Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness & Data Analytics

About Us

Middle Georgia State University (MGA), a multi-campus, baccalaureate and graduate degree-granting public institution, is the most affordable public state university in Georgia. MGA has five campuses-Macon, Cochran, Dublin, Eastman, and Warner Robins, all located in central Georgia-and global outreach through its fully-online campus. Its enrollment of 8,400 students is largely comprised of students from most of Georgia's 159 counties. The University has six academic schools, including Georgia's flagship aviation program, that support its mission to educate and graduate inspired, lifelong learners whose scholarship and careers enhance the state.

Job Summary

The Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Data Analytics provides leadership for institutional effectiveness (IE) functions across the enterprise, while also overseeing the Office of Institutional Research (IR). Reporting directly to the Chief Planning Officer/Vice President for Institutional Strategy, this position serves as a critical partner in integrated strategic planning, accreditation, and evidence-based decision-making.

The Executive Director is responsible for building a comprehensive IE framework that establishes consistent divisional-level assessment practices aligned with the university¿s strategic priorities. Concurrently, this position will lead the restructuring and modernization of the IR function to encompass traditional reporting, national and institutional survey implementation and development, and the emerging area of predictive analytics.

Responsibilities

Institutional Effectiveness Leadership -
Develop and implement a university-wide institutional effectiveness framework that integrates assessment, program review, and continuous improvement processes across all divisions.
Establish divisional IE practices and assessment protocols that align with institutional strategic priorities and accreditation standards.
Partner with academic and administrative units to build a culture of evidence-based decision-making and continuous quality improvement.
Serve as a key contributor to institutional and programmatic accreditation processes.
Design and deliver professional development opportunities to build institutional capacity for assessment, planning, and data-informed practice.
Develop and deliver regular reports and briefings to the President's Cabinet on institutional effectiveness outcomes, survey findings, and analytics insights, in coordination with the Vice President for Institutional Strategy, to inform strategic decision-making and institutional priorities.

Institutional Research Oversight and Restructuring -
Provide strategic direction and supervisory oversight for the Office of Institutional Research.
Lead the restructuring of the IR function into three core areas: (1) traditional/compliance reporting, (2) national and institutional survey implementation and development, and (3) predictive analytics.
Ensure timely, accurate completion of all federal, state, and system-level mandatory reporting requirements (e.g., IPEDS, state accountability reports, system data submissions).
Oversee the administration, analysis, and dissemination of national surveys (e.g., NSSE, CCSSE, HERI) and develop institution-specific survey instruments to support strategic planning and assessment.
Champion the development of a predictive analytics capability, including early-stage modeling for student success, enrollment forecasting, and resource optimization.
Serve as a key participant in institutional data governance efforts, contributing to the development and enforcement of data policies, standards, and stewardship practices.

Strategic Planning and Institutional Strategy -
Serve as a key member of the institutional strategy team, contributing directly to the development, implementation, and monitoring of the university¿s integrated strategic plan.
Collaborate with the Vice President for Institutional Strategy to align IE and IR activities with strategic goals, performance metrics, and accountability structures.
Develop dashboards, scorecards, and data visualizations that communicate institutional performance and strategic plan progress to internal and external stakeholders.
Provide analytical support for key strategic initiatives, including enrollment management, student success, academic program development, and resource allocation.
Represent the institution on system-level committees, consortia, and professional organizations as appropriate.

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements
Master's degree in higher education administration, institutional research, data analytics, public administration, or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.

Other Required Qualifications
Demonstrated expertise in accreditation processes, preferably with SACSCOC or a comparable regional accreditor.
Strong knowledge of federal and state reporting requirements in higher education (e.g., IPEDS).
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with demonstrated ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for all audiences.

Required Experience
Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in institutional effectiveness, institutional research, assessment, or strategic planning in higher education.
Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience, including oversight of professional staff.
Experience with statistical analysis tools, data visualization platforms, and/or business intelligence systems (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, SPSS, SAS, R, or Python).

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with predictive analytics, machine learning applications, or advanced statistical modeling in higher education contexts.
Knowledge of student information systems (e.g., Banner, PeopleSoft) and data warehouse environments.

Preferred Educational Qualifications
Doctoral degree (Ed.D. or Ph.D.) in a relevant discipline.

Preferred Experience
Experience within a multi-campus institution or university system environment.
Demonstrated experience developing or restructuring an institutional research or institutional effectiveness unit.
Experience administering and analyzing national survey instruments (e.g., NSSE).

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills, with the capacity to synthesize complex information from multiple sources.
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
Knowledge of current trends and best practices in institutional effectiveness, assessment, and data analytics in higher education.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at .

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at .

Institutional Values

Middle Georgia State University is committed to four core values in what we do and represent: CORE VALUES: Stewardship - Engagement - Adaptability - Learning

Equal Employment Opportunity

Middle Georgia State University is committed to ensuring a safe learning environment that supports the dignity of all members of the University community. Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (USG) and Middle Georgia State University. Pursuant to Board of Regents Policy Section 6.6 , federal and state laws and regulations, and our vision, mission, and values, Middle Georgia State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual's age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activity because of the individual's protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual's protected status, except that preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.

Other Information

This is a full-time, 12-month, exempt (salaried) staff position and includes a comprehensive benefits package. Benefits include:

• Health insurance
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Life Insurance
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Leave
• Parental Leave
• Retirement
• Employee discounts
• Tuition reimbursement

Background Check

Employment offer is contingent upon completing a background investigation, including a criminal background check demonstrating your employment eligibility with MGA, as determined by MGA in its sole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application material, and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check.