Director of Institutional Research and Analytics

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Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

The Director of Institutional Research & Analytics will lead the Office of Institutional Research & Analytics (OIRA), a core function of the Office of the Provost that supports Harvard’s leadership by providing institutional data analysis and reporting. OIRA serves as a trusted resource for implementing best practices in data synthesis and translation and supports a broad set of university functions. 

In this role, the position will direct the development and execution of a portfolio of strategic analytics projects for the University in partnership with the Associate Provost for Institutional Research & Analytics and the Associate Director for Analytics. The Director will also provide guidance and strategic management of the office’s institutional reporting function. The Director will manage both the Institutional Research and Strategic Analytics teams within OIRA. 

The Director will be responsible for working with stakeholders across the University on institutional research, survey, and analytics consulting projects that leverage existing data resources, encourage the integration of multiple data sets across traditional organizational boundaries, and involve rigorous and robust statistical methods. 

The Director is an expert in research design, statistical analysis, and data visualization, with a proven ability to communicate complex findings to various audiences. This position reports directly to the Associate Provost for Institutional Research & Analytics and is a highly visible role within the University’s analytics community.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

The Director of Institutional Research & Analytics will play a pivotal role in OIRA by identifying ways to improve efficiency in the institutional reporting function and by managing the office’s growing set of analytics and consulting projects. Outlined below are the primary focus areas for this position. However, the expectation is that as OIRA’s portfolio expands, the responsibilities of the Director of Institutional Research & Analytics may evolve. 

Analytics Strategy Development & Execution

• Collaborate with the Associate Provost and Associate Director for Analytics to develop an analytics portfolio strategy and technical infrastructure to support effective communication.
• Lead the execution of the analytics strategy.
• Curate and manage the portfolio of analytics projects, ensuring projects remain within scope and within established timelines.
• Provide leadership on emerging institutional analytics trends and technology.

Analytics Consulting Leadership

• Lead discovery and scoping efforts on new analytics consulting projects.
• Advise stakeholders on the most effective design for the analytics consulting project. 
• Advise and align with stakeholders on timelines for project milestones and completion, and ensure effective communication with stakeholders throughout the lifecycle of projects.
• Oversee and provide subject matter expertise to the Strategic Analytics team on consulting efforts. 
• Allocate consulting project work amongst team members to ensure efficient use of resources and time.
• Conduct reviews of outputs and deliverables for analytics consulting projects.

University Reporting Leadership

• Oversee the reporting function of OIRA to ensure the office responds to requests for data in an efficient and timely manner.
• Identify ways the Strategic Analytics team can effectively support the Office's reporting needs and priorities.
• Collaborate with University partners to identify and refine data collection processes and tools to support the OIRA reporting team.

OIRA Team Management

• Create, maintain, and iterate on an effective learning and development approach for the OIRA team.
• Establish metrics to measure the effectiveness of the OIRA team’s efforts.
• Collaborate with the Director of Data Strategy & Governance on opportunities for OIRA staff to contribute to developing the University’s data strategy. 
• Stay abreast of opportunities, challenges, and emerging trends relating to data at the University.

Accreditation Coordination

• Collaborate with the Associate Provost for Institutional Research & Analytics on accreditation coordination, as well as internal and external communications.

Data Literacy & Community Building

• Serve as a leader for the University on analytics best practices and methodologies, and share these practices via university-wide collaboration.
• Support analytics and institutional research community-building efforts across the University.
• Partner with the Director of Data Strategy & Governance on data literacy initiatives and other data-related community-building efforts.

Basic Qualifications are the minimum threshold a candidate must meet in order to be considered for this role.

• Master’s degree 
• 8+ years of experience working as a data analytics and/or institutional research leader. 

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Strong understanding and knowledge of data management, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and data communication strategies. 
• Experience leading and managing consulting projects across a variety of stakeholders and clients 
• Knowledge of data security, privacy, and compliance regulations and requirements. 
• Experience working with executive leadership and technology teams at large, complex higher education institutions. 
• Strong ability to develop a strategic vision, influence business and technology stakeholders to buy into the vision, and effectively execute the vision. 
• Senior leadership experience leading data analysts and data science teams across complex organizations.

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Harvard University requires pre-employment reference and background screenings: Identity and Education
• Other Information: 
  • This position will have a 3-month orientation and review period.

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 060. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.