Executive Director for Institutional Research and Planning

About the role

Southern University at Shreveport, Louisiana (SUSLA) is accepting applications for the Executive Director for Institutional Research and Planning. SUSLA is a comprehensive community college serving Shreveport, Bossier City, and surrounding areas in Northwest Louisiana. It is one of five campuses constituting the Historically Black Southern University System. The University serves approximately 3,000 undergraduate students and offers 32 undergraduate degrees and certificate programs in a variety of fields including Allied Health, Nursing, Aerospace Technology, Business Studies, Behavioral Science/Education and Science & Technology.

Responsibilities

• Direct and supervise the activities and services of the Institutional Research and Planning department. Organize and prioritize the workflow, staff assignments, office budget management to attain department and divisional goals.
• Manage institutional research and assessment processes through data standards, validation, integration, protection and governance; direct and prioritize research requests.
• Design and oversee the infrastructure needed for accurate data collection and analysis to support high priority institutional projects and requests, external requests and to meet the regulatory, reporting, and public relations needs of the University.
• Elevate the use of information to enable data-informed decision-making across every level of the institution.
• Work collaboratively with faculty, staff and administrators to develop, maintain and support the research and planning needs that facilitate student access and success.
• Maintain a research oriented, web-based, data warehouse system containing multiple, customized views suitable for extracting information to respond to federal, state and local surveys/questionnaires and to comply with federal, state and local data collection/accountability requirements.
• Prepare and deliver written and oral presentations on the findings, results, implications and recommendations of research studies for student service programs, instructional programs, and policies, etc.
• Manage assigned financial resources in compliance with federal, state, and university policies and procedures.
• Maintain competency and professional currency through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, and attending other professional development activities.
• Serve as a member of ongoing and ad hoc leadership groups, taskforces, and other University committees.

Qualifications

• A master's degree or higher in data analysis, computer science, statistics, educational research or a related field.
• At least four years of significant and relevant experience in a higher education management role that includes experience in supervising employees, building teams, and planning and executing data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Demonstrated expertise in institutional research and reporting and in qualitative and quantitative research design and analysis.
• Experience with research software applications (e.g., SAS, SPSS, R) and integrated higher education management software.
• Proven ability to present detailed and complex data in different formats and/or to utilize media to present to different audiences.

Compensation

Commensurate with experience

Type

Full-time

Application Deadline

Review of applications begins July 10, 2026 and continues until position is filled.

Application Instructions

The application can be filled out online at SUSLA's Application for Employment. *Note: If you are an internal candidate, please fill out the Internal Employment Application.

Please attach cover letter, resume, transcript(s), and three references to application.

Equal Opportunity

Criminal background check and reference verification is required.