Director of Institutional Research

Job Description

The search will remain open until the position is filled; however, to be considered for the initial screening, candidates should submit a complete application package by September 17, 2023.

Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC) welcomes applications for a Director, Institutional Research. VPCC is located on the Virginia Peninsula in the heart of Hampton Roads, a region renowned for being the birthplace of America and home to communities rich in culture and industry. Bordering the Chesapeake Bay, the region boasts beaches, major attractions, world-class museums, and a vibrant visual and performing arts scene. The area is known for its economic vitality, which includes being home to several military bases, ship building facilities, the NASA Langley Research Center and Jefferson Lab, major colleges and universities, and varied commercial industries and enterprises.

VPCC is a comprehensive community college, offering a variety of programs of study leading to an associate’s degree, certificate, or career studies certificate. In addition to the many popular transfer degree programs, the college is known for its strong career & technical programs and its outreach to the community as a partner and leader in workforce development.

Founded in 1967, VPCC serves over 8,500 students each year in credit instruction and over 2,500 in non-credit instruction and workforce services. The College is served by over 80 full time faculty, 200 adjunct faculty, and 150 staff members. Faculty and staff are strategic and responsive, committed to understanding and meeting the needs of the region.

The College has two campuses, one in Hampton and the Historic Triangle Campus located in Williamsburg. The College also has a satellite site at the Southeast Higher Education Center in Newport News. The communities served by the College are the Cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and the Counties of James City and York.

The Director of Institutional Research directs the institutional research and reporting functions of the College; serves as the lead and point of contact for all research and surveys involving College data; provides data support for tracking progress on the strategic plan; works with faculty to identify and assess program and student learning outcomes, oversees program reviews and regular assessments of student learning; coordinates and conducts college-wide assessments; supports SACSCOC accreditation reviews and related efforts; and establishes infrastructure for systematically tracking improvement efforts and achievements college-wide. The Director of Institutional Research reports to the Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Transformation and performs other duties as assigned by the Vice President.

Data and Information Support

• Serves as the College’s primary source of data and information used to inform decision-making, assess student learning, promote institutional effectiveness, and fulfill reporting requirements
• Identifies, collects, analyzes, interprets, and reports accurate data in a timely and consistent manner to meet internal and external reporting requirements
• Gathers, formulates, and presents historical information and projections of internal and external data to support College operations
• Coordinates the development and implementation of systematic programs that track institutional planning, assessment, and change efforts and cycles, including the College’s strategic plan
• Oversees the acquisition and interpretation of data needed for program evaluation, grant development, student outcomes, and assessment studies and planning processes
• Conducts analytic and modeling studies as required to improve enrollment planning, management, and scheduling
• Provides oversight for the design, implementation, and analysis of college-wide surveys
• Reviews and approves internal and external requests for data to support dissertation and other research studies
• Serves as the SCHEV Reports Coordinator and IPEDS Keyholder for the College, ensuring that all state and federal reports are submitted in a timely and accurate manner
• Identifies and implements effective technologies and support systems for sharing pertinent information with the College community and promoting transparency in student outcomes and other related data

Program and General Education Assessment

• Coordinates the College’s calendar and processes for educational program assessment
• Provides professional development and support for program chairs and other faculty who lead educational program assessment efforts in their divisions
• Works with the Academic Assessment Committee to establish general education assessment calendars and processes, and to implement assessment plans for each year

Institutional Planning

• Coordinates annual planning and unit planning processes to support the College’s strategic goals and initiatives
• Provides professional development and support for unit leads and others involved in institutional and unit planning efforts

Accreditation

• Provides critical support for the College’s regional accreditation processes and helps promote and document compliance with all requirements and accreditation standards related to student achievement, assessment, and annual and unit planning
• Remains knowledgeable of current regional accreditation standards and policies
• Provides professional development and support regarding pertinent regional accreditation standards and compliance expectations

Office Operations

• Supervises, supports, and evaluates all staff assigned to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment
• Develops and manages the office budget to ensure fiscal responsibility and adequate support for the office’s operations
• In conjunction with office staff, develops and implements goals and objectives to advance and support the College’s mission and strategic plan.

Special Assignments

May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

KSA's/Required Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• A master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• Experience in coordinating institutional research operations, designing and conducting assessment programs, actively participating in self-study efforts and documenting compliance with accreditation standards, and developing and implementing assessment and evaluation plans to inform improvements

Specialized knowledge and experience in:

• Leading institutional research and assessment operations in a higher education setting
• Interpreting and assessing compliance with SACSCOC or other regional accreditor standards
• Interacting with enterprise-scale data systems and translating large amounts of data into actionable information
• Supervising personnel with effective training approaches and communication techniques
• Planning, implementing, and monitoring budgets

Skills in:

• Statistical analysis and data analytics
• SQL programming and relational databases
• Strategic and annual planning
• Survey design and development
• Oral and written communication
• Financial management and budgeting
• Presenting information to leadership groups and decision-makers
• Leading teams and promoting a team-oriented environment

Ability to:

• Effectively analyze data, present it to diverse audiences, and use results to inform decision-making
• Work cooperatively with multiple constituencies, both internal and external
• Write effective and accurate reports
• Maintain confidential and sensitive information
• Resolve problems and identify effective alternatives and recommendations
• Manage multiple tasks
• Be organized and detail oriented

Additional Considerations

Community college experience

Direct experience with SACSCOC reporting and reaffirmation efforts

Experience with data modeling and predictive analytics

Special Instructions to Applicants

Additional Information

Background Check Statement Disclaimer

The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/

EEO Statement

The Virginia Community College System, an EEO employer, welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and recognizes the benefits of a diverse workforce. Therefore, the VCCS is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications. We prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disabilities, political affiliation, veteran status, gender identity, or other non-merit factors.

ADA Statement

The VCCS is an EOE and Affirmative Action Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), VCCS will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing and selection processes.

E-Verify Statement

VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.

Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.vccs.edu/postings/64995