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Associate Vice Provost, Institutional Research and Decision Support

Employer
Virginia Commonwealth University
Location
Virginia, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Feb 3, 2023


Virginia Commonwealth University invites applications from experienced and accomplished leaders
to join its team as Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Research and Decision Support.

Position primary purpose and general responsibilities:

Reporting to the Provost, the Associate Vice Provost plays a critical role in organizational decision-
making by leading the university’s institutional research, data analysis, and reporting efforts. The

Associate Vice Provost provides strategic leadership of the Office of Institutional Research and
Decision Support, with opportunities to enhance and strengthen partnerships across campus to
elevate institutional data collection, analysis, maintenance, synthesis and presentation. The leader
performs both strategic and project management functions and actively coordinates the
development and implementation of advanced analytic strategies and processes such as predictive
modeling. Specific functions include serving as the primary conduit for office project requests and
ensuring prompt, accurate and insightful preparation of all reporting material.

The AVPIRDS leads the comprehensive institutional research program at VCU and plays an essential role in the development and promotion of the culture of information and use of data and information to inform decision-making and action at the university. The specific responsibilities for this position are to:

● Lead the Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support in collecting, retaining and
promoting the university-wide strategic use of key institutional data
● Analyze quantitative and qualitative data and assist in interpreting all of the university's data
for presentation to the university community at various levels.
● Design, develop and deliver reports and tools that provide concise, accurate and relevant
information at appropriate level of detail for strategic priorities and operations.
● Oversee external and national benchmark reporting activities including, but not limited to,
external government organizations, U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, IPEDS and
the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV). In addition, provide data and
analysis to support university and program accreditation needs.
● Cultivate practices to communicate with regular frequency analyzed data in aggregate form to
senior leaders and relevant university offices
● Ensure the office serves as the central point for disbursing official university data to external
parties and as the central contact point for federal and state research and assessment data
requests
● Serve on university wide strategic planning, institutional effectiveness and learning outcomes
assessment committees
● Lead and support successful implementation of campus data governance initiatives
● Collaborate with other data-generating units to ensure a consistent and comprehensive data
narrative across the university
● Respond to data, table and reporting requests from university constituencies
● Facilitate the central development of tools, reports and other self-service means to enhance
users’ experience and facility with data and information
● Work with provost’s staff and president’s staff to determine campus institutional research
and quality improvement priorities
● Support campus strategic planning efforts including performance metrics, action plans and
strategies
● Facilitate the central development of tools, reports and other self-service means to enhance
users’ experience and facility with data and information
● Foster the practice of ongoing and regular assessment and evaluation to ensure data quality
and analytical methodology reflects best practices
● Serve as a respected ambassador for the university and contribute to the body of institutional
research knowledge through participation in higher education organizations

Minimum hiring standards:

● Advanced degree, doctoral preferred
● Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student
environment or commitment to do so as an employee at VCU
● Demonstrated understanding of institutional effectiveness and research
● Significant experience in quantitative research and reporting
● Demonstrated leadership abilities; outstanding oral and written communication skills, with
emphasis on public speaking and presentation skills; relationship-building and organizational
skills
● Experience managing teams, handling tight deadlines and leading several significant analytic
projects simultaneously.
● Understanding of and adherence to data governance policies and best practices
● Work experience with an enterprise resource planning environment and institutional
operational data stores and data warehouses
● Ability to exercise professional and scientific judgment and assume responsibility for
decisions, consequences and results

Preferred hiring standards:


● Experience in leading studies on the academic environment, including faculty performance
and university/student success metrics
● Familiarity with effective data governance strategies
● Extensive experience with predictive analytics and forecasting models, along with strong
knowledge of research design and causal inference.
● Experience with building and expanding information systems in an academic setting or
agencies for institutional accountability

This position is a full-time, 12-month position with an opportunity for a faculty appointment in an academic unit dependent upon the candidate’s area of academic expertise and qualifications.

Nominations and Applications

Priority consideration will be given to materials received by March 20, 2023. Applications should
include a 1) current CV and 2) a letter of interest that addresses the responsibilities and qualifications
described in the Leadership Profile

Buffkin/Baker, an executive search firm, is assisting the university in the search. Inquiries of interest,
nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically, in confidence, to:

Mr. Martin M. Baker, Managing Partner
Dr. Pelema Ellis, Associate Partner
Buffkin / Baker
vcuavpirds@buffkinbaker.com

Position Details:

Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT or Academic Administrator
Restricted Status: No
FTE: 100
Exemption Status: Exempt






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