Institutional Research and Planning Specialist

Fayetteville Technical Community College; Fayetteville (NC); On-site; USD 51,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NC State Health Plan

NC State Retirement Plan

Paid Holidays

Educational Benefits

Longevity

Job summary

Fayetteville Technical Community College is seeking an Institutional Research and Planning Specialist to support institutional research, data analysis, and strategic planning under senior leadership. The role emphasizes collecting, analyzing, and reporting data to inform executive decision-making and institutional priorities.

You will contribute to dashboards, performance metrics, grant reporting, and program assessment, collaborating with academic and administrative units to ensure data

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with coursework/experience in data analysis and research methods.
• Minimum of two years of experience in institutional effectiveness, research, assessment, strategic planning, accreditation, or related field in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Assist with institutional research, data analysis, and strategic planning support for executive decision‑making.
• Support data collection, analysis, reporting, and dashboard development to inform program planning and accreditation.
• Oversee grant lifecycle data collection, monitoring, and reporting for externally funded initiatives.

Skills

Labor market research

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Institutional Research and Planning Specialist

Position Information

Position Title Institutional Research and Planning Specialist

The Institutional Research and Planning Specialist is responsible for assisting with institutional research, data analysis, and strategic planning support to inform executive decision‑making and institutional priorities. This role supports institutional research, assessment, accreditation, and strategic planning activities under the supervision of the Vice President for Strategic Planning and Research. The position also works closely with the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness to provide high‑level analytical and research support. The position contributes to the development, validation, and analysis of data for grant proposals, externally funded initiatives, and strategic initiatives, and supports reporting efforts to ensure alignment with institutional priorities, funding requirements, and performance outcomes. The role also supports the development and refinement of institutional performance metrics, including the tracking and analysis of key performance indicators, and assists in the design and enhancement of executive‑level data dashboards to support strategic planning and decision‑making.

This role will support analytical and project management support, including data collection, review, reporting, communication, and utilization. This role will also oversee grant lifecycle management by collecting and analyzing data for proposals, monitoring performance metrics, and supporting accurate, timely reporting and compliance for externally funded initiatives. Additional responsibilities include conducting labor market and strategic research to inform program development, enrollment strategy, and institutional planning; supporting efforts to maintain the integrity, standardization, and governance of institutional data to ensure accurate reporting and sound decision‑making; utilization of advanced analytical tools, databases, and statistical and data visualization software.

We offer a valuable benefits package that includes the following:

• Supports institutional leadership by analyzing and synthesizing complex data, assessment results, and research to inform strategic planning, institutional priorities, and executive decision‑making.
• Supports validation and quality control processes to maintain reliable and consistent institutional data.
• Assists in documenting methodologies, query logic, and reporting processes to support transparency and reproducibility.
• Acquires, organizes, analyzes, and synthesizes data from internal and external sources to produce reports, executive summaries, and decision‑support materials using applied research methodologies.
• Supports the development and maintenance of analytical models, databases, dashboards, and reporting tools that support strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, accreditation, and program review processes.
• Identifies, analyzes, and interprets trends and patterns in complex data sets using appropriate statistical and analytical techniques.
• Supports the development of dashboards, visual analytics, and performance metrics aligned with institutional goals and key performance indicators to support executive‑level decision‑making.
• Supports accreditation processes by contributing to data analysis, documentation, and reporting aligned with regional and programmatic standards.
• Collaborates with academic and administrative units to support alignment of assessment, program review, and planning activities with institutional strategy and effectiveness frameworks.
• Conducts labor market and environmental scanning research to inform program alignment, workforce development, and strategic initiatives.
• Provides research and analytical support for institutional strategic planning efforts, including goal development, progress monitoring, and reporting.
• Oversees data collection, analysis, and reporting requirements for externally funded initiatives, ensuring alignment with funding requirements and institutional priorities.
• Monitors implementation of grants and special projects by tracking outcomes, performance metrics, and progress toward established goals.
• Analyzes and integrates data from multiple systems and third‑party platforms, including assessment systems, student information systems, and business intelligence tools.
• Supports the resolution of data‑related issues, including data discrepancies, system inconsistencies, and process gaps, and contributes to process improvement efforts.
• Conducts data cleaning and data management activities to ensure efficient access, usability, and reliability of institutional data.
• Maintains institutional databases and data systems to support research, planning, and reporting functions.
• Evaluates data sources for quality, validity, and reliability to ensure appropriate use in institutional reporting and decision‑making.
• Communicates data and findings clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences, including executive leadership, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required from a regionally accredited institution in statistics, data science, social sciences, education, business analytics, or a closely related field with demonstrated coursework or experience in data analysis and research methods.
• A minimum of two years of increasingly responsible experience in institutional effectiveness, research, assessment, strategic planning, accreditation, or a related field within higher education.

Preferred Requirements

Master’s degree in a related field preferred.

Full or Part Time Full Time

College Pay Scale Minimum starting salary $56,469 annually

Number of Months 12

Employee Benefits

NC State Health Plan

NC State Retirement Plan

Paid Holidays

Educational Benefits

Longevity

Posting Number S104-26

The Fayetteville Technical Community College is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Employer.

Close Date 11/04/2026

Open Until Filled No

Special Instructions to Applicants

Screening of applications will begin immediately, with an anticipated hire date of January 15th, 2026.

NOTE : All applicants under consideration for employment at Fayetteville Technical Community College will be required to complete a consent form that allows FTCC to conduct a criminal background check on your behalf so that you may be considered further for the position for which you have applied.

Three (3) Professional References Are Required.

“ Please note, Fayetteville Technical Community College will not support an application for a new work visa, such as an H-1B, and will not sponsor the STEM OPT extension.”

Candidate(s) recommended for hire are subject to a criminal background check.

Posting Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  • FTCC Website
  • Indeed
  • NCCCS System Office
  • HigherEdJobs
  • Social Media
  • Glassdoor
  • Internal Email
  • Word of Mouth
  • USJoblink
  • Other
• * Do you have at least three years of professional experience in institutional research, assessment, strategic planning, accreditation, or a closely related field within higher education?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have experience using data visualization and reporting tools such as Power Bl, Tableau, or similar platforms to develop dashboards, infographics, or executive‑level reports?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have experience supporting accreditation, assessment, or institutional effectiveness processes, including data collection,analysis, and compliance reporting?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have direct experience managing grant reporting and performance metrics?
  • Yes
  • No