Director of Institutional Research and Data Management
University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
Director of Institutional Research and Data Management
Location:
UC Santa Cruz Main Campus
Appointment Information
Salary:
$200,000 - $230,000 annually
Benefits:
Full benefits
Schedule:
Full-time, 40 hours per week, Mon-Fri, day shift
Classification:
Career appointment
Job Code:
BUS SYS ANL MGR 2 (000655), Grade 27
Travel:
Rarely
Job Summary The Director of Institutional Research and Data Management serves as the campus data champion, providing strategic leadership for a comprehensive institutional research and data infrastructure program that supports academic planning, enrollment management, institutional reporting, policy development, and strategic decision-making at a major research university. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Budget Analysis and Planning, the Director oversees institutional research, data management, analytics, and reporting functions, ensuring the integrity, security, accessibility, and strategic use of institutional data.
They lead a team of analysts and data professionals, manage the university’s data warehouse and emerging data platforms, and serve as a key liaison to internal and external stakeholders, including system-wide offices and national data consortia. The role is part of a multi-year data and reporting modernization effort known as the Common Data Platform (CDP).
Job Duties
30% Strategic Leadership & Institutional Research
Lead a comprehensive institutional research and data strategy aligned with the university's mission and strategic goals.
Develop and implement a vision for data‑informed decision‑making across academic and administrative units.
Oversee the production of analytical and statistical studies to support institutional planning, policy development, and student success.
Guide the development and dissemination of standard reports (e.g., Fact Books, Campus Profiles) and ad hoc analyses.
Represent the university in inter‑institutional data exchanges and external reporting efforts (e.g., IPEDS, U.S. News, AAUDE).
Provide data‑driven insights to support executive decision‑making, strategic planning, and institutional effectiveness.
Oversee the design and execution of research studies and surveys on student success, academic programs, and institutional performance.
Serve as a key advisor to senior leadership on policy development, enrollment trends, and resource planning.
30% Data Management & Stewardship
Direct the development, maintenance, and modernization of institutional data and reporting systems, including data warehouses and cloud‑based platforms.
Lead the institution's data stewardship efforts, defining and standardizing institutional data elements.
Establish and enforce data governance policies, ensuring data integrity, internal controls, and compliance with FERPA and other regulations.
Ensure data systems are secure, compliant, cost‑effective, and responsive to institutional needs.
Collaborate with IT, data stewards, and subject matter experts to streamline data integration across enterprise systems.
15% Project Leadership & Innovation
Lead multi‑year planning and implementation of data and reporting modernization initiatives, including the Common Data Platform.
Direct complex projects involving data architecture, reporting infrastructure, and analytics tools.
Promote a culture of innovation, assessment/continuous improvement, and proactive problem‑solving.
Partner with campus source system stewards, business process owners, offices of record, system users and constituency groups, IT partners, third‑party vendors, and consultants.
15% Staff and Resource Management
Lead, manage, recruit, and train professional analysts, data scientists, and technical staff.
Conduct annual performance evaluations and provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development.
Establish and communicate clear goals and performance expectations aligned with Budget, Analysis, and Planning, and campus priorities.
Provide feedback, address concerns, and ensure staff perform duties in line with the unit's and university's objectives.
Foster a positive, inclusive work environment that encourages accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
Manage unit budgets and allocate resources to support strategic priorities and operational excellence.
10% Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on data trends, enrollment forecasting, and institutional performance.
Partner with IT, enrollment management, academic affairs, and other units to align data strategies with institutional needs and deliver actionable insights.
Lead or participate in campus‑wide committees related to enrollment, planning, assessment, and data governance.
Represent the institution in system‑wide and national data consortia and professional organizations.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience and/or training.
Extensive experience in and strong passion for empirical research and answering hard questions with data.
Experience in successfully leading change management activities and managing their impact across multiple areas.
Experience managing ongoing technology infrastructure acquisition and expansion, including identification and integration of emerging technologies.
Experience adapting, integrating, and modifying existing programs, reports, or vendor‑supplied products within a large and complex technical environment.
Advanced knowledge of business intelligence practices and tools (e.g., SAP BusinessObjects, Tableau), data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, SQL, GitHub), programming, and report writing.
Advanced proficiency with data visualization tools, statistical tools, and data retrieval and manipulation tools.
Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, project management, collaboration, organizational leadership, facilitation, problem‑solving, oral and written communication, interpersonal skills and customer service orientation.
Demonstrated management skills to assess, evaluate, coach, and mentor professional and technical staff.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree in a related area.
Deep expertise in institutional research, data infrastructure and analytics, and higher education policy and planning.
Special Conditions of Employment
Background check and employment misconduct disclosure required.
Compliance with UCSC vaccination policy and UC compliance training.
Work primarily on campus with possible remote work as needed.
Ability to travel nationally and to multiple work locations.
Adherence to data protection, privacy, and confidentiality requirements.
EEO/AA Statement The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti‑Discrimination Policy. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti‑discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.
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UC Santa Cruz Main Campus
Appointment Information
Salary:
$200,000 - $230,000 annually
Benefits:
Full benefits
Schedule:
Full-time, 40 hours per week, Mon-Fri, day shift
Classification:
Career appointment
Job Code:
BUS SYS ANL MGR 2 (000655), Grade 27
Travel:
Rarely
Job Summary The Director of Institutional Research and Data Management serves as the campus data champion, providing strategic leadership for a comprehensive institutional research and data infrastructure program that supports academic planning, enrollment management, institutional reporting, policy development, and strategic decision-making at a major research university. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Budget Analysis and Planning, the Director oversees institutional research, data management, analytics, and reporting functions, ensuring the integrity, security, accessibility, and strategic use of institutional data.
They lead a team of analysts and data professionals, manage the university’s data warehouse and emerging data platforms, and serve as a key liaison to internal and external stakeholders, including system-wide offices and national data consortia. The role is part of a multi-year data and reporting modernization effort known as the Common Data Platform (CDP).
Job Duties
30% Strategic Leadership & Institutional Research
Lead a comprehensive institutional research and data strategy aligned with the university's mission and strategic goals.
Develop and implement a vision for data‑informed decision‑making across academic and administrative units.
Oversee the production of analytical and statistical studies to support institutional planning, policy development, and student success.
Guide the development and dissemination of standard reports (e.g., Fact Books, Campus Profiles) and ad hoc analyses.
Represent the university in inter‑institutional data exchanges and external reporting efforts (e.g., IPEDS, U.S. News, AAUDE).
Provide data‑driven insights to support executive decision‑making, strategic planning, and institutional effectiveness.
Oversee the design and execution of research studies and surveys on student success, academic programs, and institutional performance.
Serve as a key advisor to senior leadership on policy development, enrollment trends, and resource planning.
30% Data Management & Stewardship
Direct the development, maintenance, and modernization of institutional data and reporting systems, including data warehouses and cloud‑based platforms.
Lead the institution's data stewardship efforts, defining and standardizing institutional data elements.
Establish and enforce data governance policies, ensuring data integrity, internal controls, and compliance with FERPA and other regulations.
Ensure data systems are secure, compliant, cost‑effective, and responsive to institutional needs.
Collaborate with IT, data stewards, and subject matter experts to streamline data integration across enterprise systems.
15% Project Leadership & Innovation
Lead multi‑year planning and implementation of data and reporting modernization initiatives, including the Common Data Platform.
Direct complex projects involving data architecture, reporting infrastructure, and analytics tools.
Promote a culture of innovation, assessment/continuous improvement, and proactive problem‑solving.
Partner with campus source system stewards, business process owners, offices of record, system users and constituency groups, IT partners, third‑party vendors, and consultants.
15% Staff and Resource Management
Lead, manage, recruit, and train professional analysts, data scientists, and technical staff.
Conduct annual performance evaluations and provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development.
Establish and communicate clear goals and performance expectations aligned with Budget, Analysis, and Planning, and campus priorities.
Provide feedback, address concerns, and ensure staff perform duties in line with the unit's and university's objectives.
Foster a positive, inclusive work environment that encourages accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
Manage unit budgets and allocate resources to support strategic priorities and operational excellence.
10% Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on data trends, enrollment forecasting, and institutional performance.
Partner with IT, enrollment management, academic affairs, and other units to align data strategies with institutional needs and deliver actionable insights.
Lead or participate in campus‑wide committees related to enrollment, planning, assessment, and data governance.
Represent the institution in system‑wide and national data consortia and professional organizations.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience and/or training.
Extensive experience in and strong passion for empirical research and answering hard questions with data.
Experience in successfully leading change management activities and managing their impact across multiple areas.
Experience managing ongoing technology infrastructure acquisition and expansion, including identification and integration of emerging technologies.
Experience adapting, integrating, and modifying existing programs, reports, or vendor‑supplied products within a large and complex technical environment.
Advanced knowledge of business intelligence practices and tools (e.g., SAP BusinessObjects, Tableau), data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, SQL, GitHub), programming, and report writing.
Advanced proficiency with data visualization tools, statistical tools, and data retrieval and manipulation tools.
Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, project management, collaboration, organizational leadership, facilitation, problem‑solving, oral and written communication, interpersonal skills and customer service orientation.
Demonstrated management skills to assess, evaluate, coach, and mentor professional and technical staff.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree in a related area.
Deep expertise in institutional research, data infrastructure and analytics, and higher education policy and planning.
Special Conditions of Employment
Background check and employment misconduct disclosure required.
Compliance with UCSC vaccination policy and UC compliance training.
Work primarily on campus with possible remote work as needed.
Ability to travel nationally and to multiple work locations.
Adherence to data protection, privacy, and confidentiality requirements.
EEO/AA Statement The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti‑Discrimination Policy. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti‑discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.
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