Executive Director, Data Analytics and Institutional Research

This position may be eligible for Hybrid Work, working remotely for up to one day per week after the initial 90 days of employment.

Salary Range: $91,458/year or higher, commensurate with experience and/or education

JOB SUMMARY

The Executive Director, Data Analytics & Institutional Research oversees the Office of Data Analytics and Institutional Research implementation of key institutional research functions, including strategic planning, research, reporting, and support of university and senior leadership initiatives. The Executive Director provides leadership, supervises, and coordinates the strategic operation of Data Analytics and Institutional Research (DAIR) Staff. The Executive Director drives the overall vision of the unit by implementing effective strategies for data management, data science, and data analytics to support the centralized collection, management, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of data information and evidence for making data­ informed decisions.

 DUTIES

• Provides leadership and management for the Office of Data Analytics and Institutional Research (DAIR)
• Compiles and analyzes data and prepares reports in relation to questions, research purposes, and strategic planning efforts in a format that is easily used for decision-making by university constituents
• Prepares and presents research findings and analyses that support institutional decision-making, effectiveness, and services to various university and community audiences. Manages multiple projects concurrently and works collaboratively and/or independently toward project completion
• Demonstrates ability to analyze user requirements and use proven methodologies to design and implement information management to meet user requirements
• Communicates complex and technical information in a clear and concise manner and coaches a range of stakeholders on the use of data to inform actionable decisions
• Establishes and maintains effective, collegial working relationships with campus constituents
• Serves as co-sponsor for the Education Advisory Board (EAB) software implementation; promotes the use of EAB analytics across campus to support student success
• Supports business analytics, institutional research, mandatory reporting at the state and federal levels, strategic planning, and other data-focused decision-support activities
• Communicates the value of data-derived information in a holistic decision-making model, considering the university mission, strategic plan, and relevant environmental factors
• Ensures that decision-makers have timely and useful information
• Oversees the operations, budget, and resource allocation of the department
• Develops strategic plans for growing and maintaining the university's analytic and data capacities
• Applies appropriate research methodology and statistical analysis to uncover insights that support university decisions
• Comprehensive understanding and demonstrates proficiency working in client/server environments, including extract, transform, and load processes and editing and testing for data integrity, system security and control, and backup and recovery processes
• Demonstrates an understanding of the data ecosystem - from data entry points to data warehouses, to queries and reports, to dashboards, including query and reports validation to create actionable information for end users

MARGINAL DUTIES 

• Performs all other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Reports: 

• Full-time Employees

Delegation of Work: 

• Regularly assigns work to subordinate(s)

Supervision Given: 

• Has primary responsibility for conducting performance evaluations and making recommendations for hiring and dismissing employees
   

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of the activities and operations of an Office of Data Analytics and Institutional Research and the related trends, issues, and accepted practices
• Advanced knowledge of statistical software
• Excellent knowledge of data management, data science, and data analytics

Skills:

• Good leadership and management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Proficiency in business intelligence tools (e.g., Logi, SQL, Tableau, PowerBi, Microsoft SQL, Banner, SAS, EAB Edify, or EAB Navigate)

Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders
• Ability to extract and manipulate data and produce reports
• Ability to honor professional ethics and protect the confidentiality of information
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to exercise good judgment

WORK LOCATION AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Primary Work Location:

• Works in an office environment

Physical Demands:

• Work is performed in a typical interior work environment, which does not subject the employee to any unpleasant elements
• The individual has discretion in relation to walking, standing, etc., and has minimal exposure to physical risks

EEO/AA

Required Education:

• Master's degree

Required Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of related job experience
• Experience with data governance to ensure accurate, reliable, and consistent institutional data

License/Certification:

• None required

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Terminal degree

About University of Houston Downtown

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions:  No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. TheStockWatcher.com called UHD a “notable institution providing high-quality online MBA programs. … UHD ensures that its graduates are well-prepared to succeed in their chosen career paths.”

UHD is one of the four distinct and separate components of the University of Houston System, which also includes the University of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and University of Houston-Victoria. Instructional Sites operated by UHD are University of Houston-Downtown Northwest, University of Houston-Downtown at Lone Star College Kingwood, and University of Houston-Downtown at Lone Star College CyFair.

The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.

The University of Houston - Downtown is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution and recognizes protected classes of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, religion, age (40 and above), national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or status, and gender expression as required by federal law. Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.