Associate Vice President for Institutional Strategy and Planning

Associate Vice President for Institutional Strategy and Planning

The Associate Vice President for Institutional Strategy and Planning (ISP) serves as the university's senior leader for institutional intelligence, strategic analysis, and evidence-informed planning. Reporting to the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff, the AVP provides executive leadership for institutional research, strategic planning support, policy analysis, benchmarking, and institutional effectiveness. This position helps university leadership assess institutional performance, anticipate emerging trends, and strengthen the university's competitive positioning in research, education, enrollment, and reputation. The AVP leads the university's institutional research and analytics enterprise, ensuring the delivery of timely, accurate, and actionable insight that supports presidential, provostial, and cabinet-level decision-making. The role combines deep analytical capability with strategic judgment, translating complex data and external intelligence into clear institutional priorities and planning guidance.

Possessing a strong understanding of higher education strategy, institutional performance metrics, research competitiveness, and long-range planning, the successful candidate will be a highly collaborative and analytically sophisticated leader who will partner with university leadership, information technology, and data stewards to strengthen institutional data governance, data quality, and enterprise analytics capabilities.

Successful candidates will address the following via their cover letter and/or application:

• Significant leadership experience in institutional research, strategic planning, analytics, or related functions within higher education or similarly complex organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex data and external information into actionable strategic insight. Experience with institutional dashboards, business intelligence platforms, and data visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau. Understanding of contemporary analytical methods, predictive analytics, AI-enabled analytical tools, and emerging trends in decision support and institutional intelligence.
• Experience supporting executive leadership and enterprise-level decision-making.
• Experience leading collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.

Minimum Education and Experience - Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and ten (10) years of related experience.

Preferred Education and Experience - Preferred Qualifications Graduate degree in related field

Strong understanding of higher education strategy, institutional performance metrics, research competitiveness, and enrollment dynamics. Excellent analytical, communication, and relationship-building skills.

Characteristics of the Successful Candidate intellectually curious and strategically minded; analytically rigorous while remaining pragmatically action-oriented; capable of connecting institutional mission, market realities, and analytical insight; comfortable operating in ambiguity and rapidly evolving environments; adept at building relationships and institutional trust; able to translate sophisticated analysis into compelling and accessible narratives for decision-makers; and motivated by helping the university anticipate and navigate emerging opportunities and challenges.

This position offers an opportunity to shape the university's institutional intelligence and strategic planning capabilities at a pivotal moment in higher education and to help position the university for sustained national leadership and impact.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities - Institutional Strategy and Planning Serve as a strategic advisor to university leadership on institutional priorities, performance, and long-range planning. Lead analytical efforts supporting strategic planning, academic growth, research competitiveness, enrollment strategy, and institutional effectiveness. Provide executive leadership with decision-ready analysis, benchmarking, forecasting, and environmental scanning. Assess emerging trends in higher education, research funding, demographics, workforce needs, and public policy that may affect institutional strategy and positioning.

Institutional Research and Decision Support Lead the university's institutional research, reporting, and strategic analytics functions. Ensure the integrity and timely completion of all federal, state, accreditation, and external reporting requirements. Oversee the development of institutional dashboards, performance indicators, benchmarking studies, and executive reports. Advance the university's capacity for predictive analysis, scenario planning, and data-informed decision-making.

Competitive Positioning and Market Intelligence Monitor institutional peers, market conditions, rankings, and emerging academic and research trends to inform university strategy. Support academic program planning and portfolio development through market analysis and labor-force assessment. Identify strategic opportunities and risks affecting institutional reputation, enrollment, research growth, and operational priorities. Help position the university as a nationally competitive and analytically sophisticated public research institution.

Leadership and Collaboration Lead and develop teams responsible for institutional research, strategic analysis, and reporting. Partner across academic and administrative units to strengthen institutional planning, data literacy and analytical capabilities. Communicate complex findings clearly and effectively to executive, academic, and operational audiences. Represent the university in external benchmarking, survey, and professional organizations.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions Physical Activities Working Conditions

Additional Information - Presence on the UT Dallas campus is essential for success; flexible/hybrid work arrangements permitted as project intensity allows. Role includes extended hours and high-visibility activity during strategic planning cycles. Candidates will be subject to a criminal background check.

What We Can Offer UT Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer with an employee-friendly and supportive work environment. Our comprehensive compensation and benefits package that is effective as of your hire date includes: Competitive Salary Tuition Benefits BCBS PPO Medical Insurance Options – including 100% paid employee medical coverage for full-time employees AD&D Insurance Dental & Vision Plan Options Long and short-term disability TRSRetirement Plan Fertility Benefits Paid time off All UT Dallas employees have access to various professional development opportunities, including a membership to Academic Impressions, LinkedIn Learning, and UT Dallas Bright Leaders Program. Visit for more information.

Special Instructions Summary - Successful candidates will address the following via their cover letter and/or application: Significant leadership experience in institutional research, strategic planning, analytics, or related functions within higher education or similarly complex organizations. Demonstrated ability to translate complex data and external information into actionable strategic insight. Experience with institutional dashboards, business intelligence platforms, and data visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau. Understanding of contemporary analytical methods, predictive analytics, AI-enabled analytical tools, and emerging trends in decision support and institutional intelligence. Experience supporting executive leadership and enterprise-level decision-making. Experience leading collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.

Important Message - 1) All employees serve as a representative of the University and are expected to display respect, civility, professional courtesy, consideration of others and discretion in all interactions with members of the UT Dallas community and the general public. 2) The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all members of the university community. UT Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its services, programs, activities, employment, and education, including in admission and enrollment. The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the employment application and interview process, contact the ADA Coordinator. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Optional Documents

1. Veteran Employment Preference - Form DD-214