Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics (Hybrid)

Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics (Hybrid)

University of California Merced

Job ID

73921

Location

Merced

Full/Part Time

Full Time

Hiring Range

The University of California, Merced is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The full salary range for this position is $105,900 - $204,700. The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $150,000. - 160,000.

Job Closing Date

This position is approved for a hybrid work modality. Incumbent will have remote opportunities although business needs will require flexibility in this fast-paced environment.

Initial applicant review will take place on or around November 19th, 2024. Initial interviews are targeted for the week of December 2nd.

About UC Merced

The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system's 10 campuses and the first American research university built in the 21st century. With more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students, UC Merced offers an environment that combines a commitment to diversity, inclusion, collaboration and professional development. With bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs, strong research and academic partnerships, and community involvement, the UC Merced campus is continually evolving and requires talented, knowledgeable and dynamic educators, researchers, management and staff.

Ranked among the best public universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, UC Merced is uniquely equipped to provide educational opportunities for highly qualified students from the San Joaquin Valley and throughout California. The campus enjoys a special connection with nearby Yosemite National Park, is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design and supports the economic development of Merced and the region.

The Merced 2020 Project, a $1.3 billion public-private partnership unprecedented in higher education and completed in 2020, nearly doubled the physical capacity of the campus, enhancing academic distinction, student success and research excellence. UC Merced also operates the Downtown Campus Center, a $33 million, three-story administrative building located in the heart of Merced.

The university's mission of educational excellence and rigorous inquiry is powered by three schools and numerous research institutes and centers that seek scientific and social solutions for the Valley, California and the world. In partnership with UC San Francisco, UC Merced is preparing the way for a rigorous medical education program.

The course of UC Merced's evolution is piloted by a long-range strategic plan. Enacted in 2021, the 10-year blueprint is guiding how the values of equity and justice influence our pathway to earning Carnegie R1 research status, growing enrollment, upholding our identity as a minority-serving institution, and operationalizing how commitments to equity, diversity and inclusion are enacted in each campus unit.

About the Job

The Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics will serve as a key partner for campus executives, including Vice Chancellors and Deans, and as the key campus data manager and analyst. The Director will leverage their expertise in data analytics best practices to inform, support and improve the university's decision-making processes, especially in mission critical areas such as enrollment management and retention and in support of the university's strategic goals. The Director will lead a team responsible for the analysis, interpretation, and reporting of institutional data to support strategic decision-making at the university. Working closely with their team of analysts, the Director will prioritize tasks, guide the development of action plans, and ensure the delivery of high-quality data products and decision support guidance for campus partners. They will oversee advanced analytical projects, apply best practices in institutional effectiveness, and utilize assessment frameworks to evaluate the impacts of these initiatives. The Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics will manage the data science lifecycle within the enterprise data and analytics platform, ensuring high confidence in data products through rigorous data modeling and reliability practices.

They will meet regularly with stakeholders to provide status updates, align on priorities, and adjust strategies as needed. The Director will focus on cultivating a proactive, learning-oriented environment within the team, fostering continuous improvement and skill development. Through effective leadership and collaboration, they will ensure that the analytics team consistently meets the evolving needs of the university while maintaining high standards of data reliability and impact. This role requires a strong understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles and the ability to communicate complex data in a clear and impactful manner to executive leadership and stakeholders across the university. UC Merced is continuing to invest in its data infrastructure and analytics modernization effort, with the first phase implementation of the IDEA Project (Institutional Data and Enterprise Analytics) completed in Spring of 2024. The IDEA Project enables the development of modern data architecture to support descriptive, diagnostic and predictive analytics through the utilization of Informatica for data management and governance and Snowflake Data Cloud for optimized data storage and warehousing. Future investments in data architecture will focus on enrollment management, student success and financial reporting.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Collaboration:

• Act as an internal consultant to executive leadership, providing expert analytic support to address their specific needs and inform high-level decision-making. Is seen as a collaborative, credible partner who operates with integrity and is highly conscientious.
• Provide managerial oversight to advanced analytical projects, ensuring that best practices are followed and the team's work meets the highest standards of quality and effectiveness.
• Foster ongoing professional development of the analyst team, both collectively and individually, helping them mature and grow throughout their careers with intentional learning opportunities.
• Partner with domain experts and faculty to enhance their understanding of program evaluation through data insights.
• Promote team building within the analytics team and with campus partners, encouraging collaboration, trust, and effective communication to strengthen the team's overall performance.
• Develop and execute strategic agendas in collaboration with university leadership, ensuring regular updates and progress tracking.
• Create roadmaps for collaboration and dashboard utilization, fostering a data-informed culture across the university.

Strategic Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Lead the development and analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) framed by equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles to inform institutional strategic discussions.
• Utilize advanced data analytics and statistical analyses to communicate institutional progress to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the development of analytical reports that serve as informational tools for campus stakeholders, summarizing key data insights and strategic outcomes.
• Communicate complex data situations in a simplified, direct manner, ensuring accessibility for executive leadership.
• Oversee the creation of yearly standard institutional research reports (IPEDS & UCOP).
• Oversee responses on behalf of the campus to local, state, and national statistical surveys (e.g., U.S. News & World Report, Times Higher Education), institutional questionnaires, and non-routine requests for data and information.
• Serve as the official campus contact with external organizations and state and federal agencies for information reporting.
• Oversee enrollment modeling and forecasting, both for short term and long-term projections. Utilize both historical enrollment data and current admissions cycle data to develop projections.

Data Management, Governance & Compliance:

• Oversee the development of the data science lifecycle within the enterprise data and analytics platform, ensuring that all stages - from data collection and processing to analysis and reporting - are optimized for accuracy, efficiency, and alignment with institutional goals.
• Implement and oversee data governance policies that balance the need for accessibility with security and compliance requirements, particularly in relation to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) activities.
• Manage the team's application of advanced data modeling and data reliability practices to ensure the highest level of confidence in the data products generated by the analytics team. This includes establishing standards for data quality, consistency, and accuracy, which are critical for effective decision-making.
• Lead initiatives to improve data literacy across the university, with a focus on enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions based on reliable and well-modeled data.
• Ensure adherence to data governance frameworks while fostering innovation and responsiveness in the use of institutional data to support the university's mission and strategic objectives.

Operational Management:

• Develop operational best practices that include the ongoing development of individual skills within the team, the standardization of operational practices, and the creation of knowledge artifacts that capture and disseminate institutional knowledge. This also involves ensuring a sound understanding of service management principles, which will enhance the team's ability to deliver consistent, high-quality support to the university community.
• Utilize assessment frameworks, creating a structured and consistent approach, to evaluate the efficacy of analytic projects and other campus programs, ensuring they support the university's strategic goals and priorities. Assist partners with their process improvement initiatives ensuring alignment with analytic results and supporting informed decision-making.
• Oversee the execution of strategic projects by implementing best practices of institutional effectiveness which includes setting clear objectives, monitoring progress, and evaluating outcomes to ensure continuous improvement.
• Ensure that project management approaches minimize reactionary behavior and focus on proactive, strategic planning. This includes building capacity within the team to anticipate challenges and respond with well-thought-out solutions that align with institutional priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in a related area or equivalent experience / training; and/or
• Advanced degree in Data Science, Business Analytics, Statistics, or a related field (preferred); and/or
• Doctorate or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Applied Math, or Social Science with quantitative method (preferred); and
• Five years of directly related, progressively responsible experience in a leadership role within an analytics or business intelligence environment, or experience leading teams in analytical projects and/or operations (required).
• Proven track record of working with higher education metrics with Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion focus (preferred).
• Ability to work in ambiguity, innovate without direction, and strategically approach complex challenges, especially acting as an internal consultant for executive leadership across campus.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders.
• Advanced knowledge of analytical modeling techniques such associated with diagnostic and predictive modeling.
• Advanced knowledge of data science lifecycles and tools, software and programming languages supporting the data pipeline such as R, Python, SQL, etc.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically about the role of data in achieving institutional goals.
• Experience managing teams in a matrix organizational structure.
• Demonstrated ability to manage analytic projects. Preference given to those who have demonstrated the ability to manage an analytics program with multiple projects occurring simultaneously.
• Ability to utilize process modeling in support of both the development and ongoing diagnostics of the enterprise analytics platform and when in consultation with stakeholders about their data analytic needs.
• Knowledge of academic operations, budgeting strategies and financial models.
• Familiarity with the operations of a university, with sound understanding of the organizational design and corresponding hierarchical responsibilities of key roles across campus.

Background Check

Background check required.

Policy Statement

How to Apply:

An online application is required for each position to apply. The University of California, Merced is aware that some web-based application processes may be cumbersome for differently abled applicants. Where appropriate, alternative accommodations will be provided. For applicants with disabilities who need additional assistance using TAM, or reasonable accommodations during the interview or search process, please contact

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The University of California, Merced is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, pregnancy, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, or other protected categories covered by the UC Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Policy. UC Merced intentionally promotes and maintains a discrimination- and harassment-free workplace by demonstrating it neither condones nor tolerates employment practices that discriminate against or harass any person or specific group of persons on the basis listed above. We seek candidates who will support our vision to cultivate a vibrant, equity-minded, inclusive excellence university community. When applying to UC Merced, we strongly encourage you to reflect on our Principles of Community and our 2021 strategic plan.

Vaccination Program Policy:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. For new University of California employees, the applicable deadline is 14 days after their first date of employment.

Smoke and Tobacco Free Policy:

The University of California, Merced is a smoke and tobacco free workplace. Information and the Smoke and Tobacco Free policy is available at

E-Verify:

All employers who receive Federal contracts and grants are required to comply with E-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify electronically verifies employment eligibility by comparing information provided on the I-9 form to records in the DHS and SSA databases. Certain positions funded by federal contracts/subcontracts requires UC Merced to notify job applicants that an E-Verify check will be conducted and the successful candidate must pass the E-Verify check.

Pay, Benefits & Work Schedule:

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University of California visit:

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