Director of Strategic Analytics

About the role

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a Director of Strategic Analytics to lead the development of analytic data solutions that support institutional decision-making, planning, and strategic data use.

Responsibilities

• Guide the development of IR&A data solutions that support IR&A’s work and alignment with CSUCO and system needs.
• Lead the oversight, coordination, and modernization of IR&A data collections and analytics infrastructure, including the Enrollment Reporting System, Financial Aid Database, course data collections, APDB, and related systems, in partnership with technical and functional stakeholders.
• Manage the lifecycle of IR&A dashboards and reports, including requirements development, building, validation, publish, refresh monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and scale forecasting models and scenario tools that support policy, planning, and executive decision-making.
• Review and approve high-impact analytic deliverables for methodological rigor, consistency, and comparability across time and campuses.
• Lead development and upkeep of analytics standards (methods notes, documentation expectations, change logs, assumptions, and review checklists).
• Establish and maintain reusable templates and shared assets (certified metric specifications, cohort rules, and standard analytic datasets).
• Set expectations for version control and reproducible workflows for analytic code and recurring outputs; require appropriate peer review practices.
• Promote knowledge sharing and continuous improvement to increase efficacy and reliability of analytics delivery.
• Manage workflows for certified KPIs, cohort definitions, and business rules (effective dates, versioning, and stakeholder sign-off).
• Implement and maintain data validation routines in IR&A data collections (completeness, duplicates, distribution shifts, and year-over-year anomaly checks).
• Coordinate issue intake, triage, and resolution for data quality and definition discrepancies; document root causes and durable fixes.
• Lead cross-functional teams to refine definitions, assumptions, and reporting structures for enterprise metrics and decision support.
• Develop a consistent approach for planning and prioritizing work (intake, scoping, timelines, stakeholder alignment, risk escalation).
• Partner with CSUCO and campus stakeholders on data specifications, refresh schedules, and improvements to data collection and integration processes.
• 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.
• Cook staff workloads and timelines to meet reporting deadlines for state, federal, and other agencies.
• 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 with data analytic strategies and optimizing outcomes/analyses.
• Proficiency in one or more of the following statistical packages: SAS, SPSS, STATA, R.
• Strong working knowledge of SQL and modern analytics tools such as Snowflake, Databricks, and/or Python, sufficient to set expectations and review complex work products.
• Proficiency in one or more of the following Business Intelligence software tools: Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, Amazon QuickSight.
• Ability to translate complex analyses for technical and non-technical audiences.
• 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.
• Able to maintain efficient working relationships.
• Intellectual agility and the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment with minimal supervision, and effectively prioritize, recognize conflicts, and seek or recommend solutions.
• Able to adapt to new information and make informed decisions when responding to evolving circumstances while maintaining a focus on goals and objectives.
• Strong project leadership and stakeholder partnership across campuses and system offices.

Benefits

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $162,792 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Premium benefits include comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits, a generous vacation plan, 15 paid holidays a year, a tuition waiver education program, and membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).