Fast Facts

Daemen University seeks a Director of Institutional Research to manage institutional data collection and support decision-making to enhance student outcomes and institutional effectiveness.

Responsibilities: Oversee data collection and analysis, manage reporting projects, ensure data integrity, and support institutional accreditation and compliance efforts.

Skills: Proficiency in statistical software, data management tools, survey design, and strong analytical skills are required; familiarity with data governance is preferred.

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 2 years experience in institutional research preferred; a Master's degree is a plus.

Location: Amherst, New York, USA

Compensation: $60405 - $60405 / Annually

Daemen University is a dynamic, independent, liberal arts institution committed to excellence in student centered learning. The University places special emphasis on preparing students for excellence in professional life, civic engagement, and on instilling and understanding that learning is an exciting lifelong journey. Students are encouraged to be creative, innovative, ethically minded leaders for an ever-changing, diverse, and interconnected world.

The Mission of Daemen University is to prepare students for life and leadership in an increasingly diverse and complex world through the integration of education and professional preparation. Daemen University is going beyond instrumental needs to foster the development of individuals who are dedicated to the health and well-being of local and global communities.

Purpose of Role

The Director of Institutional Research position supports in the collection, organization, and maintenance of institutional data to support decision-making, reporting, and compliance functions across the university. The Director of Institutional Research will determine project prioritization, including negotiating, defining, and clarifying requests. These efforts include, but are not limited to, yearly assessment efforts, strategic planning, grant support, and accreditation requirements, along with other data and reporting needs attributed to the support and improvement of the University as a whole.

About This Opportunity

Joining our Registrar team, the Director of Institutional Research will be responsible for the following:

• Manage and organize a process for data/information project completion and delivery, including new, recurring and ad hoc projects and requests
• Collect, clean, analyze, validate, and interpret data from various sources including student information systems, surveys, and national databases.
• Oversee the collection of academic and administrative trend information and analyzing, evaluating, and presenting the results (e.g. Fact Book, Common Data Set)
• Perform routine data integrity checks to ensure accuracy and consistency across databases.
• Work closely with other offices to gather and/or present information about Daemen University to external audiences (e.g. Peterson's, Princeton Review, Open Doors, NCAA and various local media outlets)
• Prepare regular reports for internal stakeholders (e.g., enrollment trends, retention and graduation rates, academic performance).
• Support external reporting requirements such as IPEDS, state education departments, accrediting bodies, and consortia (e.g., CDS, US News, MSCHE).
• Collaborate with departments to identify data needs and provide analytical support for institutional planning, assessment, and improvement efforts.
• Design and maintain interactive dashboards and visualizations for strategic decision-making using platforms such as Tableau, Power BI, or similar tools.
• Conduct predictive and longitudinal analyses related to student success, enrollment forecasting, and institutional effectiveness.
• Assist in survey administration and analysis (e.g., NSSE, CIRP, alumni outcomes).
• Assist with the preparation of state, federal, and accreditor-mandated data reports (e.g., IPEDS, Middle States, NYSED).
• Promote data literacy among faculty, staff, and administrators
• Ensure data security, confidentiality, and compliance with FERPA and other regulations.
• Participate in professional development and stay current on trends in institutional research and higher education analytics.

Required Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience with student information systems (e.g., Ellucian Colleague, Banner, PeopleSoft).
• Knowledge of institutional effectiveness, accreditation processes, and assessment practices.
• Experience with survey design and analysis.
• Familiarity with data governance and data warehousing principles.
• Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R, or Python) and data management tools (e.g., SQL, Excel).
• Experience with reporting and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with keen attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Ability to communicate complex information effectively to non-technical audiences.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Statistics, Social Sciences, Data Science, Education, Business Analytics).
• Preferred Master's degree in related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in institutional research, data analysis, or a related field within higher education.
• Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R, or Python) and data management tools (e.g., SQL, Excel).
• Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States at the time of hire

Total Compensation

Daemen University offers a robust total compensation package that includes:

• Health insurance with an option of two plans: an HSA plan with the deductible funded by employer HSA contributions, or a copay plan.
• Dental insurance through the Guardian network.
• Vision insurance through the Guardian network, and an option between the VSP or Davis plans.
• An 8% employer contribution to the retirement savings account when employees contribute just 5%.
• Fully paid long term disability insurance, guaranteed-issue life insurance for new hires up to a volume of $150,000.
• Tuition waiver for full-time employees and their qualified dependents. Entrance in Tuition Exchange scholarship opportunities to pursue education at other institutions.
• Generous time off for administrative and staff employees.

Daemen University strongly encourages all campus community members to get vaccinated for COVID-19, including a booster vaccine.