Director of Institutional Research

University of the People; United States; Remote; USD 36,000 - 36,950; Part time

Job summary

An online educational institution is seeking a part-time Director of Institutional Research to manage and oversee institutional research, data analysis, and compliance reporting. The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree, 5-7 years of experience in higher education research, and proficiency with statistical tools. This role involves collaboration with academic leadership and requires excellent analytical and communication skills. This position is fully remote and requires 20 hours of work per week.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in institutional research or data analytics.
• Experience with accreditation processes and compliance reporting.
• Track record in managing large-scale data projects.

Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze data to inform decision-making.
• Collaborate with leadership on strategic planning.
• Ensure compliance with external reporting.

Skills

Statistical tools proficiency (SPSS, SAS, R, or Python)

Data visualization platforms (e.g., Power BI)

Analytical and organizational skills

Project management skills

Strong communication abilities

Education

Master’s degree in relevant field

Tools

SPSS

SAS

R

Python

Power BI

Job description

Overview

The Director of Institutional Research plays a critical role in supporting the University's mission of providing accessible, affordable, high-quality education by overseeing institutional research, analysis, and external data reporting to required higher education organizations such as accreditors and iPEDs. Reporting directly to the Provost, the Director will ensure compliance with external reporting and will contribute to institutional effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Institutional Research and Reporting: Collect, analyze, and interpret institutional data to inform decision-making, improve outcomes, and meet reporting obligations. Ensure accurate and timely submissions of institutional data for accreditation, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Strategic Planning and Assessment: Collaborate with leadership to identify and prioritize academic research needs and align them with the University’s strategic goals. Provide data and analysis to support program reviews, strategic initiatives, and institutional planning processes. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of academic affairs strategies using KPIs.
• Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with academic and administrative units to identify data needs and ensure access to relevant information. Foster a culture of data-informed decision-making across the institution.
• Data Governance: Work with the VP for Strategy and Planning on data governance as needed. Serve as the data steward for data related to academic affairs. Contribute to the University Data Definition Glossary on behalf of Academic Affairs. Ensure dashboards for academic affairs are effective.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., education, statistics, data science, social sciences, or related discipline).
• Experience: At least 5-7 years of experience in institutional research, data analytics, or a related field within higher education. Demonstrated experience with accreditation processes and compliance reporting. Proven track record in managing large-scale data projects, conducting research, and providing actionable insights.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with statistical tools (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R, or Python) and data visualization platforms (e.g., Power BI).
• Advanced knowledge of databases, data warehousing, and reporting tools.

Soft Skills

• Excellent analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities, with the capacity to convey complex data in accessible formats.
• Ability to work collaboratively across a complex organization is a must.

Employment details

• Seniority level: Director
• Employment type: Part-time
• Relationship: This is a 1/2 time FTE, requiring 20 hours of work per week
• Department: Academic Affairs
• Location: US Remote
• Job function: Education, Research, and Management
• Industries: E-Learning Providers and Higher Education

Compensation

Base pay range: $36,000.00/yr - $36,950.00/yr