Executive Director - Institutional Research

• Lead implementation of data initiatives tied to NSHE’s Success by Design strategic plan
• Direct the full data lifecycle, including design, collection, analysis, reporting, and distribution
• Advise NSHE leadership, the Board of Regents, and state legislators on data-informed policy and decision-making
• Provide testimony, briefings, and policy analysis during legislative sessions and Board of Regents meetings
• Identify external funding opportunities and support institutional grant applications
• Represent NSHE in regional and national data and research networks
• Supervise departmental staff and coordinate cross-training, workload, succession, and continuity planning
• Manage budgets for externally funded data projects, including expenditures, invoices, and supporting documentation
• Direct training, onboarding, and technical support for institutional research staff across NSHE
• Update reports and build consensus around reporting content and available data
• Support systemwide tools, visualizations, dashboards, and Board reporting
• Oversee analysis and reporting for enrollment, remedial programs, diversity, faculty workload, and other institutional research requests
• Oversee Statewide Longitudinal Data System data exchange and longitudinal reporting
• Support Academic and Student Affairs and Budget and Finance data requests
• Ensure mandated Board-policy and regulatory reporting
• Negotiate and maintain data-sharing agreements and memoranda of understanding
• Ensure FERPA and applicable state-law compliance for student data privacy
• Establish data validation rules, definitions, collection standards, and data quality processes
• Administer the NSHE student data warehouse and institution file submission portal
• Develop and manage ETL lifecycles for IPEDS and other data sources
• Generate data extracts and conduct taxonomy audits
• Maintain the Institutional Research website, applications, databases, CCN, and APIS systems
• Develop and maintain Tableau dashboards and interactive applications
• Research, document, modify, and report data from NSHE warehouses, PeopleSoft, IPEDS, National Student Clearinghouse, Census, workforce, demographer, and P-12 sources

Requirements

• Master's degree from an institution accredited by a federally recognized accrediting body in a relevant field such as data science, statistics, education, public policy, or information systems
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in institutional research, data analytics, or a closely related field
• Supervisory experience
• Hands-on experience with SQL and relational databases
• Extensive understanding of data associated with secondary education
• Experience with higher education system offices, statewide longitudinal data systems, Oracle, Tableau, PHP, HTML/CSS, and JavaScript preferred
• Knowledge of institutional research practice in postsecondary settings
• Knowledge of data governance, student data privacy, FERPA, applicable state statutes, and small-cell suppression
• Knowledge of NSHE structure, Board of Regents policy, and Nevada legislative and budget processes
• Knowledge of research methodology, statistical techniques, data architecture, reporting technologies, and data governance frameworks
• Knowledge of Nevada workforce data, labor market projections, K-12 data systems, and higher education integration
• Knowledge of PeopleSoft, IPEDS, National Student Clearinghouse, and statewide longitudinal data systems
• Knowledge of relational and dimensional database modeling, data warehouse design, ETL methodologies, and pipeline architecture
• Advanced Oracle SQL and MySQL, including multi-source joins, window functions, and query optimization
• Proficiency with SQL, Tableau, MS Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Experience with large datasets, SQL/MySQL queries, HTML/CSS, PHP, and SQL-driven web applications
• Ability to produce accessible public-facing web content and dashboards
• Ability to translate complex technical analyses into clear guidance and decision-ready insights
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines, diagnose data errors, and design resilient data processes
• Ability to work independently with accuracy and attention to detail
• Required current resume, detailed cover letter, and contact information for four professional references
• United States citizenship or lawful authorization to work in the U.S. required
• Background check may be required

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in data lifecycle management, including design, collection, analysis, and reporting, while ensuring compliance with FERPA and state regulations. Proficient in SQL, Tableau, and institutional research practices, with a strong ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• SQL Proficiency
• Data Governance Knowledge
• Tableau Dashboard Development
• Institutional Research Experience
• Supervisory Experience

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Data Analysis
• Data Collection
• Data Reporting
• ETL Methodologies
• Relational Database Management
• Statistical Techniques
• Data Quality Processes
• Data Validation Rules
• Data Architecture
• Data Privacy Compliance

Soft Skills

• Attention to Detail
• Independent Work
• Communication Skills
• Problem-Solving
• Time Management

Industry Keywords

• FERPA Compliance
• Higher Education
• Institutional Research
• Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems
• Nevada Legislative Processes
• Data Governance Frameworks
• Postsecondary Education
• Data Privacy
• Workforce Data
• Labor Market Projections

Tools & Technologies

• Tableau
• SQL
• PeopleSoft
• MS Access
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• HTML/CSS
• PHP
• JavaScript
• National Student Clearinghouse