Senior Manager, Decision Support

Purdue University; West Lafayette (IN); Remote; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Purdue University is seeking a Senior Manager, Decision Support to lead the data, research, and insights agenda across Operations and Student Experience. This role partners with unit leadership to align priorities with organizational goals and emerging needs, translating complex data into actionable insights using Excel and BI tools.

The position manages a small team, develops dashboards, and collaborates with IDA+A and campus partners to inform enrollment, revenue, and performance decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
• Six+ years of relevant experience in business analysis or data analytics.
• Experience leading staff or cross-functional teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and dashboards in Tableau.

Responsibilities

• Partner with unit leadership to set data and insights priorities.
• Manage a portfolio of decision support projects across reports and analytics.
• Develop dashboards and data visualizations to inform decisions.
• Lead a small team and oversee reporting, compliance, and student systems.
• Collaborate with IDA+A and university partners.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Tableau

Data analysis

Forecasting

Business analytics

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Data Analytics, Finance, Higher Education, Information Systems

Tools

Tableau

SQL

Dashboards

Job description

Senior Manager, Decision Support

City: West Lafayette

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, Decision Support leads the development and execution of the data, research, and insights agenda across credit and non-credit offerings within Operations and Student Experience, working in close partnership with functional and unit leadership to align priorities and resources with organizational goals and emerging needs.

Serving as a strategic thought partner and internal consultant, the Senior Manager investigates key questions, responds to emerging strategic priorities and initiatives, and leads a portfolio of reporting, research, analytical, and systems-focused projects across the organization. This work translates complex information into insights that deepen understanding, inform decision-making, and help prioritize organizational resources.

The Senior Manager applies a business analysis approach to organizational questions, drawing on data visualization, modeling, forecasting, projections, systems analysis, and other analytical methods to understand enrollment, revenue, operational performance, and the factors driving them. The position is hands‑on and requires advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, experience developing dashboards, data visualizations, and analytical tools using Tableau or a similar business intelligence platform, as well as familiarity with financial concepts and analysis. These insights help evaluate existing strategies and investments and identify opportunities for innovation, market expansion, growth, improved performance, and organizational effectiveness.

The Senior Manager leads a small team responsible for reporting, compliance, and student systems and brings together data, business, and systems perspectives to strengthen decision support and organizational problem‑solving across Operations and Student Experience. The position works collaboratively with Institutional Data Analytics + Assessment (IDA+A) and other university partners to leverage institutional data, reporting, and expertise in support of this work.

This position is fully remote with occasional opportunities to come to campus.

Data, Research, and Decision Support

• Partner with unit leadership to establish data, research, and insights priorities across credit and non-credit offerings, aligning work with strategic goals and emerging organizational needs.


• Establish and manage a portfolio of decision support projects, tracking priorities, timelines, deliverables, status, and resource allocation across direct reports and other team members engaged in the work.


• Coordinate and contribute to analytical projects that investigate key questions, respond to emerging needs, and provide actionable insights for organizational decision‑making.


• Balance recurring analytical needs with emerging strategic requests, helping leadership understand priorities, resource needs, and trade‑offs.

Program and Portfolio Performance

• Establish and maintain a consistent approach to assessing program health and performance across credit and non-credit portfolios, integrating enrollment, revenue, learner and student outcomes, and other relevant indicators.


• Develop and monitor enrollment, revenue, and other performance projections, analyzing variances, trends, underlying drivers, and implications.


• Conduct financial modeling, forecasting, scenario analysis, and other analyses to inform program, portfolio, investment, growth, and resource decisions.


• Partner with academic and administrative stakeholders to identify opportunities for innovation, market expansion, improved performance, and continuous improvement.

Reporting, Systems, and Business Analysis

• Establish standards and provide oversight for recurring, compliance, and portfolio reporting to ensure information is accurate, consistent, timely, and useful across credit and non‑credit programs.


• Guide the effective use of data and technology systems, including cross‑system analysis, data integration and reconciliation, and identification of gaps affecting reporting or operations.


• Apply business and systems analysis to support technology initiatives, partnerships, program implementations, and other cross‑functional processes and projects.


• Use data and systems insights to identify recurring issues, improve processes, reduce manual work, and strengthen organizational effectiveness.

Team Leadership and Resource Management

• Establish priorities and coordinate work across the Reporting & Compliance Analyst and Student Solutions Analyst, aligning team capacity and expertise with organizational priorities and project needs.


• Develop team capabilities in analysis, reporting, systems, consultation, and problem‑solving while encouraging continuous improvement and innovation.


• Leverage the complementary capabilities of the team to provide integrated decision support that brings together data, reporting, compliance, business analysis, and systems perspectives.


• Build effective partnerships across Operations and Student Experience and with academic and administrative stakeholders to advance shared priorities.

Supervision

• Provide day‑to‑day leadership and direction for assigned staff. Provide input on the administrative processes for human resource actions (hiring, professional development, promotions, terminations, disciplinary procedures, and salary adjustments) to maintain a positive program experience. Provide ongoing performance feedback, engage in short‑term goal setting, and propose development plans for staff. Advise on future staffing needs Provide timely communications to staff.

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Data Analytics, Finance, Higher Education, Information Systems or a related field


• Six or more years of progressively responsible, relevant experience in business analysis, data analytics, decision support, higher education administration, or a related area


• Consideration will be given to an equivalent combination of required education and related work experience


• Demonstrated experience applying data and analytical methods to complex organizational questions, including reporting and data visualization, forecasting or modeling, and project management


• Experience working across functional areas to analyze business processes, systems, and performance and to communicate findings and recommendations to a variety of stakeholders


• Experience leading staff, project teams, or cross‑functional initiatives


• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and demonstrated experience developing dashboards and data visualizations in Tableau or comparable business intelligence tools


• Experience integrating and analyzing data from multiple sources, including relational data and enterprise systems


• Advanced analytical and business analysis skills, including modeling, forecasting, projections, performance analysis, and the ability to translate complex information into actionable insights


• Strong problem‑solving and systems‑thinking skills, including the ability to identify trends, underlying drivers, risks, and opportunities and analyze relationships across business processes, data and technology systems


• Strong project and portfolio management skills, including prioritization, resource allocation, timeline management, and coordination of multiple concurrent initiatives


• Strong communication, consultation, and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to communicate complex information to technical and non‑technical audiences and work effectively with leadership and cross‑functional partners


• Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills, including the ability to establish priorities, coordinate team resources, develop staff, exercise sound judgment, and adapt to changing organizational needs

What Is Helpful:

• Master’s Degree


• Higher education experience, particularly related to enrollment, program performance, student systems, or credit and non‑credit educational offerings

What We Want You To Know:

• Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position


• A background check is required for employment in this position


• The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $75,000-$80,000. The final salary offer will be determined based on various factors, including internal equity, available budget, and relevant experience.


• FLSA: Exempt (Not eligible for overtime)


• Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contribution Immediately

Equal Opportunity Employer

Purdue University is an EOE employer.