Dean, Institutional Research

Dean, Institutional Research

Santa Monica College

Salary: $173,449.00 - $201,075.00 Annually

Job Type: Academic Administrator

Job Number: 00333

Location: 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405, CA

Closing: 7/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Duties

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND DIVERSITY

With the goal of ensuring the equal educational opportunity of all students, Santa Monica College embraces diversity among students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve as an integral part of our history, a recognition of the complexity of our present state, and a call to action for a better future. Embracing diversity means that we must intentionally practice equity and respect toward one another, and understand that discrimination and prejudices create and sustain privileges for some while creating and sustaining barriers for others. In order to embrace diversity, we also acknowledge that institutional discrimination and implicit bias exist, and that our goal is to eradicate those vestiges from our system. Our commitment to diversity requires that we strive to eliminate those barriers to equity, and that we act deliberately to create a safe and positive environment where individual and group differences are valued and leveraged for our growth and understanding as an educational community.

To advance the goals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice for the success of students and employees, we must honor that each individual is unique and that our individual differences contribute to the ability of the college to prepare students on their educational journeys. This requires that we develop and implement policies and procedures, encourage individual and systemic change, continually reflect on our efforts, and hold ourselves accountable for the results of our efforts in accomplishing our goals.

We are invested as a community in cultivating and maintaining a climate where equity and mutual respect are both intrinsic and explicit by valuing individuals and groups from all backgrounds, demographics, and experiences. Individual and group differences can include, but are not limited to the following dimensions: race, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, immigration status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, religion, creed, military or veteran status, socioeconomic status, and any other basis protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance or regulation. We acknowledge that the concept of inclusion and diversity is ever-evolving, thus we create space to allow our understanding to grow through the periodic review of this statement. In service of these goals, Santa Monica College is committed to fostering an employment environment that offers equal employment opportunity for all and an educational environment that ensures the equal educational opportunity of all students.

Position Profile

Under the general direction of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the District's comprehensive institutional research, planning, institutional effectiveness, and decision-support functions. Lead the integration of institutional research with strategic planning, accreditation, enrollment management, student success initiatives, resource allocation, and continuous institutional improvement processes. Provide leadership in the development and use of data-informed practices that advance institutional effectiveness, equity, student achievement, and organizational excellence.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

(Examples of key duties are interpreted as being descriptive and not restrictive.)

Institutional Research and Analytics

• Coordinate and oversee the District's comprehensive institutional research agenda in support of strategic priorities, operational planning, accreditation, and student success initiatives;
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research to identify trends affecting student achievement, enrollment, equity, workforce outcomes, institutional performance, and organizational effectiveness;
• Develop and maintain systems, dashboards, data repositories, predictive analytics tools, and reporting processes to improve institutional decision-making;
• Oversee the preparation and submission of required federal, state, accreditation, and Chancellor's Office reports and surveys;
• Ensure the integrity, accuracy, accessibility, and appropriate interpretation of institutional data;
• Collaborate with Information Technology, Enrollment Development, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and other divisions to improve data governance and reporting systems.

Planning and Institutional Effectiveness

• In consultation with senior leadership, lead and coordinate integrated institutional planning processes, including strategic planning, educational master planning, annual planning, and institutional effectiveness assessment;
• Facilitate the alignment of institutional plans, program review, resource allocation, enrollment management, facilities planning, technology planning, and equity initiatives;
• Coordinate the development, tracking, assessment, and reporting of institutional goals, objectives, metrics, and key performance indicators;
• Support the development and implementation of institutional effectiveness frameworks and continuous improvement systems;
• Provide leadership and technical support for participatory governance committees and institutional planning bodies.

Accreditation and Compliance

• Support institutional accreditation processes, including ACCJC substantive reporting, institutional self-evaluation, evidence collection, and continuous quality improvement activities;
• Coordinate institutional effectiveness and outcomes assessment processes related to accreditation standards;
• Assist divisions and departments in identifying and assessing institutional and program-level outcomes.

Strategic Leadership and Consultation

• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership regarding institutional trends, effectiveness indicators, policy implications, and planning priorities;
• Prepare and present analytical reports, environmental scans, forecasts, and planning studies to the Board of Trustees, senior leadership, governance groups, and external agencies;
• Represent the District at local, regional, state, and national meetings related to institutional research, planning, accreditation, and effectiveness;
• Promote a culture of evidence, inquiry, innovation, equity-mindedness, and data-informed decision-making across the institution;
• Provide leadership in evaluating institutional initiatives, grants, pilots, and student success interventions.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Supervise, evaluate, and support assigned personnel;
• Develop and manage assigned budgets and resources;
• Participate in participatory governance and administrative committees as assigned;
• Perform other administrative duties as assigned.

Personnel Management

• Supervise professional, technical, and classified staff assigned to institutional research, planning, effectiveness, accreditation support, or related functions.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Knowledge of institutional research methodologies, statistical analysis, forecasting, survey design, program evaluation, and higher education analytics;
• Knowledge of accreditation standards, institutional effectiveness practices, and integrated planning processes;
• Knowledge of California Community College accountability systems, student success metrics, and statewide initiatives;
• Ability to interpret and communicate complex data clearly to diverse audiences;
• Ability to lead collaborative planning and organizational improvement processes;
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, students, and external partners;
• Ability to facilitate evidence-based decision-making and organizational change;
• Ability to use a wide range of data management, statistical, visualization, and office software applications;
• Ability to work successfully in an atmosphere of collegial consultation and participatory governance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
• One year of formal training, internship or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrative assignment.
• Must have sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse socio-economic, academic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, including those with physical and/or learning disabilities as these factors relate to differences in learning styles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in institutional research, planning, institutional effectiveness, accreditation, strategic planning, or related administrative leadership in higher education.
• Experience applying advanced research methods, statistical analysis, data visualization, assessment methodologies, and planning frameworks.
• Administrative or supervisory experience in a college or university setting is desirable.

Additional Information

Academic Administrator Application Requirements
A standard application consists of the following:

• Online District Application
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Transcript

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE SELECTED FOR A FINAL INTERVIEW YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THREE (3) LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION TO BE REVIEWED AS A PART OF THE FINAL PROCESS.

Diversity Statement

Recent experience working with African American, Latinx, Native American, and other racially minoritized students in the classroom; and a willingness to use culturally responsive instructional practices.

Demonstrated sensitivity to issues of diversity, and ability to motivate and teach community college students of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, genders, cultures, and learning styles, as well as students with disabilities or varied levels of academic preparation.

Please review our Diversity Report: Faculty/Staff Diversity Reports - Santa Monica College (smc.edu)

Equity Statement

Santa Monica College encourages candidates that are equity-minded to apply. SMC is a minority-serving, Hispanic-serving institution. We actively seek to attract candidates from minority groups that value equity, diversity and inclusion. Equity, diversity and inclusion are built into the culture at SMC and are an essential component of the work that we do. SMC is committed to racial and socioeconomic diversity as it is a reflection of our student population and we strive to hire candidates that share this commitment.

Equal Employment Opportunity Disclosure

The Santa Monica Community College District is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants for employment, as well as District employees, shall have full and equal access to employment opportunity. No person shall be subjected to unlawful discrimination in any program or activity of the District. The District's Board Policy 3420 (Equal Employment Opportunity) may be accessed at: (Download PDF reader)

Equivalency Statement
The Santa Monica Community College District, in its desire to select outstanding employees from the largest possible pool of qualified applicants, recognizes the fact that candidates may attain expertise in a discipline through a variety of means. Certain combinations of education, experience and other accomplishments in the field may be judged by the District as equal to the stated minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who feel they possess such equivalent qualifications are encouraged to apply and provide appropriate documentation of their qualifications. If you are applying for the recruitment through equivalency based on work experience, you will be required to submit proof of your work history. For further details regarding equivalency criteria, please download the Equivalency Application Statement Form available at: (Download PDF reader)

Conditions of Employment

Appointment is subject to verification of official transcripts, current or previous employment, tuberculosis and fingerprint clearance. Selected candidate must provide identification and work authorization. In response to significant budgetary pressures facing the institution, this position is subject to two furlough days each month.

To apply, please visit