Director of Analytics & Institutional Research

All Job Postings Will Close At 12:01 A.M. Ct On The Specified Closing Date (If Designated).

Working Title:

Director of Analytics & Institutional Research

Institution:

Minnesota State University, Moorhead

Classification Title:

State Prog Admin Manager Sr

Bargaining Unit / Union:

220: Managerial Plan

City:

Moorhead

Flsa:

Job Exempt

Full Time / Part Time:

Full time

Employment Condition:

Classified - Unlimited

Salary Range:

$43.38 - $62.41

Position Purpose:

Minnesota State Moorhead invites applications for a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as Director of Analytics and Institutional Research. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Strategic Initiatives, the Director will provide strategic leadership to transform institutional data into actionable intelligence that shapes long-term strategy, strengthens student success outcomes, and advances the university’s mission. This position will provide managerial level leadership and strategic direction and serve as the subject matter expert for analytics and institutional research. The Director serves as a catalyst for continuous improvement, ensuring that analytics inform executive decision-making, guide resource allocation, and foster a culture of accountability and evidence-based planning across the institution. This role leads a team of two analysts and collaborates extensively with partners across the institution, including IT, Admissions, Financial Aid, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Marketing, and Administration, to build a culture of evidence and data-informed decision-making. The Director of Analytics and Institutional Research will be responsible for determining, securing, and allocating the human, financial and other resources needed to accomplish objectives. The decisions this position makes will have impact across the entire university.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Provide managerial level visionary leadership for the university’s data and analytics strategy, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and System Office initiatives.
• Direct the design and application of research methodologies, performance metrics, and predictive analytics that strengthen institutional effectiveness and inform enrollment forecasting, financial aid optimization, student success initiatives, and resource allocation.
• Develop procedures, processes, and policies necessary to ensure the university’s data and analytics strategy is in alignment with priorities and initiatives for both the department and overall institution priorities and initiatives.
• Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure progress toward strategic priorities such as student success, academic quality, equity, financial sustainability, and mission fulfillment.
• Conduct scenario planning and trend analyses to deliver actionable insights that help senior leadership anticipate challenges, mitigate risks, and capitalize on opportunities.
• Translate data into institutional impact by guiding campus leaders to understand strengths, identify areas for improvement, and allocate resources for maximum return on investment.
• Partner with leaders across IT, Admissions, Financial Aid, Academic Affairs, and Student Affairs to ensure that data systems, reporting, and analytics directly support institution-wide enrollment management, student success, and operational excellence.
• Build campus-wide capacity for evidence-based decision-making by creating dashboards, tools, and self-service analytics that empower leaders and stakeholders to engage with data effectively.
• Foster a culture of data literacy and accountability by providing training, resources, and guidance that promote ethical, transparent, and confident use of analytics.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, ensuring that data insights are clearly communicated, strategically aligned, and consistently used to drive measurable institutional outcomes.

Supervision of Analytics & Institutional Research Department

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for the Analytics & Institutional Research department, ensuring alignment with Moorhead’s mission and values.
• Lead, supervise, and evaluate staff, including hiring (determining staffing need and selection), promoting, rewarding, assigning work, and ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements and Minnesota State policies.
• Develop and mentor a team of two analysts, setting clear priorities, fostering professional growth, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, timely, and impactful analytics services.
• Cultivate a collaborative, service-oriented, and innovation-driven environment that enhances the department’s contribution to institutional priorities.

Data Visualization and Communication

• Oversee the design, development, and maintenance of dashboards, scorecards, and visual reporting tools that translate complex data into accessible and actionable insights.
• Present findings and trends in a clear, compelling, and decision-ready format for institutional leaders, governing boards, and campus stakeholders.
• Manage the adoption of self-service technology as the university’s primary tool for broad dissemination of analytics.
• Construct advanced enrollment models to predict first-year admission yield, student profile, and discount rate, and partner with Enrollment Management to use results in meeting recruitment and revenue goals.
• Build predictive analytics for retention, student success, housing, and financial operations, ensuring staff understand and act on insights to improve outcomes.

Data Compliance and Reporting

• Oversee timely, accurate, and compliant submission of required reports to federal, state, system, and accrediting agencies (e.g., IPEDS, HLC, Minnesota State).
• Serve as the University Data Practices Compliance Official (DPCO), ensuring institutional adherence to data governance, privacy, and security standards.
• Develop procedures, processes, and policies necessary to ensure institutional adherence to data governance, privacy, and security standards.
• Stay informed of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in reporting and analytics, integrating them to continuously enhance institutional data strategy.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Perform other duties as assigned to ensure the smooth functioning of the department and maintain the reputation of the organization as a viable business partner.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in institutional research or data analytics within higher education — including at least three years of working with data warehouses, data marts, data validation, and self-service data tools. Plus, experience working in higher education, data science, statistics, public policy, analytics, social science, or a related field. A Doctorate degree may substitute for two years of experience; Master’s degree may substitute for 18 months of experience; Bachelor’s degree may substitute for one year of experience; Associate’s degree may substitute for six months of experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including supervising professional staff and managing projects.
• Strong technical skills in data analysis, visualization, and reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Excel, SPSS, R, or SQL).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage large, systemwide projects from inception through execution and evaluation, determining project scope and deliverables, creating clear action steps, building project requirements and budgets, managing project constraints, costs and deadlines, and communicating progress and end results.

Preferred Qualification:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., higher education, data science, statistics, public policy, analytics, social science).
• Familiarity with student information systems (e.g., Banner, Workday, PeopleSoft)
• Experience in a public university or within the Minnesota State system.
• Understanding of student success, enrollment management, and financial aid metrics.
• Experience supporting regional accreditation efforts (e.g., Higher Learning Commission).
• Knowledge of data governance, data ethics, and FERPA compliance.
• Demonstrated success working in cross-functional teams to support institutional priorities.

Other Requirements:

• The successful candidate must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States by the day employment begins. The University regrets that we are unable to offer H1-B sponsorship at this time.
• A completed application will include a resume and cover lette
• Sitting, standing, lifting, extensive keyboard work, and limited travel. This position is required to work periodic evenings or weekends for events.
• Must be able to lift/ carry equipment and materials occasionally  

Work Shift (Hours / Days of work):

Monday - Friday / 8:00am - 4:30pm

Telework (Yes/No):

No

About:

Minnesota State Moorhead is a vibrant community that pushes you to forge your own path. Help shape a campus where students thrive, connect, and lead!

Benefits Information:

At Minnesota State, we have a GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Our generous benefits include 11 paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Time, six weeks of Paid Parental Leave, low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500), a Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options, pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, as well as professional development and a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents, etc.  We promote the health and well-being of our employees and take work/life balance seriously.

Desired Start Date:

11-14-2025

Position End Date:

Open Date:

09-30-2025

Close Date:

10-21-2025

Posting Contact Name:

Christine Adams

Posting Contact Email:

christine.adams@mnstate.edu