Institutional Research Analyst

Aurora University; Aurora (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora University is seeking an Institutional Research Analyst to support accreditation, reporting, planning, and decision-making through data analytics. The role performs advanced quantitative analyses, automates reporting, and translates findings for leadership and campus partners.

Responsibilities include developing dashboards, maintaining data pipelines, and producing external reports while ensuring data governance and FERPA compliance across university systems.

Qualifications

• Advanced ability to query, combine, validate, analyze, and interpret data using SQL and analytics tools.
• Experience developing clear reports and dashboards with Power BI or Tableau.
• Strong knowledge of quantitative methods, statistics, and data-quality practices.
• Ability to translate business questions into analytical specifications and document logic.
• Manage recurring compliance work and multiple analytical projects with deadlines.
• Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication for nontechnical audiences.
• Strong consultation, collaboration, organization, and documentation skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel; working knowledge of Word and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work independently and escalate issues when needed.

Responsibilities

• Collect, validate, analyze, and report institutional data to support planning and accountability.
• Lead complex analyses related to enrollment, student outcomes, and priorities; communicate findings.
• Coordinate external reports (IPEDS, CDS, NCAA) and maintain requirement calendars.
• Monitor reporting changes and update data definitions and processes.
• Develop, test, and improve reproducible data processes, models, and dashboards.
• Assist in data warehouse development and reporting workflows.
• Perform data quality assurance and reconcile data sources with stakeholders.
• Translate data into executive summaries and presentations for leadership.
• Consult with university offices to define measures and methods.
• Contribute to institutional research studies and strategic planning initiatives.
• Maintain documentation of data definitions, logic, and report specs.
• Support data literacy and provide training to colleagues.

Skills

SQL analytics

Reports and dashboards

Quantitative methods

Data structures and transformation

Project management

Technical communication

Documentation skills

Excel proficiency

Independent work ability

Education

Bachelor’s degree with quantitative emphasis

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

SQL

R

Python

SAS

SPSS

Job description

Position Purpose:

The Institutional Research Analyst will support InstitutionalEffectiveness and Decision Support’s core purpose by providing datasupport and analytical functions for university-wide accreditation,compliance, reporting, planning, and decision-making. The analystperforms advanced quantitative analyses, develops and automatesrepeatable reporting processes, contributes to data warehouse andanalytics solutions, and translates complex findings into clear,actionable insights for university leaders and campuspartners.

Core Competencies:

1. Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner withprospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers andthe community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse groupof faculty, staff, students and other customers of our service,learns and uses operating practices of the department and AuroraUniversity.


2. Upholds the Mission Statement: Aurora University is aninclusive community dedicated to the transformative power oflearning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourageundergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes tobuild meaningful and examined lives. Our singular goal is toempower our students to achieve lasting personal and professionalsuccess.


3. Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizesthe confidential nature of university business.


4. Supports learning through performance of essential jobfunctions and performing other duties and functions as necessary oras assigned, including voluntary participation in universitycommittees, activities and events.

Essential Job Functions:

• Collect, validate, maintain, analyze, and report institutionaldata from enterprise systems and external sources to supportuniversity-wide planning, decision-making, assessment, andaccountability.


• Lead or independently complete complex recurring and ad hocanalyses related to enrollment, retention, persistence, completion,student outcomes, academic programs, and other institutionalpriorities; interpret results and communicate actionable findingsto varied audiences.


• Coordinate and prepare assigned federal, state, accreditation,association, and other external reports, including IPEDS, theCommon Data Set, NCAA reporting, and related compliancesubmissions; maintain a calendar of requirements, definitions,documentation, and changes.


• Monitor changes to reporting requirements and data definitions,assess institutional impact, and partner with the Senior Directorand relevant stakeholders to implement timely updates.


• Develop, document, test, and improve reproducible dataprocesses, queries, data models, dashboards, and reports using SQL,visualization tools, and other analytics technologies.


• Assist in developing, updating, and automating data warehousesolutions and reporting workflows, including source-to-targetlogic, business rules, validation procedures, and scheduledoutputs.


• Perform advanced data quality assurance by reconciling sources,investigating anomalies, validating calculations, documentingfindings, and coordinating issue resolution with data owners andtechnical partners.


• Translate complex data into accessible reports, visualizations,executive summaries, and presentations that clearly communicatetrends, implications, limitations, and recommended next steps.


• Consult with university offices to clarify analyticalquestions, define measures, select appropriate methods, and ensurethat results are interpreted and used responsibly.


• Contribute to institutional research studies, survey analyses,accreditation evidence, program review, strategic planning, keyperformance indicators, and evaluation of institutionalinitiatives.


• Maintain clear technical and procedural documentation,including data definitions, query logic, report specifications,quality-control steps, and version history.


• Support campus data literacy and responsible data use byproviding guidance, documentation, and training to colleagues andreport users.


• Apply FERPA, human-subjects research requirements, datagovernance standards, and university privacy and security practicesin all work.


• Provide analytical guidance and peer review for less complexreporting or analysis work and contribute to a collaborative,cross-functional team environment.

Essential Job Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in research, social science, educationalresearch, mathematics, information systems, or another field with astrong quantitative or research-methods emphasis required. Master’sdegree in a related field preferred.

Experience and Skills:

• At least three years of progressively responsible experience ininstitutional research, higher education analytics, businessintelligence, data analysis, or a closely related fieldrequired.

Skills:

• Advanced ability to query, combine, validate, analyze, andinterpret complex data using SQL and one or more analytical toolsor languages such as R, Python, SAS, or SPSS.


• Demonstrated experience developing clear reports, dashboards,or data visualizations using tools such as Power BI, Tableau, orcomparable platforms.


• Strong knowledge of quantitative research methods, descriptiveand inferential statistics, data-quality practices, and responsibleinterpretation of results.


• Ability to understand relational data structures, translatebusiness questions into analytical specifications, and documentdata definitions and transformation logic.


• Ability to manage recurring compliance work and multipleanalytical projects with accuracy, sound judgment, and attention todeadlines.


• Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills,including the ability to explain technical findings to nontechnicalaudiences.


• Strong consultation, collaboration, organization, anddocumentation skills.


• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and workingproficiency with Word and PowerPoint.


• Ability to work independently, identify risks orinconsistencies, recommend solutions, and appropriately escalatissues.