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Worcester Polytechnic Institute · 4 months ago

Executive Director, Institutional Research & Assessment

Worcester

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

7+ years exp

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a premier R1 research university known for its pioneering project-based learning approach. The Executive Director of Institutional Research and Assessment leads the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, managing data collection and analysis to support institutional decision-making and accreditation processes. This role requires strategic leadership in research, assessment, and analytics to enhance the university's mission through data-informed insights.

CommunitiesEducationHigher EducationSTEM Education

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for university-wide accreditation and assessment processes, ensuring timely and effective execution across all faculty governance, academic and administrative units

Partner with academic schools and departments to support discipline-specific accreditation efforts, including ABET (Engineering), AACSB (Business), and others as appropriate

Serve as the institutional lead for the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) accreditation, including oversight of self-study preparation, interim reporting, and coordination of on-site evaluations

Facilitate accreditation and assessment planning and execution in collaboration with a broad range of academic and administrative stakeholders

Oversee the identification, collection, and curation of data, documentation, and artifacts required to support assessment and to meet accreditation standards

Guide stakeholders through program assessment processes, including instrument selection, data analysis, and improvement planning

Oversee development and maintenance of data systems supporting external reporting (e.g., IPEDS), internal analytics, assessment initiatives, compliance requirements, and accreditation processes

Ensure timely, accurate delivery of institutional reports to internal and external stakeholders, including state agencies, federal entities, and accrediting bodies

Lead the creation of dashboards and decision support tools. Conduct complex quantitative and qualitative analyses using statistical software (e.g., SAS, R, SPSS, NVIVO) to support institutional research and assessment

Serve as a co-sponsor alongside the CIO, providing strategic leadership and high-level coordination for data governance initiatives

Lead creation of research designs and analytical plans, using appropriate techniques to analyze data to meet stakeholder needs

Collaborate with stakeholders to establish benchmarks, key performance indicators, and dashboards that track institutional effectiveness

Develop and implement research policies and best practices to ensure data integrity and analytical rigor

Serve as primary liaison between the unit and other university offices, external agencies, and peer institutions

Provide supervision and mentorship to team, fostering a culture of service excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement

Represent WPI in regional and national institutional research networks and professional organizations

Lead initiatives to enhance research productivity, expand analytical capabilities, and improve data accessibility

Develop and manage annual budgets for the unit, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities

Monitor expenditures, revenue streams, and operational efficiency to maintain fiscal responsibility

Contribute to long-term financial planning for research services and technology infrastructure

Provide leadership and direction for the Academic Affairs technology team, ensuring effective support for Workday student and faculty processes, system data integrations, reporting services, and Academic Affairs help desk functions

Qualification

Higher Education AdministrationStatistical AnalysisData VisualizationData ManagementDatabase ManagementProject ManagementCommunication SkillsSurvey PlatformsSQL Knowledge

Required

Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, Statistics, Research Methods, or related field is required

Minimum 7 years of professional experience in higher education institutional research, data analysis, or educational assessment; and a minimum of 3 years of supervisory leadership is required

Advanced proficiency in statistical/data analysis software (e.g., SAS, R, SPSS, NVIVO)

Expertise in data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, or similar)

Advanced Excel skills and database management and ability to translate complex data into actional insights for various audiences

Strong project management and organization skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills. Able to influence people, solve problems, troubleshoot, think creatively, and resolve conflicts

Deep understanding of higher education systems and institutional research practices

Commitment to maintaining strict confidentiality standards