Director of Institutional Research

Position Title: Director of Institutional Research

Department: Institutional Research and Effectiveness (INR)

Division: Institutional Research and Effectiveness (INR)

Employee Status: Full-time

Type: Administration (ADM)

Grade: Q

Salary: ($84,000-$90,000 annually)

FLSA: Exempt

ICCB Classification: Administration

Issued: March 2022

Revised: June 2026

Rock Valley College does not offer sponsorship for employment-based visas for this position now or in the future. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.

Application Deadline: July 17, 2026

Reporting Relationships

Reports to: Vice President Institutional Effectiveness and Communications

Supervision Exercised: Supervision is exercised over Research Analyst and Research Associate positions

Job Summary

Direct institutional research functions, providing the College community with accurate and timely data to support planning, decision making, and overall institutional effectiveness. Use qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods techniques to meaningfully analyze data. Develop reports that are clear and audience specific. Oversee compliance reporting, research studies, and data requests. Disseminate data through multiple media to increase access and use.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Oversee and respond to internal and external data requests.
• Lead the design, implementation, analysis and reporting of research and evaluation studies that inform institutional effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain data queries, reports, and visualizations
• Use qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques to analyze data and inform strategic decision making.
• Manage and disseminate regular key performance indicator reports and data briefs.
• Assist Vice President with the annual State of the College by providing relevant data.
• Create and maintain reports and interactive dashboards using Ellucian Insights or other data visualization tool.
• Lead the development and implementation of the College's key performance indicator framework.
• Monitor the key performance indicator framework to maintain currency with higher education, governmental, and college strategic initiatives.
• Oversee participation in national, state, and locally developed surveys (e.g., Community College Survey of Student Engagement and Employee Culture Survey).
• Support data needs for strategic enrollment management, academic planning, and workforce development programming.
• Support academic and nonacademic program review efforts, providing data and assistance with data analysis and interpretation.
• Lead the development of reports for the College community, including the Board of Trustees, on measures of institutional effectiveness.
• Oversee preparation of annual data reports for the Higher Learning Commission, ICCB, IPEDS, etc.
• Oversee maintenance of department website and intranet page.
• Conduct labor market analyses to support academic and workforce development planning. .
• Chair the Institutional Review Board (IRB), maintaining a process and documentation consistent with federal compliance on conducting ethical research.
• Supervise (e.g., hire, train, evaluate, manage work flow) Research Analyst and Research Associate positions.
• Regular attendance is expected.
• Using tact and courtesy, the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with persons contacted in the course of work.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree preferred. Degree must be in a relevant field requiring applied research (e.g., psychology or business) or data management (e.g., data science).

1. A minimum of 5 years practical experience in institutional research or another applied research.

2. A minimum of 5 years practical experience in supervision or project management.

3. Strong qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills.

4. Experience with relational databases, ERPs, and Microsoft Office required.

5. Demonstrated experience in data mining, analysis, and visualization.

6. Ability to effectively interact with faculty, staff, students, and community members.

7. Exceptional oral, written, and presentation skills, particularly in relation to presentation of data.

8. Ability to meet deadlines and effectively manage multiple projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Ellucian Colleague and Insights preferred.
• Community college experience preferred.

Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting.

Physical Demands
Physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, talk and hear.