Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) - Asst VP for Institutional Research & Assessment
About The Position
Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) seeks a highly collaborative and analytically sophisticated leader to serve as Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Assessment (AVPIRA). This critical role will drive institutional decision-making, continuous improvement, and student success at the nation’s only independent public college of art and design. This is an exceptional opportunity to make a visible, campus-wide impact at a small, mission-driven public institution where creativity, curiosity, and collaboration define the culture, and where data is viewed as a powerful tool for storytelling, innovation, and informed action. Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the AVPIRA role works in close partnership with senior leadership across the College to translate data into insight and action with measurable impact. This is a compelling time to join MassArt, as the institution builds on strong momentum following a successful accreditation review cycle, the completion of a refreshed Strategic Partnership Plan , and stable, committed senior leadership in place. MassArt is poised to use data in more intentional, creative, and transparent ways to inform enrollment strategy, academic planning, program development, and resource allocation. In addition to influencing decision-making on campus, the AVPIRA will engage with external partners and professional networks, including membership in the Colleges of the Fenway consortium, ProArts consortium, statewide data collaboratives, and relevant higher education and arts organizations, strengthening MassArt’s connections, benchmarking practices, and influence across the sector. This is a hands-on, campus-based role for a systems thinker and trusted advisor who can build effective data practices, communicate findings clearly to diverse audiences, and help foster a shared culture of evidence-informed decision-making within a vibrant and highly creative academic community. The successful candidate will be a nimble and collaborative leader with deep expertise in institutional research, assessment, analytics, and accreditation. Working closely with academic and administrative partners across campus, the AVPIRA will lead efforts to align data collection, analysis, and reporting with institutional priorities, state and federal requirements, and ongoing strategic initiatives. Of particular importance is the ability to translate complex quantitative and qualitative data into compelling narratives and visualizations that resonate with varied audiences, including faculty, staff, senior leadership, and the Board, to support continuous improvement across the institution. This is a fully on-site position and offers a generous benefits package .
Requirements
- Demonstrated experience identifying appropriate assessment methods and process surveys as well as directing the analysis of assessment data documentation processes and results.
- Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects simultaneously; design, organize, and manage complex projects.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, as well as the ability to present complex data in a clear and concise manner to a lay audience.
- Knowledge of state and federal agencies and regulations pertaining to data collection and research in higher education or not-for-profit organizations.
- Ability to motivate, manage, and supervise a team to achieve goals.
- Expertise in creating an inclusive approach and working effectively with a diverse constituency on-campus and in the community.
- Master’s degree
- Seven or more years’ experience at a senior level in business intelligence/data analysis, data-driven decision-making, quality improvement, institutional research, or related fields in higher education or not-for-profit organizations
- Professional experience in experimental design, building sophisticated statistical models via multivariate and/or path analysis, regression, segmentation, decision trees, and/or time series
- Superior proficiency in computer applications, including spreadsheet, word-processing, and database software; functional knowledge of computer statistical applications for data acquisition and analysis (e.g., SPSS, SAS, Qualtrics)
- Excellent communication skills and demonstrable ability to clarify and simplify data so those who are not versed in data analysis understand the information and how best to use it
Nice To Haves
- Higher education experience
- Massachusetts or other public higher education experience
- Creativity, flexibility, tenacity, optimism, high energy level, and sense of humor
Responsibilities
- Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of a system of integrated planning, assessment, and evaluation across the institution to include research and analysis, environmental scanning, peer comparisons, benchmarking, trend analysis, key performance indicators, and reporting progress on initiatives to inform institutional decision making.
- Provide guidance and support to the President, Provost, and senior leadership in planning, strategic initiatives, and institutional improvement.
- Develop statistical models and/or customized analyses to support enrollment and retention goals for the College.
- Collaborate with Information Technology, Finance, Student Success and Enrollment Management, and other College departments to ensure integrity of data from all sources, both internal and external.
- Provide predictive analytics in support of the Strategic Plan.
- Coordinate reporting efforts to eliminate redundancy and increase effectiveness.
- Prepare data and communications for review, submission, and/or information sharing with a range of internal and external stakeholders including the Department of Higher Education, Board of Trustees, accrediting entities, and government agencies.
- Support planning, goal setting, and assessment work with an equity lens across academic departments, student success services, and other administrative areas.
- Support academic departments in data needs for end-of-year reports and program reviews.
- Serve as the College’s primary accreditation liaison.
Benefits
- Health Insurance : Medical insurance along with life insurance, and long-term disability through the Commonwealth’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC).
- MetLife Dental and vision coverage is also offered through MetLife
- Retirement Plans: Participation in the Massachusetts State Employees’ Retirement System and additional optional savings plans including 403b and 457b plans
- Flexible Spending Accounts: Healthcare spending account as well as a dependent care assistance program. Both are pre-tax annual use or lose programs
- Employee Assistance Program: AllOne Health is our EAP provider offering a variety of free confidential assistance to all our employees
- Generous Paid Leave: Vacation, sick, and personal
- Other Leaves: FMLA, PFML, and other state or federal programs
- Commuter Transit and Parking Benefits: Qualified transportation program allows use of pre-tax dollars to purchase passes, a monthly subsidy for non-drivers, and access to Longwood Medical Area shuttles
- Professional Development: Access to training, workshops, and creative resources
- Campus Perks: Free admission to the MassArt Art Museum (MAAM), cultural events, and employee discounts at local museums
- Work-Life Balance: Wellness programs and flexible scheduling options (where applicable)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
