Director of Institutional Research and Data Analytics

Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand.

Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts university located in Middletown, Connecticut. Wesleyan places immense value in the use of institutional data in support of the University’s short- and long-term decision-making regarding policy, strategic planning, and resource allocations.

The Office of Institutional Research conducts research and analyses to support University planning and assists with the development of academic and administrative policies.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Institutional Research and Data Analytics provides leadership on a broad range of institutional research activities and initiatives for both internal and external constituencies.

The Director will lead a team that has responsibility for institutional research and data analysis.

The Director will collaborate with key individuals across campus involved in data analysis for their individual divisions including admission, financial aid, advancement, and information technology.

Wesleyan will be undertaking a major transition from its legacy system (PeopleSoft) to Workday Student. The Director of Institutional Research and Data Analytics will be at the forefront of this transformation, designing a cutting-edge analytics and reporting infrastructure that will serve as the foundation for strategic planning and decision-making across the University.

As a key leader in Wesleyan’s digital transformation, the Director will help ensure the transition to Workday enhances the University’s ability to make informed, data-driven, strategic decisions.

Responsibilities include:

Lead Institutional Research Initiatives :

• Design, conduct, analyze, and present comprehensive institutional research studies using advanced statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and data visualization using tools such as Python, R, and SAS.
  
  
• Provide strategic insights that drive decision making across the University’s leadership and community.
  
  
• Present both positive and negative findings with integrity.
  
  

Develop and Implement a Workday-Based Reporting and Analytics Infrastructure:

• Play a key leadership role in Wesleyan’s transition to Workday Student, in collaboration with colleagues across the institution.
  
  
• Lead the development of modern reporting and analytics systems, to support strategic decision making and operational excellence in areas such as enrollment management, student success initiatives, academic planning, and resource allocation.
  
  

Lead Compliance, Accreditation and Other Reporting:

• Oversee the University’s compliance reporting to external entities, including IPEDS, NECHE, the Common Data, AAUP, and NCAA, ensuring that data submissions meet all regulatory and ethical standards.
  
  
• Oversee completion of COFHE reporting and surveys.
  
  
• Conduct the analysis of teaching evaluations.
  
  
• Support the University’s accreditation process and institutional assessment functions through robust data analysis and reporting.
  
  

Data Governance and Integrity:

• Participate in the ongoing development and implementation of Wesleyan’s data governance framework.
  
  
• Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and comparability across multiple systems and data sources, contributing to institutional research efforts and compliance with federal, state and other requirements.
  
  

Serve as a Research and Analytics Advisor Across the University:

• Act as a key advisor to university departments, offering expertise in survey design, implementation, and analysis to support institutional priorities.
  
  

Represent Wesleyan to External Organizations:

• Serve as a key institutional representative to external organizations, including federal and state agencies, funding agencies, and higher education organizations.
  
  
• Actively participate in professional organizations such as the Association of Institutional Research and other relevant national and regional professional organizations to stay informed about emerging trends and best practices in institutional research and data analytics.
  
  

Supervision:

• Provide effective management of IR staff, set goals and performance metrics, provide timely feedback and performance coaching, and ensure appropriate levels of staffing to meet realistic expectations of the university community.
  
  

This position is an on-campus position with potential for remote or a hybrid (on campus and remote) schedule in the future. All positions may require on campus meetings.

Remote work is only considered for residents of MA, VT, NH, ME, CT, RI, or NY. (Relocation assistance to CT is available for those who qualify).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in quantitative discipline such as social sciences, mathematics, economics, data science, education, business, statistics or a related field and a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience within institutional research or a related field, supervising teams and driving key research initiatives or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
  
  
• Demonstrated expertise in data analysis and institutional research methodologies.
  
  
• Proven experience with advanced data analytics techniques, including statistical analysis, data mining, predictive modeling, and survey design.
  
  
• Expertise with at least one statistical software. (Python, R, SAS or other similar software)
  
  
• Experience with ERP systems particularly with implementation and data reporting functions.
  
  
• Strong quantitative skills with the ability to manipulate and analyze large data sets across multiple formats.
  
  
• Experience with data governance programs, ensuring data integrity, accuracy, and compliance with institutional policies and regulatory standards.
  
  
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to clearly translate and present complex data findings into actionable items to non-technical stakeholders both internally and externally and at all levels of the organization.
  
  
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with different members of the university community as well as those from outside organizations.
  
  
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment, with a strong understanding of the ways in which institutional research can support equity & inclusion.
  
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with or implementing Workday Student.
  
  
• Familiarity with Workday’s reporting and analytics capabilities.
  
  
• Experience with PowerBI or Tableau, to create comprehensive and actionable dashboards.
  
  
• Experience with storytelling through data visualization.
  
  
• Experience with Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), Family Educational Rights and Privacy (FERPA). Consortium on Financing and Higher Education (COFHE) reporting.
  
  
• Terminal degree in quantitative discipline.
  
  

Position is open until filled. For full consideration please apply by January 2, 2025 when first review of applications will begin.

As part of your application, please upload a cover letter and resume.

Compensation: $134,500-$164,100

Work Location: On Campus

All offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate’s completion of a pre-employment background check screening to the satisfaction of Wesleyan University.

Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record. We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups. Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504 or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Title IX and ADA/504 Coordinator.

Wesleyan University complies with the Clery Act and maintains records of campus crime statistics and security policies. Copies of Wesleyan University’s Clery Act Report are available on request and online at https://www.wesleyan.edu/publicsafety/clery.html .

Experience is taken into consideration in the determination of salary offers. For more information visit https://www.wesleyan.edu/hr/handbook/compensation-practices/index.html

Wesleyan offers a broad range of employee benefits and development opportunities, including comprehensive group insurance plans, wellness programs and incentives, generous paid time off and retirement plans, flexible work schedules, employee and dependent tuition programs for those who qualify.

Detailed information on the benefits of working at Wesleyan is located at: https://wesleyan.edu/hr/careers/prospective-resources.html .

Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record. We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups. Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504 or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Title IX and ADA/504 Coordinator. Wesleyan University complies with the Clery Act and maintains records of campus crime statistics and security policies. Copies of Wesleyan University's Clery Act Report are available on request and online at http://www.wesleyan.edu/publicsafety/compliance.html.