Director, Institutional Research

About the Role

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a Director, Institutional Research to provide leadership for systemwide institutional research, official reporting, and research and evaluative inquiry that inform CSU policy, planning, accountability, and resource decisions. The Director serves as a subject matter expert on higher education reporting requirements, research methods, student success indicators, and institutional effectiveness, ensuring that data and analyses used for decision-making are accurate, timely, methodologically sound, and clearly interpreted. In partnership with IR&A leadership and staff, Chancellor's Office and campus stakeholders, the Director advances research and reporting that support CSU's strategic goals and ensures that internally- and externally-facing data products are accurate, relevant, and fit for use.

Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the Interim AVC for Institutional Research and Analyses, the Director, Institutional Research will perform duties as outlined below:

• Produce research and analyses that contextualize academic, student success, equity, affordability, workforce, and enrollment outcomes for planning, accountability, and leadership decision-making.
• Oversee annual, term-based, and ad-hoc official reporting cycles for federal, state, and Chancellor's Office purposes.
• Manage preparation and submission of IPEDS surveys and related federal reporting, including edits, reconciliations, and documentation of assumptions and year-over-year changes.
• Maintain authoritative reporting definitions and cohort logic across reporting contexts, partners with technical teams to certify and operationalize those definitions.
• Oversee data validation and reconciliation routines for Enrollment Reporting System, including completeness checks for required elements, reasonableness tests, and year-over-year anomaly review, for priority data domains.
• Lead or oversee evaluation designs for system initiatives and campus programs, including pre/post analyses, matched comparisons, and quasi-experimental approaches where feasible.
• Develop measurement plans that define outcomes, cohorts, comparison approaches, and reporting cadence for priority initiatives.
• Synthesize research findings to inform accountability, strategic planning, policy implementation, and institutional effectiveness.
• Oversee Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), data-sharing agreements, and external research partnerships to ensure necessary appropriate use, privacy/security compliance, and alignment with CSU priorities; coordinate internal review, approvals, and fulfillment as needed.
• Collaborate with the Director of Strategic Analytics to ensure dashboards, KPIs, and analytic tools are aligned with official reporting definitions.
• Ensure required enrollment reporting elements are captured in the enrollment reporting system, maintained through change cycles, and validated prior to official reporting and KPI publication.
• Lead and supervise IR&A staff by setting priorities, assigning and monitoring projects, and ensuring high-quality deliverables aligned with CSU goals.
• Oversee the operations and performance of direct reports by setting expectations and providing coaching and professional development.
• Coordinate staff workloads and timelines to meet reporting deadlines.
• Support continuous improvement efforts for data systems, processes, and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., statistics, economics, data science, computer science, information systems, public policy, or related quantitative discipline) or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in analytics, institutional research, or decision support, including leadership of complex projects and/or supervision.
• Experience leading institutional research, reporting, evaluation, analytics, or related teams and projects.
• Background in statistical analysis, program evaluation, research design, and/or measurement planning.
• Proficiency in one or more of the following statistical packages: SAS, SPSS, STATA, R.
• Experience using data reporting and visualization tools to support interpretation and communication of research findings using Tableau, Power BI, or similar BI platforms.
• Ability to translate complex analyses for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to interpret reporting guidance and translate it into clear definitions and business rules.
• Experience working in a diverse professional environment and ability to communicate effectively professionally, both verbally and in writing.
• Experience in collaborating effectively and efficiently with senior level administrators and executives.
• Ability to maintain efficient working relationships.
• Intellectual agility and ability to function independently and make independent judgments with minimal supervision, be able to prioritize, recognize conflicts, and the ability to seek or recommend resolutions.
• Flexibility and the ability to pivot and navigate a complex and dynamic work environment with rapidly changing priorities.
• Ability to adapt to new information and make informed decisions when responding to evolving circumstances while maintaining a focus on goals and objectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Professional experience working in higher education or large complex system.

Pay

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $162,792 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Schedule

Flexibility to telecommute two days a week, with three days on-site at the main headquarters in Long Beach, California.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Generous vacation plan
• 15 paid holidays a year
• Tuition waiver education program (also applies to eligible family members)
• Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)