Associate for Institutional Research Collaborative Services and Special Studies

Location: Albany, NY | Full-time | Hybrid position requiring on-site presence 50% of the time

About the role

The Associate for IR Collaborative Services and Special Studies is a full-time position within the Office of Institutional Research and Data Analytics at SUNY System Administration in Albany, New York. The position supports SUNY's Institutional Research Collaborative Services initiative and broader System Administration priorities through applied research, advanced analytics, campus consultation, and the development of analytical products that inform planning, policy, resource allocation, academic programming, and student success efforts across the State University of New York.

Working under the direction of the Director for IR Collaborative Services and Special Studies, the Associate works with participating campuses, OIRDA colleagues, System Administration offices, and external partners to identify campus and system-level needs, develop data-informed approaches, and deliver customized metrics, dashboards, surveys, reports, analyses, and special studies. The position supports accurate, actionable, and methodologically sound institutional research products and services, including work related to labor markets, demographics, enrollment pipelines, transfer and completion, student outcomes, data quality, governance, and other emerging issues facing higher education and New York State.

Responsibilities

• IR Collaborative Services:
  • Build strong, collaborative relationships with participating campuses and coordinate IR Collaborative Services projects to deliver high-quality, actionable information.
  • Support the development of customized metrics, key performance indicators, benchmarking tools, dashboards, reports, and other analytical products, as needed by participating campuses and outlined in collaborative service contracts.
  • Provide consultation, technical guidance, and analytical support on institutional effectiveness, data governance, assessment, reporting, analytical methodologies, data quality, and SUNY System tools and platforms.
  • Develop labor market, demographic, longitudinal, predictive, and ad hoc analyses using existing and newly identified data sources.
  • Support the development, administration, analysis, and reporting of individualized campus surveys, including related reports and dashboards.
  • Document analytical procedures and methodology and prepare regular IR Collaborative Services accountability reports.
• Special Studies and Applied Research:
  • Support the development and execution of complex, system-wide research studies and analytical projects.
  • Conduct labor market, workforce demand, employer needs, and occupational trend analyses to support academic planning.
  • Conduct demographic and population trend analyses to identify enrollment opportunities, student populations, and regional trends.
  • Conduct special studies related to student success, retention, completion, transfer, workforce outcomes, economic mobility, educational equity, and other strategic priorities.
  • Design and implement advanced analytical methodologies, predictive models, and longitudinal research studies using multiple internal and external data sources.
  • Prepare reports, policy briefs, presentations, and technical documentation to communicate findings and recommendations.
• General Office:
  • Review campus data submissions and assist with finalization to support accurate, reliable data.
  • Collaborate with OIRDA colleagues to coordinate cross-unit work, strengthen operational effectiveness, and support continuous improvement in institutional research, accountability, and reporting.
  • Collaborate with SUNY campus counterparts and colleagues across System Administration, as needed and appropriate.
  • Assist with ad hoc requests for information, data, and analysis.
  • Represent OIRDA and IR Collaborative Services on committees, working groups, and special initiatives.

Requirements

• Master's degree in higher education administration, public administration, data analytics, statistics, information systems, or a related field.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience working in higher education.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience working with complex, large-scale data sets, including applying appropriate techniques to validate, analyze, summarize, and interpret data.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing software and technology tools to support data analysis, reporting, validation, visualization, and communication activities, including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint, Oracle Analytics, or similar technologies.
• Demonstrated experience working with data definitions, business rules, validation procedures, documentation standards, or related data governance practices.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare clear, accurate, and well-organized reports, presentations, briefing materials, dashboards, visualizations, or analytical summaries.
• Strong attention to detail, including the ability to identify errors, inconsistencies, and potential issues in data, reports, presentations, graphics, and supporting documentation.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and complete assignments with a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong project management, organizational, and follow-through skills, including the ability to develop and execute work plans, prioritize tasks, manage multiple research and analytics projects, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated experience working with and leading a diverse array of partners and stakeholders in a collaborative, efficient, and productive manner.
• Demonstrated experience developing metrics and key performance indicators, preferably as they pertain to higher education.
• Intermediate/advanced proficiency with data analysis, statistical methods, and/or predictive analytics.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least five (5) years of experience working in higher education, preferably in institutional research, reporting, accountability, enrollment management, assessment, or a related area.
• Experience within SUNY, another state university system, or a large multi-campus higher education organization.
• Experience supporting the creation, enhancement, and quality review of institutional reports, presentations, dashboards, briefing materials, and other analytical products.
• Experience working with data from multiple internal and external sources, including data validation, reconciliation, quality assurance, and analysis.
• Experience developing dashboards, data visualizations, interactive reports, or other analytical products using tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Oracle Analytics, SPSS, SAS, or similar technologies.
• Experience translating analytical findings into reports, presentations, briefing materials, or other deliverables for a variety of audiences, including campuses, executive leadership, state agencies, or policy-making bodies.
• Experience supporting strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, performance measurement, assessment, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of FERPA, data privacy requirements, records management practices, and/or secure data handling standards.
• Familiarity with labor market and demographic data, tools, and resources.
• Experience working on issues specifically impacting 2-year colleges.
• Experience with survey design, administration, analysis, and reporting.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $80,000–$95,000 annually. Individual starting salaries are determined based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. While the full range is provided for transparency, starting salaries generally fall near the entry to midpoint of the range.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Several health insurance options at an affordable cost that provide full coverage without mandatory deductibles.
• Dental and Vision: Free dental and vision coverage.
• Retirement: Choice between a fully funded pension plan and a self-driven defined contribution plan, along with two supplemental plans to increase retirement savings.
• Time Off:
  • 13 paid holidays per year.
  • 15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick time accrued for the first year of employment, increasing thereafter.
  • Additional paid leave policy options for childbirth, adoption, elder care, and other family care situations.
• Parental Leave: Full pay during parental leave.
• Tuition Assistance: Available for employees.
• Flexible Working Arrangements: Including hybrid schedules, depending on position.

Schedule

This is a 3-year term appointment. The position is hybrid, requiring on-site presence 50% of the time, typically alternating between three days on-site one week and two days on-site the next.

Travel is required for occasional in-person meetings at campuses participating in SUNY's IR Collaborative Services program, system-wide and external meetings, and job-related conferences or trainings.