Managing Director of Policy, Research & Fiscal Analysis

Illinois Comptroller; Springfield, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 149,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) seeks a Managing Director of Policy, Research & Fiscal Analysis to lead statewide higher education policy, research initiatives, and fiscal analysis. You will guide the agency’s strategic plan, coordinate across divisions, and engage key stakeholders to advance equity and student success.

With a Master’s in public policy and 10+ years in policy research, you will drive data-informed decisions, mentor staff, and present findings to the Board and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, or related field from an accredited institution.
• Ten (10)+ years of experience with public policy research, development and advocacy, including experience in or with government policy environments.
• Five (5)+ years of supervision of professional staff.
• PhD (or equivalent) in a related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead statewide higher education policy agenda including legislative, regulatory, and fiscal proposals.
• Oversee annual higher education operating and capital budget recommendations and reporting.
• Coach, develop, and draw out the best from staff across divisions.
• Coordinate with Board, Governor’s Office, and Legislature on major initiatives.

Skills

Higher education policy knowledge

Analytical thinking

Public policy research

Data analysis

Leadership

Communication skills

Public speaking

Education

Master’s degree in public policy

10+ years public policy experience

PhD preferred

Job description

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Managing Director of Policy, Research & Fiscal Analysis

We continually strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills welcome

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Further, federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview for a job, or for any other activity related to the hiring process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include, but are not limited to, making a change to the application process (if possible), providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

To be provided a Reasonable Accommodation during the hiring process, you will need to provide a certification of disability from a physician, psychiatrist, school official or an Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor. Supporting documentation should be uploaded under My Documents → Additional Documents section for each application.

Any questions on Reasonable Accommodations can be directed to Central Management Services Disability Resource Center at [e-mail] or call [phone] for further information and to request or discuss an accommodation.

Sponsorship for Employment

The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status), nor is the State able to provide extensions of optional practical training (OPT) under the STEM-designated degree program for F-1 students. To be considered for permanent employment with the State of Illinois, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Disclosure of Salary Information

In compliance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act, 820 ILCS 112/1 et seq., the State does not seek, request, or require a job applicant’s wage or salary history. Employment decisions are not made based on an applicant’s wage or salary information. To that end, please do not include wage or salary information in your resume or other profile or application materials.

Job Requisition ID:55678
Opening Date: 09/09/2026
Closing Date: 10/07/2026
Agency: Illinois Board of Higher Education

Salary:commensurate with experience, within $148,500/yr-not to exceed $175,000/yr
Job Type: Salaried
Category:Full Time
County: Sangamon; Adams; Alexander; Bond; Boone; Brown; Bureau; Calhoun; Carroll; Cass; Champaign; Christian; Clark; Clay; Clinton; Coles; Cook; Crawford; Cumberland; DeKalb; DeWitt; Douglas; DuPage; Edgar; Edwards; Effingham; Fayette; Ford; Franklin; Fulton; Gallatin; Greene; Grundy; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardin; Henderson; Henry; Iroquois; Jackson; Jasper; Jefferson; Jersey; Jo Daviess; Johnson; Kane; Kankakee; Kendall; Knox; LaSalle; Lake; Lawrence; Lee; Livingston; Logan; Macon; Macoupin; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Mason; Massac; McDonough; McHenry; McLean; Menard; Mercer; Monroe; Montgomery; Morgan; Moultrie; Ogle; Other; Peoria; Perry; Piatt; Pike; Pope; Pulaski; Putnam; Randolph; Richland; Rock Island; Saline; Schuyler; Scott; Shelby; St. Clair; Stark; Stephenson; Tazewell; Union; Vermilion; Wabash; Warren; Washington; Wayne; White; Whiteside; Will; Williamson; Winnebago; Woodford

Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code:None
Merit Comp Code:Agency Excluded from Collective Bargaining Coverage

A RESUME AND COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS JOB POSTING

About the lllinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE)

IBHE has been supporting higher education in Illinois for more than 50 years. We are a dedicated team of professionals, overseen by a Board appointed by the Governor, who are working for a strong, equitable higher education system, which we believe is essential for the state to thrive. We work with leaders in colleges, universities, state and federal government agencies, governors, legislators, and other entities to strategically further this mission.

In its strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois: Higher Education Paths to Equity, Sustainability, and Growth, IBHE has identified three goals and 25 strategies to help achieve its vision of a higher education ecosystem that ensures individuals, families, and communities across the state thrive.

• Equity - Close equity gaps for students who have been left behind.
• Sustainability - Build a stronger financial future for individuals and institutions.
• Growth - Increase talent and innovation that drives economic growth.

We offer the state’s competitive employee benefit package

About the position:

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is seeking a Managing Director of Policy, Research & Fiscal Analysis.

The Managing Director of Policy, Research & Fiscal Analysis leads the agency work in establishing a statewide higher education policy agenda, including legislative, regulatory, and fiscal proposals, in alignment with and to advance the higher education strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois; Stays abreast and draws on deep knowledge of national and state higher education policy research, initiatives, and innovations

• Serves as a member of the Senior Leadership team, guiding agency direction, execution, and success, including the agency’s annual planning, budgeting, and goal-setting
• Leads the agency work in establishing a statewide higher education policy agenda, including legislative, regulatory, and fiscal proposals, in alignment with and to advance the higher education strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois; Stays abreast and draws on deep knowledge of national and state higher education policy research, initiatives, and innovations
• Establishes and executes on research agenda to support policy development, reporting, program analysis, and student success
• Guides development of statewide higher education fiscal policy, including overseeing annual higher education operating and capital budget recommendations, research analyses, publications, and reporting
• Sets the vision for, leads and directly oversees multiple agency divisions including Policy, Higher Education Finance Policy, and Research, Analytics, and Data
• Builds high performing teams including but not limited to providing coaching, developing, and drawing out the best work from staff
• Provides high-level coordination across agency departments, units, and functions, to ensure peak agency effectiveness
• Informs and provides analysis to the Board, Governor’s Office, and Legislature; engages with the Board and Board members on major initiatives, committees, and projects
• Other duties as assigned, within scope of position

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of major higher education policy, programs, and innovations
• Understanding of applicable research, data systems, and analytic approaches
• Understands the government policy-making environment and process
• Knowledge of or capacity to understand major fiscal policy choices at the institutional and state levels
• Demonstrated ability to support and develop professional staff
• Strong organizational leader, with clarity of purpose, passion for education and public service, and commitment to advancing equity for students underrepresented in higher education
• Capacity to develop, set, and execute on a vision for the organizational division
• Highly analytical with the ability to review, assess, and dive deeply into a variety of data, reports, and research to assess meaning and implications, synthesize findings, and present concise conclusions and recommendations
• Sound judgement to assess and make recommendations in various policy contexts, including national, state, and institutional
• Ability to synthesize, summarize, and present important information to general stakeholder and specialized audiences
• Excellent communication skills; Can write clearly, edit well, and make effective public presentations; Uses data visualizations effectively
• Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and draw out the best work from staff
• Collaborative and team-oriented leader

Education and Experience

• Required:
  • Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, or related field from an accredited Institution
  • Ten (10)+ years of experience with public policy research, development and advocacy, including experience working in or with local, state, or federal government policy environments
  • Knowledge of major higher education policy, programs, and innovations
  • Understanding of applicable research, data systems, and analytic approaches
  • Knowledge of and capacity to understand major fiscal policy choices at the institutional and state levels
  • Five (5)+ years of supervision of professional staff
• Preferred:
  • PhD (or equivalent) in a related field, from an accredited institution

Organization Chart

Position reports to the: Executive Director
Position has the following direct report(s):

• Director of Policy
• Director of Higher Education Finance Policy
• Director of Research, Analytics, and Reporting

Work Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm Mon-Fri
Headquarter Location: 1 N Old State Capitol Plz, Springfield, Illinois, 62701
Work County: IBHE offers remote and hybrid work arrangements, based on position and supervisor discretion. IL residency is required. Travel within IL is expected as required by the work.
Agency Contact:IBHE Human Resources
Email: [e-mail]
Posting Group: Leadership & Management; Education

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses: