Director of Institutional Research & Data Analytics

Niagara University • Town of Lewiston, NY

2d

About The Position

The Director of Institutional Research & Data Analytics serves as Niagara University's primary data strategist and analytics expert. This hands-on technical lead and decision-support partner extracts, synthesizes, analyzes, and visualizes institutional data to support evidence-based decision-making, enrollment and retention strategy, internal operations, and required state and federal compliance reporting. The role combines technical expertise, familiarity with data architecture, project management, and executive-level communication. The Director collaborates with Information Technology, academic leadership, and administrative offices, and provides data and analytical support for accreditation, assessment, and strategic planning.

The position coordinates mandatory reporting and external surveys; develops institutional census data models, automated data snapshots, dashboards, and self-service tools; and conducts analytical studies to inform leadership decisions. It also supports enrollment, retention, student success, accreditation, assessment, planning, and data governance while maintaining confidentiality and compliance for student, employee, and proprietary institutional data.

Requirements

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum 4–5 years of progressive experience in institutional research, data analytics, business intelligence, or decision support, preferably in higher education.
• Demonstrated expertise in statistical analysis, modeling, and statistical software such as SPSS, R, or Python.
• Demonstrated expertise constructing and manipulating large datasets and creating repeatable reporting workflows.
• Demonstrated expertise designing user-friendly dashboards.
• Experience working with enterprise software such as Ellucian Colleague, Slate, or Canvas and its underlying data structures.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and complex projects independently.
• Ability to communicate technical and statistical findings clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build cross-departmental relationships.
• Exceptional attention to detail, commitment to data precision, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to perform desk-related work involving sitting, extensive hand and wrist movements, and use of computers and office technologies, with reasonable accommodations as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a solo or small-team institutional research environment.
• Experience with compliance reporting.
• Experience with Entrinsik Informer.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and serve as keyholder for mandatory state and federal reporting, including IPEDS and NYSED.
• Lead completion, validation, and submission of external guidebook and benchmarking surveys, including U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, College Board, and NSSE.
• Build and maintain a sustainable institutional census data model using Entrinsik Informer, including automated workflows to capture, freeze, and archive point-in-time enrollment and related data.
• Design, build, and maintain interactive business intelligence dashboards and self-service data tools for executive leadership, deans, and department heads.
• Translate quantitative data into narratives, visualizations, and executive summaries to inform university strategy and policy.
• Conduct ad hoc analytical queries and specialized research studies in response to institutional priorities and leadership requests.
• Conduct longitudinal cohort studies, predictive retention modeling, and student success research to identify factors affecting retention and graduation outcomes.
• Partner with academic and administrative departments to develop program-level retention and outcome models for program reviews, grant reporting, success initiatives, and operational decision-making.
• Provide data, trend analyses, and benchmarking evidence for university and specialized academic program accreditation.
• Supply performance metrics, KPI tracking, and comparative peer group data for strategic planning.
• Assist departments with survey design, methodology, and statistical analysis for institutional surveys.
• Collaborate with IT and other stakeholders to ensure data integrity, consistent definitions, and data hygiene across enterprise systems.
• Contribute to data governance initiatives, including standard definitions, data dictionary documentation, and single-source-of-truth reporting protocols.
• Maintain confidentiality and compliance regarding student, employee, and proprietary institutional data.

Benefits

• Low-cost health benefits.
• 403(b) employer contribution.
• Affordable tuition at Niagara University for the employee and eligible immediate family members.
• Tuition exchange at designated universities for eligible dependent children.
• 20 holidays annually.
• PTO.
• Half-day Fridays throughout the summer.
• Approved employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• Free parking.
• On-site dining options and coffee at Tim Horton's and Starbucks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director