Associate for Institutional Research Data, Reporting, and Accountability

Location: Albany, NY • Category: Professional Positions • Job Type: Full-time • Posted: Tue Aug 11 2026

About the role

The Associate for IR Data, Reporting, and Accountability is a full‑time position within the Office of Institutional Research and Data Analytics (OIRDA) at SUNY System Administration in Albany, New York. The role supports institutional reporting, accountability initiatives, data collections, and the development of analytical and reporting products that inform decision‑making across the State University of New York. Working under the Director of IR Data, Reporting, and Accountability, the Associate contributes to the preparation, maintenance, quality assurance, and dissemination of reports, dashboards, briefing materials, data submissions, and analytical products for System Administration leadership, campuses, external agencies, and other stakeholders. The position works closely with OIRDA colleagues, SUNY campus counterparts, other System Administration offices, and external reporting partners to support accurate, timely, and consistent institutional research products and services. The Associate supports the Data, Reporting, and Accountability sub‑unit through data analysis, reporting, documentation, quality assurance, stakeholder support, and the collection, validation, and reporting of information needed to satisfy state and federal reporting requirements. The individual will be curious, resourceful, self‑motivated, detail‑oriented, and committed to contributing positively to a collaborative office environment. State Title: Associate for University Planning and Analysis (Grade MP4) – a Management Confidential position. Management/Confidential appointments work under the leadership and discretion of the appointing authority and are not represented by a union. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis; visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Responsibilities

• Review detailed campus data submissions and assist in their finalization to support accurate and reliable institutional reporting.
• Assist with assigned NYSED, IPEDS, SIRIS, and other internal or external data collection and reporting activities.
• Develop, maintain, and apply data definitions, business rules, data dictionaries, reporting specifications, documentation standards, validation procedures, and related reporting controls.
• Document analytical procedures, methodologies, assumptions, limitations, and reporting practices to promote transparency, consistency, and reproducibility.
• Collaborate with technical staff and OIRDA colleagues to support the integration, validation, and maintenance of internal and external datasets used for reporting and analytical purposes.
• Support data stewardship and quality assurance efforts to promote reliable, consistent, and accurate institutional reporting.
• Collaborate with SUNY campus personnel, System Administration offices, and external partners to support institutional reporting, data collection, and analytical activities.
• Assist stakeholders by responding to questions, coordinating information requests, supporting reporting collections and projects, and helping resolve issues related to reporting requirements, data definitions, business rules, and analytical findings.
• Participate in cross‑functional meetings, projects, initiatives, and workgroups related to institutional research, reporting, and accountability activities.
• Present or contribute to presentations, briefings, meetings, and discussions that communicate institutional research findings and reporting outcomes to campuses, System Administration stakeholders, and other audiences.
• Prepare, maintain, and enhance recurring institutional reports, dashboards, briefing materials, executive summaries, data visualizations, and other analytical products for System Administration leadership, campuses, and external stakeholders.
• Assist in the development, review, and refinement of presentations and other communication products used to convey institutional research findings to executive leadership, campuses, and external stakeholders.
• Conduct substantive and technical reviews of reports, presentations, briefing materials, dashboards, data visualizations, and supporting analyses to identify data quality issues, reporting anomalies, interpretation concerns, and opportunities for improvement while ensuring accuracy, consistency, methodological soundness, adherence to business rules, and clarity of communication.
• Provide recommendations to improve the organization, presentation, communication, and interpretation of institutional research findings for executive and external audiences.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of standard report formats, presentation templates, visualization practices, quality assurance procedures, and office reporting standards.
• Respond to recurring and ad hoc requests for data, information, analysis, and reporting support from System Administration leadership, campuses, and other stakeholders.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, public administration, data analytics, statistics, information systems, or a related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working in higher education.
• 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.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information effectively to technical and non‑technical audiences verbally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• 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.

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 with IPEDS, NYSED reporting, or other higher education reporting systems and data collections.
• 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 or interest in geographic information systems (GIS), geospatial analysis, ArcGIS, mapping, or other location‑based data visualization techniques.
• 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.