Executive Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness

Position Description

The Executive Director of Institutional Research (IR) will use data to support institutional decision-making, strategic planning, and assessment. The successful candidate will have experience overseeing data collection, analysis, and reporting, as well as leading research studies to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and policies. They will play a crucial role in ensuring data integrity, compliance with regulations, and promoting a data-informed culture across the institution.
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About North Park
Founded in 1891, North Park University is a Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church of over 3,200 students from around the country and the world. Located for over 125 years on the land of the Miami and Potawatomi tribes in what is today Chicago’s northside, NPU has recently been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution and is committed to serving diverse populations. Elevating North Park University’s core distinctives of Christian, city-centered, and intercultural, NPU values diversity among its Faculty and is committed to building a racially and culturally diverse intellectual community, and strongly encourages the nomination and candidacies of persons who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color regardless of gender.

North Park University is located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes in the United States. It is nine miles from downtown Chicago. The North Park campus has often been referred to as an oasis in the heart of the city – a place where students from urban, rural, and suburban backgrounds alike can call home. And all of this within the major metropolitan backdrop of Chicago: one of the world’s largest and most diversified economies, renowned for its museums and music, and voted best large city in the U.S. for four years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler.

Mission

The mission of North Park University is to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.

Vision

Building on our core institutional identity—Christian, city-centered, intercultural—our vision is to create a university of uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith, learning, and service meet.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary:

• Data Management and Analysis: Overseeing the collection, organization, and maintenance of institutional data, including longitudinal datasets and survey data.
• Reporting and Communication: Preparing and disseminating reports for internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies and accrediting bodies.
• Strategic Planning: Providing data-driven insights to support the institution's strategic planning process and policy development.
• Assessment and Evaluation: Leading or supporting research studies to evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs, student learning outcomes, and institutional policies
• Compliance and Accreditation: Ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional reporting requirements and supporting accreditation processes.
• Data Governance: Developing and implementing data governance policies and procedures to ensure data integrity, security, and ethical use.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborating with various campus units, including IT, academic affairs, student engagement, advising, and enrollment management, to ensure cohesive data strategies.

Desired Outcomes:

• Contribute to a Data-Informed Culture: Promoting data literacy and providing training and consultation to faculty and staff on the use of institutional data.
• Improved Institutional Effectiveness: Contribute to continuous improvement in teaching, learning, and operational efficiencies within the institution.
• Enhanced Student Success: Provide data on student outcomes, helping identify areas where interventions and support are needed to improve student success.
• Policy Influence: Shape institutional policies and practices through data-informed decision-making.
• Increased Funding Opportunities: Data analysis and reporting to support grant writing and resource allocation efforts, potentially leading to increased funding for the institution.

Salary Range for this position is $110,000 to $135,000, depending on experience.

Qualifications

Required:

• Master’s degree in relevant field of study such as statistics, mathematics,  business or other related discipline
• Five to seven years’ of increasingly progressive experience involving statistical research,  review, analysis, interpretation and reporting required
• Possess extensive knowledge of critical data analysis and reporting tools, including SQL,  statistical analysis packages (such as SPSS, SAS, R) data visualization tools (such as  Microsoft Power BI or Tableau) and other appropriate alternative software to the extent  required to effectively perform the essential functions of the position
• Familiarity with Ellucian Colleague or similar Enterprise Resource Planning Software
• Experience in a college or university institutional research or institutional effectiveness  office or a similar administrative information support service
• Proven ability to effectively guide/lead a diverse team
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Possess a clear understanding and personal commitment to North Park University’s mission of Christian higher education
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development