Director of Data Services
Georgia College
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Job summary
Georgia College in Milledgeville seeks a Director of Data Services to lead university-wide data governance, quality, and reporting initiatives. This role partners with ERP projects, Institutional Research, and IT to ensure timely, accurate data for decision-making and regulatory compliance.
The position emphasizes building data dictionaries, standard definitions, and secure data access while advancing data-driven planning across the campus.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in data science, information systems, statistics, computer science, business analytics, higher education administration, or related field; OR 5ā10 years of progressive experience in data management, analytics, institutional research, or information governance.
- Advanced qualifications such as CDMP, CIPP, CIPM, CISM, PMP or equivalent governance/security certifications are preferred.
- Higher education domain knowledge is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Lead ERP implementations and major data initiatives across campus.
- Establish policies for data quality, privacy, and security in partnership with Information Security.
- Support data-driven decision making through standardized data access and reporting tools.
- Develop and maintain a data dictionary, definitions, and data standards for enterprise systems.
- Coordinate data governance activities and training for campus stakeholders.
- Oversee data quality checks, audits, and dashboards to support institutional priorities.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Job ID: 304582
Location: Georgia College & State Univ
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is the state'sdesignated public liberal arts university, where students learn theessential skills to compete in a fast-paced and technology-drivenglobal society. The university prepares students for successfulcareers, leadership in communities, problem solving and life-longlearning through personalized attention in a residential settingwith opportunities for a variety of transformational experiencesthrough its award-winning, high-impact practices. One of only threeselective universities within the University System of Georgia and a top 10 ranked public university in the Southeast, GCSU offersundergraduate degrees in more than 40 majors, more than 30 graduateprograms, doctorates in education and nursing, professionalcertificates, and continuing education programs.
As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal ArtsColleges (COPLAC), GCSU is committed to fostering a liberal artsenvironment that values academic preeminence, interdisciplinaryinquiry and an inclusive learning community. GCSU enjoys a strongreputation for academic excellence and nationally ranked programsaccording to US News & World Report, The Princeton Review andColleges of Distinction - among other ranking sources. Georgia College & State University takes great pride incombining the educational experience of a private liberal artscollege with the affordability of a public university. Faculty andstaff are dedicated to student engagement and experiential learningthrough high-impact practices such as internships, service- andcommunity-based learning, leadership development, study abroadopportunities, mentored undergraduate research and a capstoneproject that fosters intellectual curiosity, reasoned inquiry andcritical thinking.
The university's beautiful and historic campus is located downtownin Milledgeville, Georgia, a charming college town of approximately19,000 residents in Central Georgia, and only 90 miles southeast ofAtlanta. Milledgeville is also the home of noted American authorand alumna, Flannery O'Connor, '45, and the college communityenjoys many exciting literary arts programs at O'Connor's formerhome, Andalusia, a National Historic Landmark owned by theuniversity. Milledgeville is located on the banks of beautiful LakeSinclair and Lake Oconee, allowing faculty, staff and students totake full advantage of the environmental and recreational benefitsof being part of a lake community. For cultural, educational andleisure opportunities beyond Milledgeville - Macon and Atlanta arelocated within easy driving distances.
Georgia College & State University is dedicated to protectingacademic freedom in addition to supporting freedom of expression asoutlined in the University System of Georgia's Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom policy andits Ethics Code of Conduct. For more information,visit us online at gcsu.edu.
The Director of Data Services reports to the Chief InformationOfficer (CIO) and provides leadership in governing university dataand information assets to ensure the availability of datasufficient for fulfilling operational needs and for decision-makingthat supports the mission, goals, and strategic priorities ofGeorgia College & State University (GCSU). This position servesas a key coordinator in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)implementations and other major initiatives. In partnership withInstitutional Research, data custodians, and other units acrosscampus, this position supports data integrity and security effortswhich facilitate operational efficiencies, improve decision-making,and enhance reporting. Working with senior university officials,the Director of Data Services promotes the value of data as ashared institutional asset, advocates for the appropriateinvestment of resources, and directs processes that improve thequality,integrity, and availability of data.
- Serve as institutional co-lead for Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP) implementations and other major initiatives.
- Provide leadership for projects involving the retooling of coreoperational processes and having impact on institutional datastores.
- Enforce existing policies and, when needed, establish newpolicies to align the institution with applicable regulations andreporting requirements.
- Partner with GCSU's Information Security officers to establishmechanisms ensuring data privacy and security.
- Establish processes to ensure institutional data is accurate,consistent, accessible, and available in a timely manner.
- Work with Institutional Research to determine and support astandard set of data access and reporting tools.
- Coordinate regular data quality checks and process audits toensure compliance and ongoing suitability of operating processesand controls.
- As needed, help fulfill requests for dashboards, reports,analytical tools, and forecasting models.
- Champion the integration of data sources and develop increasedaccess to data to advance the mission of the University.
- Work with Institutional Research to guide implementation of aninstitutional strategic plan for data collection, use, andaccess.
- Champion digital transformation initiatives to achieve workflowefficiencies, improve data quality, and enhance clientexperience.
- Facilitate data analysis as a strategic partner forleadership.
- Provide high-level project and portfolio management support forInformation Technology initiatives.
- Formalize and publish definitions of key terms, metrics, and keyperformance indicators (KPIs).
- Develop clear, non-technical definitions for all stored dataelements, including sample queries and examples of appropriateuse.
- Facilitate creation and maintenance of data standards, includingdata definitions, dictionaries, and classification procedures forenterprise information systems.
- Ensure documentation of functional data quality andintegrity requirements, making these available to appropriate endusers.
- Establish guiding principles for institutional datagovernance.
- Define the qualifications, responsibilities, and obligations ofthe various data governance roles.
- Develop operating standards and structured protocols for thecollection, validation, protection, storage, use, and disseminationof institutional data.
- Educate the campus community on privacy, security, and theethical use of data.
- Coordinate training for users of data management, access, andreporting tools.
- Other duties as assigned.
Bachelor's degree in data science, information systems, statistics,computer science, business analytics, business administration,higher education administration, or a related field; OR 5-10 yearsof progressive experience in data management, analytics,institutional research, or information governance.
- Relevant credentials such as Certified Data ManagementProfessional (CDMP), CIPP, CIPM, CISM, PMP, or equivalentgovernance/security/project management certifications.
- Higher education domain knowledge.
- Master's degree or higher in data science, information systems,statistics, computer science, business analytics, businessadministration, higher education administration, or a relatedfield.
- Experience promoting data-driven decision-making in research,teaching, outreach, and operational contexts.
- Experience with advanced analytics techniques such as predictivemodelling and data mining.
- Experience with artificial intelligence and machine learningapplications in data analytics.
- Proven leadership in large-scale projects such as ERPimplementations and data governance portfolios, with strongmilestone and risk management skills.
This position is a pay grade 11. The available salary range is$68,519 to $90,000. Starting salary within this range is based onrelevant years of experience.
For more information about GCSU compensation practices, click here: https://www.gcsu.edu/humanresources/pay-grade-structure
- Familiarity with reporting and analytics methods such as KPIdesign, dashboarding best practices, and statistical or forecastingconcepts supporting institutional planning.
- Familiarity with data quality practices such as profiling,validation rules, reconciliation processes, and use of metrics foraccuracy, timeliness, and consistency.
- Hands-on technical experience with Power BI, Tableau, moderncloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, BigQuery, Azure Synapse), orenterprise ETL tools.
- Demonstrated ethical standards, professionalism, andservice-oriented interpersonal skills.
- Strong problem-solving and customer service skills.
- Strong judgment in prioritizing work, balancing stakeholderinterests, and adapting to shifting demands.
- Understanding of data governance and stewardship models,including metadata management, master data management, datalineage, and stewardship roles.
- Familiarity with data warehousing concepts, data lake, ETL/ELTpatterns, data catalogs, and integration of disparate sourcesystems.
- Knowledge of legal and privacy frameworks relevant to student andemployee data, including FERPA, HIPAA, and applicable state andfederal regulations.
- Understanding of role-based access controls and dataclassification models.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with theability to translate technical concepts for all audiences.
- Ability to guide evaluation and selection of BI platforms,integration tools, cloud platforms, and analytics toolchains.
- Ability to build consensus, secure executive sponsorship, andtranslate technical concepts into actionable institutionalpriorities.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective workingrelationships, particularly with partners in Information Securityand Institutional Research.
- Capacity to lead through organizational change, shiftingpriorities, and evolving regulatory requirements with resilienceand agility.
- Advocacy for data as a shared institutional asset and forembedding evidence-based decision-making across units.
- Skill in implementing durable quality controls to ensureaccurate, consistent, and timely enterprise data.
- Proficiency in operationalizing secure, role-based data accesswhile enabling analytical needs for academic and administrativestakeholders.
- Ability to produce concise dashboards, narratives, andrecommendations that influence policy and operationaldecisions.
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25institutions of higher education and learning as well as the SystemOffice. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence,Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundationfor all that we do as an organization, and each USG communitymember is responsible for demonstrating and upholding thesestandards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values andCode of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 andcan be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in BoardPolicy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-lineat https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamentalvalues of the University System of Georgia (USG). The Board ofRegents prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual'sage, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race,religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). Noindividual shall be excluded from the participation in, denied thebenefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination,harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activity because of the individual's protected status; nor shall anyindividual be given preferential treatment because of theindividual's protected status, except that preferential treatmentmay be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate underfederal or state law.
This is not a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position may be required to drive.
This role is not considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position will not travel.
This position does not require security clearance.
This position may travel 1%-24% of the time.
- Criminal Background Check
- Education Verification
- Motor Vehicle Report
To apply, visit https://careers.hprod.onehcm.usg.edu/psp/careers/CAREERS/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=36000&JobOpeningId=304582&PostingSeq=1
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