Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Research and Analysis and Chief Data Officer

About the Role

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) is a historically Black university located in Durham, North Carolina, also known as "The City of Medicine," and has been a cornerstone of education since 1910. The Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Research and Analysis and Chief Data Officer provides institution-wide strategic leadership for institutional research, data governance, and enterprise data strategy, with significant responsibility for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, security, and effective use of university data. The position serves as a senior advisor to the Provost and University leadership, translating complex institutional data into actionable information that supports strategic planning, resource allocation, accreditation, compliance, and institutional decision-making.

Primary Function of the Organizational Unit

The Office of Institutional Research & Analysis (OIRA) is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive institutional data strategy that integrates institutional research, official reporting, data governance, and data intelligence. OIRA oversees the collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of institutional data to provide timely, accurate, and actionable information for executive leadership, academic and administrative units, governing boards, external agencies, and other stakeholders. OIRA establishes and leads a robust data governance framework that promotes standardized data definitions, quality assurance, stewardship, compliance, and responsible data management. The Office supports institutional enrollment management, assessment, program review, accreditation, and academic planning by collecting, integrating, analyzing, and reporting a range of institutional data and information. OIRA also responds to requests for institutional data from federal agencies and other external organizations.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the quality, accuracy, and veracity of ERP and institutional data, including data integrated with the core ERP (Banner) system.
• Establish and maintain efficient procedures and controls for accurate and consistent data collection within the ERP.
• Provide leadership for data governance, including the development and implementation of a comprehensive data dictionary, data standards, and established protocols.
• Collaborate with Information Technology Services (ITS) to establish consistent standards for operational reporting and data presentation.
• Partner with ITS and campus stakeholders to ensure appropriate data security, access controls, and protection measures are established and maintained.
• Establish clear distinctions and requirements for transactional, operational, and institutional reporting, ensuring campus stakeholders understand the appropriate use and purpose of each.
• Empower Institutional Research staff through the use of advanced data analysis skills, tools, and technology to strengthen institutional capacity for data-informed decision-making.
• Identify and leverage emerging opportunities in enrollment management, academic program management, and resource allocation through effective analysis and use of institutional data.
• Lead and manage a comprehensive institutional research program that supports the University's mission and strategic goals.
• Develop and implement a clear vision for the function that is responsive to the broad institutional need for information and useful to a wide range of internal and external customers.
• Engage with NCCU leaders to determine their data, reporting, and analysis needs and ensure that the office is delivering the kind of data and analysis required by all constituencies.
• Prepare, publish, and present reports to campus management in support of institutional planning, campus policy-making, and strategic decision-making.
• Charge the department with developing novel studies and reports that support creative decision-making and produce studies with real institutional impact.
• Oversee the creation of yearly standard Institutional Research reports, such as the annual statistical portraits, as well as ad hoc reports, as requested.
• Oversee responses on behalf of the campus to local, state, and national statistical surveys, questionnaires, and non-routine requests for data and information.
• Ensure the delivery of the quantitative and qualitative research and analysis of data relevant to institutional policy, programmatic, and planning needs.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in institutional research, data analytics, business intelligence, strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, data governance, or a closely related field.
• At least five (5) years of supervisory and management experience leading professional staff and complex institutional initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic data analysis and executive-level decision support for senior university leadership.
• Experience managing official institutional reporting to federal, state, accreditation, and governing agencies (e.g., IPEDS, UNC System, state agencies, SACSCOC, or comparable organizations).
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing enterprise data governance practices, including data quality standards, stewardship, policies, and institutional data definitions.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects involving academic affairs, enrollment management, finance, information technology, and institutional effectiveness.
• Demonstrated experience using business intelligence, data visualization, and analytics platforms to develop executive dashboards and self-service reporting tools.
• Experience translating complex data into actionable recommendations for executive leaders, governing boards, and other stakeholders.
• Evidence of experience in data translation; advanced data management; statistical analyses and predictive modeling analysis of short and long-term trends critical to strategic planning, financial decision-making, and reporting to internal and external constituencies.
• Comprehensive skills and programming experience with relational database software, Microsoft BI stack, business intelligence tools, and OLAP structures.
• Advanced proficiency in relevant components of Microsoft Office, including Access and Excel.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills – both verbal and written.
• Ability to effectively interact with internal and external constituents of diverse backgrounds and present detailed and complex data in different formats and to different audiences.
• Prior experience with OLAP, Banner by Ellucian, and experience working with and supporting Tableau are strongly preferred.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Master's degree from an accredited institution in Institutional Research, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Data Analytics, Statistics, Information Systems, Computer Science, Educational Research, Social Sciences, or a closely related field.
• Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in a related discipline is preferred.
• Possess both the capacity to understand how data systems interact with multiple institutional functions, and the managerial expertise to collaboratively devise solutions to meet multiple needs.
• Five to seven years of job-related experience.

Benefits

• Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave
• Community Service Leave
• NC State – Health Benefits
• NCFlex – Vision, Dental, Flexible Spending Account, Life Insurance and more
• 11-12 Paid Holidays
• Teachers and State Employees Retirement System (TSERS)
• Optional Supplemental Plans – 401k, 403b, 457b and 457
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Campus Recreation Center Discount
• University Bookstore Discount and more

Additional Information

This is a permanent, full-time, exempt position (1 FTE = 40 hours/week, 12 months) and is not tenure track. The salary is competitive and will be determined based on the candidate's educational background, relevant experience, qualifications, and demonstrated expertise. The work location is fully on-site with a dedicated office at the duty station. This position is classified as Officials & Managers (EEO-1 Category) under SOC Code 11-9033 – Education Administrators, Postsecondary.