Executive Director for Institutional Effectiveness

University of Idaho; Moscow (ID); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Idaho seeks an Executive Director for Institutional Effectiveness to lead Institutional Research and Assessment & Accreditation. This role shapes data-driven strategies, governance, and communications to promote evidence-based decision-making across the campus.

The position emphasizes building dashboards, strengthening data literacy, and guiding strategic planning in enrollment, budgeting, and student success while collaborating with diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in data literacy, data democratization, and data-informed decision-making while leading reporting.
• Master’s degree required; Ph.D. preferred in related fields.
• Experience designing quantitative studies and working with qualitative/mixed-methods.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for institutional effectiveness and data-driven decision-making.
• Oversee IR and AA to support evidence-based practices and compliance.
• Develop intuitive dashboards and data-sharing resources with protections.
• Collaborate with faculty and administrators to align data initiatives with priorities.
• Lead cross-unit teams in data governance and strategic communications about data use.
• Advance data-informed planning in enrollment, student success, budgeting, and reporting.
• Design trainings to improve data literacy campus-wide.

Skills

Data literacy

Data democratization

Data-informed decisions

Strategic leadership

Dashboard design

Quantitative research

Qualitative/mixed-methods

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master’s Degree

Ph.D. in statistics / educational measurement / related field

Job description

Overview

The Executive Director for Institutional Effectiveness supervises UI’s Institutional Research (IR) and Assessment and Accreditation (AA) offices and reports to the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President through the Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives (VPAI). A key focus is strengthening collaboration between the IR and AA teams. The Executive Director will assist UI in using evidence-based practices in education, operations, and resource allocation; assess these practices’ impact; and iteratively improve outcomes.

The executive director provides visionary leadership and high-level direction of institutional effectiveness to equip colleagues with data, analyses, and information needed to achieve key institutional goals. Goal areas include strategic enrollment; student success; curricular delivery and efficiency; budgeting; assessment and accreditation; federal, state, and other reporting; and other university priorities. The role involves defining key metrics, developing strategies, gauging progress, and guiding collaborations with a broad range of colleagues such as disciplinary faculty, academic administrators, assessment and accreditation professionals, research support units, and human resources professionals. The position supervises the creation of intuitive, user-friendly interactive dashboards and other resources for sharing data broadly while maintaining requisite protections.

The Executive Director will promote data-informed decision-making by leveraging experience in designing and executing quantitative analyses, contributing to UI’s data governance, implementing data democratization, and working with qualitative and mixed-methods studies. The role includes designing trainings to engage colleagues at all data-literacy levels for using institutional data in decision-making and program improvement. The position will take initiative to solve problems and address institutional challenges, and will contribute to analyses, tools, and approaches needed to achieve university goals in key areas.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for institutional effectiveness, including the development and use of data-driven decision-making and metrics.
• Oversee Institutional Research (IR) and Assessment & Accreditation (AA) to support evidence-based practices and compliance.
• Develop intuitive dashboards and data-sharing resources with appropriate protections.
• Collaborate with faculty, administrators, and support units to align data initiatives with university priorities.
• Lead cross-unit teams in data governance, data literacy, and strategic communications about data use.
• Advance data-informed planning in enrollment, student success, curricular efficiency, budgeting, and reporting.
• Design and implement trainings to improve data literacy across the campus and beyond.

Qualifications

• Required Experience: Three years of experience in creating data literacy, data democratization, and data-informed decision-making; strategic leadership to advance institutional goals; leading efficient routine reporting; developing intuitive, accessible dashboards; designing quantitative studies and using qualitative/mixed-methods; and tailoring communications to diverse stakeholders.
• Required Education: Master’s Degree.
• Required Other: None.
• Additional Preferred: Ph.D. in statistics, educational measurement, assessment, cognitive science, database management, machine learning, or related field; experience collaborating with assessment, accreditation, and research support units; experience building cross-unit teams; data governance policy development and data ethics knowledge; experience engaging faculty, staff, and students to improve data-driven outcomes; experience leading trainings and professional development for data literacy.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

None

Posting Information

• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Employee Category: Exempt
• Pay Range: Commensurate with experience
• Type of Appointment: Fiscal Year
• FTE: 1
• Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
• Funding: Not specified
• Visa sponsorship: Not available
• Posting Date: 07/15/2026
• Open Until Filled: Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

In your letter of qualifications addressing all required and preferred qualifications, please provide details and examples of how your experience aligns with the position. Applications received by July 29, 2026 will receive first consideration.

EEO & Background

The University of Idaho is an equal employment opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Applicants selected as final candidates must be able to pass a criminal background check.

Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. List of References
3. Letter of Qualification

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Resources

Applicant resources: http://www.uidaho.edu/human-resources/careers/applicant-resources

Contact

Ferra Executive Search has been retained to manage the search. For inquiries, email [e-mail]. Please use “Executive Director, Institutional Effectiveness” as the subject line.