Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness

Rockland Community College; Village of Suffern (NY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Rockland Community College is seeking a Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness who will provide strategic leadership for the College's planning and institutional effectiveness initiatives. This role involves overseeing college-wide assessment efforts and ensuring alignment with accreditation standards.

The ideal candidate will have a master's degree, at least five years of administrative experience in higher education, and proficiency in data analysis tools. A starting salary of $95,000 - $105,000 is offered.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or relevant certification in appropriate field is required.
• 5+ years of experience in higher education with institutional research or strategic planning.
• Proficient in data analysis and information systems relevant to institutional research.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning processes and implementation of the College's Strategic Plan.
• Oversee assessment processes for continuous improvement and guide units in decision-making.
• Direct the institutional research function to produce key reports and dashboards.

Skills

Data analysis

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Master's degree or relevant certification

Tools

Excel

SPSS

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

Position Summary

The Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness provides strategic leadership for the College's planning and institutional effectiveness initiatives. This position leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of the College's Strategic Plan and ensures alignment with other institutional plans. The Director oversees college-wide assessment and continuous improvement efforts, ensuring that strategic goals are supported by robust data and evidence-based decision-making. As the head of the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, the Director supervises the Coordinator of Institutional Research and Effectiveness. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, this position serves as a key advisor on institutional planning and effectiveness, ensuring the College meets accreditation standards and compliance requirements through effective planning and data governance.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning Leadership: Lead college-wide strategic planning processes and the ongoing implementation of the Strategic Plan. Facilitate regular review and updates of strategic priorities, establish key performance indicators, and coordinate reporting on progress towards goals. Ensure all major planning documents and initiatives (division plans, unit plans) are aligned with the Strategic Plan to drive institutional improvement.
• Institutional Effectiveness & Assessment: Champion a comprehensive institutional effectiveness program that integrates planning, assessment, and resource allocation. Oversee academic and administrative outcomes assessment processes (in collaboration with relevant committees) to ensure continuous improvement; review assessment results and guide units in using findings for decision-making and planning.
• Data Governance & Compliance Oversight: Oversee data governance policies and practices to maintain data quality and integrity for institutional reporting. Ensure compliance with all mandatory federal, state, and SUNY reporting requirements and accreditation data submissions. Serve as the accountable officer for IPEDS and other mandated reports, verifying accuracy and timely submissions (with data preparation support from staff).
• Institutional Research & Reporting Oversight: Direct the institutional research function of the College, providing guidance on data collection, analysis, and publication of key reports and dashboards. Oversee the development of institutional research publications (e.g., Fact Book, enrollment dashboards, survey analyses) and ensure information is disseminated effectively to campus stakeholders. Validate that data analyses and reports produced are accurate, meaningful, and actionable for planning and policy decisions.
• Survey & Research Initiatives: Oversee major institutional surveys and research projects that inform college planning and effectiveness. Provide support or consultation on survey design, implementation, and analysis of results to ensure high-quality data for institutional improvement efforts. Use findings from surveys and environmental scans to advise leadership on emerging issues and opportunities.
• Collaboration & Communication: Work collaboratively with departments across the College to promote a culture of evidence-based planning and decision-making. Act as a liaison to faculty, staff, and administrators for planning and assessment needs, ensuring stakeholders are engaged in institutional effectiveness initiatives. Regularly communicate progress on strategic initiatives and assessment results to senior leadership and the campus community.
• Supervision & Office Leadership: Provide direction, guidance, and performance supervision to the Coordinator of Institutional Research and Effectiveness. Set priorities and manage workflow within the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness to ensure timely completion of projects and reports. Develop team members' professional skills and promote a collaborative, high-performance work environment.
• Professional Development & Best Practices: Keep abreast of emerging trends and best practices in strategic planning, institutional research, and higher education assessment. Identify opportunities to incorporate innovative approaches (such as new analytics tools or planning methodologies) that enhance the College's institutional effectiveness. Provide training or resources to build data literacy and assessment capacity among faculty and staff as part of nurturing a data-informed organizational culture.
• Additional Duties: Serve as the RCC liaison with SUNY Institutional Research and represent the Office on committees or at meetings related to planning, accreditation, or institutional effectiveness initiatives as required.
• Other Responsibilities: Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission and continuous improvement of the College.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Minimum of master's degree, or relevant certification/professional credential in appropriate field.
• Experience: At least five (5) years of progressive administrative experience in higher education, preferably involving institutional research, strategic planning, assessment, or a closely related area. Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating strategic planning or institutional effectiveness initiatives is highly desirable.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in data analysis and information systems relevant to institutional research and planning. Familiarity with student information systems (e.g., Banner), relational databases, and analytical software/tools (such as Excel, SPSS or SAS, and data visualization platforms) to oversee data-driven projects. Experience with survey tools and business intelligence software (e.g., Tableau or Power BI) is a plus.
• Skills and Competencies: Excellent analytical and critical-thinking abilities, with proven skill in interpreting data and translating it into actionable insights. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to effectively present data findings and train others in understanding data. Strong organizational and project management skills to handle multiple priorities and deadlines. Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with all levels of college personnel.
• Other Requirements: Demonstrated commitment to ethical handling of sensitive data and confidentiality. Knowledge of higher education accreditation standards and best practices in institutional planning and assessment. A strong commitment to Rockland Community College's mission, with a focus on student success and continuous institutional improvement.

Starting Salary: $95,000 - $105,000

Rockland Community College is an equal opportunity employer. Our mission demonstrates a strong public commitment to a diverse and inclusive campus community.