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Inside Higher Ed

DIRECTOR OF DATA ANALYTICS, Institutional Research

Inside Higher Ed, Boston

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DIRECTOR OF DATA ANALYTICS, Institutional Research

Boston University Information Services & Technology (IS&T) is seeking applicants with diverse skills and experiences to join our innovative and inclusive community. The Director of Data Analytics is a technically proficient and strategic leader responsible for designing and delivering a sophisticated analytics program that supports data‑informed decision‑making by senior leadership and central administration at Boston University.

Location: Boston, MA | Position Type: Full‑Time/Regular | Salary Range: $170,000.00‑$190,000.00.

Responsibilities

  • Advanced Analytics & Insight Generation: Develop predictive models and machine learning algorithms to support strategic initiatives like student success, enrollment forecasting, and space optimization. Extract actionable insights from complex datasets to inform university‑wide decisions. Develop an analytics program that includes evaluation of academic and administrative efforts for potential improvement and growth.
  • Analytics and Data Infrastructure: Build scalable analytics tools, automated reporting and processes, and secure reporting environments. Collaborate across departments to enhance data access, governance, and integration for improved decision‑making.
  • Reporting and Insight Delivery: Deliver clear, tailored reports and dashboards for senior leadership, ensuring accuracy and relevance in KPI tracking, benchmarking, and compliance.
  • Leadership and Team Development: Lead and mentor analytics staff, promote best practices in data science, automation, and foster collaboration across academic and administrative units.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as a liaison to campus and external groups, and champion data literacy among non‑technical stakeholders.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in statistics, data science, computer science, applied mathematics, higher education, or a related field.
  • Master's or PhD preferred but not required.
  • 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in data analytics, data science, or institutional research.
  • Advanced proficiency in Python, SQL, and R for data modeling, cleaning, and analysis.
  • Hands‑on experience with machine learning frameworks and statistical modeling.
  • Proficiency in data visualization platforms and programming libraries (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
  • Strong understanding of data engineering practices, including pipeline design, version control, and workflow orchestration.
  • Exceptional communication skills with the ability to articulate complex analyses to non‑technical audiences and senior leadership.
  • Demonstrated success leading analytic teams and managing high‑impact, cross‑departmental projects.

Bonus Qualifications

  • Higher education experience is ideal but not required.
  • Demonstrated experience with enrollment management concepts, modelling, and applications.
  • Experience in an R1 university or similarly complex academic institution.
  • Familiarity with higher education data systems (e.g., SIS, HRIS, LMS) and national higher education data sources (e.g., IPEDS, NSF HERD, Common Data Set).
  • Knowledge of higher education policy, strategic planning, or institutional effectiveness frameworks.
  • Knowledge of data governance practices, metadata management, or semantic modeling.
  • Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) and modern data stack tools (e.g., dbt, Airflow).

Benefits

Boston University offers an excellent benefits package including Time Off (PTO, paid intersession break, 13 paid holidays), Retirement (university‑funded retirement plan with full vesting after 2 years), Tuition Assistance Program, and professional growth opportunities (lunch and learn sessions, online courses, etc.).

Equal Opportunity

If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617‑353‑6474. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We, at IS&T, appreciate each individual's knowledge, experiences and insights which enhance who we are, and as our DEIA knowledge and practice grows, we will ensure that our Mission, Vision, & Practices remain equitable and welcoming to all.

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