Director of Research & Planning

City Colleges of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 93,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

City Colleges of Chicago seeks a Director of Research & Planning to lead institutional research, data analytics and strategic planning. You will support college-wide decision-making, develop dashboards and benchmarks, and collaborate with departments to meet accreditation and reporting requirements.

Candidates should have advanced education-focused research experience, strong writing skills, and familiarity with SAS/SQL data analysis.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Education or the Social/Behavioral Sciences or related field
• Ph.D. in relevant field preferred
• 3–5 years of experience in institutional research or quantitative and qualitative methods
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; SPSS or similar databases required
• Experience with higher education accreditation processes desirable
• Experience with SAS desirable
• Experience in assessment of student learning outcomes desirable
• Familiarity with Access and SQL data query skills is a plus

Responsibilities

• Provide research and analytic support to college leadership and administrators with timely data, analysis, and interpretation
• Coordinate and conduct institutional research to inform planning, policy, and decision-making
• Compile and present data for program evaluation, student outcomes, enrollment management, and resource allocation
• Develop benchmarks, dashboards, scorecards, and other performance metrics
• Prepare reports for ICCB, US ED, NCES and other agencies, ensuring compliance
• Collaborate with IT and Decision Support to extract data from data warehouses and PeopleSoft
• Design surveys and data collection tools and analyze results for reporting
• Support accreditation self-studies and site visits with data artifacts and evidence

Skills

Data analytics

Statistical analysis

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Master’s degree in Education

Ph.D. preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

SPSS

SQL data query

Job description

DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & PLANNING

HAROLD WASHINGTON COLLEGE

CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Vice President, the Director, Research andPlanning supports the planning and implementation of the strategicinitiatives established by the college. Responsible forcoordinating and conducting institutional research functions toprovide information that supports institutional planning, policyformulation and decision making at the college.

The Director, Research and Planning provides data support for theCollege’s Academic, Student Support, and Administrative Units,exercising and demonstrating expertise and skills specific toeducation research, data analytics, and technical writing. Workingextensively and in close collaboration with departments, theDirector, Research and Planning executes projects and initiativesin accordance with the needs of the college, includingaccreditation and reporting requirements.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Provides research and analytic support to college leadership(President, Vice President), administrators, staff, and facultywith timely and relevant research, data analysis, datainterpretation, and information to support the college’sstrategies, and to increase and improve institutional effectivenessand performance.
• Conducts and oversees staff conducting qualitative researchstudies and data analyses to provide the college community withaccurate and relevant data and information that supports thecollege’s strategic planning, policy formulation anddecision-making.
• Participates and collaborates with college administrators incompiling, analyzing and presenting institutional data to supportassessment and decision- making in various areas including programevaluation, student learning/program outcomes, student services,enrollment management, resource allocation, and staffing.
• Works collaboratively with college administrators inestablishing benchmarks, key performance indicators, score cards,dashboards, and other metrics and performance measures.
• Provides statistical data and prepares reports to comply withreporting requirements from State agencies (i.e. Illinois CommunityCollege Board/ICCB) as well as federal agencies (i.e. U.S.Department of Education, National Center for EducationStatistics/NCES).
• Creates and manages systems to support requests for dataresearch and analysis and works with IT and the Office of DecisionSupport to identify, extract and report data from appropriate datasystems (Data Warehouse, PeopleSoft).
• Defines an analytical agenda for the college to supportdata-driven performance dialogs, a timely response to requests insupport of decision-making and full compliance with externalrequirements.
• Coordinates the compilation of data, evidence and artifactsfrom multiple sources (data systems, surveys, reports) for use inthe college’s regional and specialized accreditation self-studiesand site visits.
• Designs and administers surveys (i.e. student and classroomsurveys) and other data collection instruments; collects andanalyzes data; and prepares narrative and statistical reports.
• Responds to requests for data to support specific needs offaculty and college and district level administrators. Maintainsstatistical and other data for use in the preparation of reportsand graphic presentations.
• Analyzes complex data sets using quantitative and qualitativeanalyses and statistical techniques. Uses statistical software suchas SAS in performing data analysis.
• Consults with faculty and academic administrators in the designand maintenance of an integrated assessment system to evaluatemeasurable student learning outcomes at the course, program, andinstitutional/college level.
• Works with college leadership in developing guidelines relatedto program evaluation, program review, learning objectives,outcomes assessment and institutional effectiveness.
• Provides guidance to key stakeholders in the program assessmentprocess, assisting in identifying assessment instruments,completing qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and usingassessment results for the continuous improvement of academicquality.
• Develops and presents workshops and training on the use andapplication of information technology systems and tools (i.e. OpenBook), guiding college administrators and faculty on the processesfor accessing data and information about the institution.
• Works with the Office of Decision Support to design andimplement methods relevant to data collection and analysis, datamanagement, and reporting and use of assessment results.
• Reviews academic and operational initiatives for alignment withthe district’s strategic plan and provides direct feedback to theCollege President and Vice President.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training and Experience

• A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university inEducation or the Social or Behavioral Sciences (Sociology,Psychology, Economics), or a related field of study
• Completion of Ph.D. in relevant field preferred
• Three to five years of experience in institutional research orrelevant research experience in quantitative and qualitativeresearch methods, research design and methodology, andstatistics
• A combination of education and experience may be taken intoconsideration based on the applicant’s credentials provided theminimum degree requirement is met.
• High level of proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office (Word,Excel, PowerPoint)
  required; experience with SPSS or other relational databases
• Experience with higher education accreditation processes highlydesirable
• Experience with statistical analysis software such as SAShighly desirable
• Experience in the assessment of student learning outcomesdesirable
• Experience in the development of performance metrics andcontinuous improvement systems and tools desirable
• Familiarity with Access and SQL data query skills a plus
• The following generally describes the Knowledge, Skills andAbilities required to enter the job and/or be learned within ashort period of time to successfully perform the assignedduties

Knowledge, Skills and Ability

• Knowledge of best practices used for community college metricsand data informed decision-making
• Knowledge and familiarity with federal and private data sourcesand statistical databases
• Knowledge of research, assessment and planning activities in ahigher education environment
• Knowledge of critical issues in higher education andunderstanding of education performance data
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communicationskills
• Strong research and grant writing skills including writingproposal
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong data management skills
• Skill in the application and use of appropriate statisticalanalysis
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effectiveworking relationships
• Ability to clearly communicate the analysis and interpretationof data and research findings to a non-technical audience
• Ability to work within a culturally diverse environment

Working Conditions

• General Office environment
• Some travel to colleges within District 508
• Must be able to work evenings and weekends as necessary

Worker Characteristics

• Leadership – Demonstrate willingness to lead, take charge, andoffer opinions and direction
• Attention to Detail – Requires being careful about detail andthorough in completing work tasks
• Initiative – Demonstrates willingness to take onresponsibilities and job challenges
• Dependability – Demonstrates reliability, responsibility, anddependability and fulfill obligations.
• Analytical Thinking – Analyzes information and use logic toaddress work issues
• Technologically Informed – Capable user of technology whounderstands the role of technology in the institution and who willguide and support its efficient and effective use

Approved by Compensation Design and Strategy Date: November,2018

Salary Range: $92,866- $95,000/yr.

Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education,knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as other factors such asinternal equity.

Benefits information is found at https://www.ccc.edu/departments/Benefits/