doctorate from an accredited institution.
• Experience serving in a leadership role related to assessment, institutional effectiveness, accreditation, institutional research, or academic affairs.
• Experience supporting successful accreditation reaffirmation or compliance efforts.
• Knowledge of Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes, human-subjects research regulations, and research compliance requirements.
• Experience working with assessment management, survey, and reporting systems in higher education.
• Demonstrated success fostering a culture of continuous improvement and evidence-based decision making across an organization.
• Experience providing consultation, training, or professional development related to assessment, institutional effectiveness, or accreditation.
• Proficiency in a language other than English