Director of Institutional Research and Analytics

Director of Institutional Research and Analytics

Administrator

Sugar Grove Campus

Hybrid Option : Option : Yes

Join our dynamic team at Waubonsee Community College, where your career can flourish. We are committed to being an exceptional employer, offering a comprehensive benefits package with generous time off, low-cost medical, dental, and vision plans, and a secure pension plan through SURS. You'll also enjoy 14 paid holidays, including winter and Thanksgiving breaks. Be part of a transformative institution, dedicated to making a positive impact in our community and the lives of our students. Your future starts here - join us today!

Waubonsee Community College is committed to hiring and retaining exceptional faculty and staff who are committed to the college's culture of collaboration, professional growth and student success.

The Director of Institutional Research and Analytics is critical in advancing a culture of inquiry, continuous improvement, and data-aligned decision-making within Waubonsee Community College. Reporting to and working collaboratively with the Executive Director for Institutional Effectiveness, Innovation, and Planning, this position integrates data science methodologies, machine learning, and advanced analytics into institutional research to strengthen insights that guide student success, enrollment strategies, and operational efficiencies. The Director leads data governance, assessment, and institutional research compliance efforts, collaborating with senior leadership to optimize institutional effectiveness.

Institutional Research & Assessment

Lead and oversee institutional research activities that support strategic planning, student success initiatives, and operational efficiencies.

Develop and execute a research agenda aligned with accreditation, post-secondary outcomes, and program evaluation.

Apply statistical modeling, machine learning, and data mining to student outcomes and program evaluation.

Manage data collection, analysis, and reporting, ensuring findings inform institutional policies and practices.

Support faculty and staff using research tools, statistical programming (e.g., R, Python), and methodologies for curriculum and program assessment.

Data Governance & Analytics Strategy

Establish and enforce data governance policies, ensuring accuracy, security, and ethical use of institutional data.

Implement data visualization, predictive analytics, and AI / ML techniques to drive insight into student outcomes, workforce development, and institutional performance.

Collaborate with the IT department to enhance data systems for reporting, compliance, and strategic planning, (e.g., data warehouses, cloud-based analytics, and machine learning pipelines).

Foster a data-informed culture, providing training in modern analytics and data science techniques to faculty, staff, and administrators.

Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership

Collaborate with faculty, administrators, and staff, ensuring research findings are integrated into decision-making processes.

Serve as a resource for institutional research, guiding evidence-based approaches to academic and administrative improvements.

Develop executive-level reports, translating complex analytics into actionable strategies for senior leadership.

Represent the college in state and regional discussions on institutional research, analytics, and data science applications in higher education.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in a relevant field such as Higher Education, Educational Research, Statistics, Data Science, Public Policy, or a related discipline.

Minimum of three (3) years of significant experience in institutional research and / or data analytics responsibilities within a higher education setting.

A minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or leadership experience is required.

Strong background in data science, statistical modeling, and advanced analytics.

Expertise in institutional research, assessment, and IR compliance.

Experience with predictive modeling, machine learning, and AI applications in higher education or related fields preferred.

Proficiency in Python, R, SQL, and data visualization platforms (Tableau, Power BI).

Familiarity with cloud-based data platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) preferred.

Ability to translate complex data into strategic recommendations.

Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to convey findings to diverse audiences.

Ability to lead teams, manage projects, and collaborate across departments.

Please attach the following documents when applying :

• Cover Letter-Yes
• Resume-Yes
• References-Yes (Can be provided at interview)
• Transcripts-No (Can be provided at interview)

Position Details

req2020

Grant Funded : No

Compensation Range : 99,229.00 - 130,564.00

Compensation Type : Salaried

Compensation : The pay for this position will be determined by your experience, education, and qualifications.

Work Schedule : M-F 8 a.m. - 4 : 30 p.m.

Work Hours : 40 hours / week

Testing : Yes

Targeted Hire Date : 11 / 20 / 2025

Benefits : Click to See Benefits Page

Special Instructions : Please attach all required documents at the time of application. Note : An official transcript is required at the time of hire.

EOE, including disability and veteran