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Role Description

This role involves leading institutional research, analytics, and enterprise data strategy at UC Santa Cruz. The Director will serve as the campus data champion, guiding a talented team and partnering with senior leadership to support data-informed decision making across the university.

• Lead a comprehensive institutional research and data strategy aligned with the university’s mission and strategic goals.
• Develop and implement a vision for data-informed decision-making across academic and administrative units.
• Oversee the production of analytical and statistical studies to support institutional planning, policy development, and student success.
• Guide the development and dissemination of standard reports (e.g., Fact Books, Campus Profiles) and ad hoc analyses.
• Represent the university in inter-institutional data exchanges and external reporting efforts (e.g., IPEDS, U.S. News, AAUDE).
• Provide data-driven insights to support executive decision-making, strategic planning, and institutional effectiveness.
• Oversee the design and execution of research studies and surveys on student success, academic programs, and institutional performance.
• Serve as a key advisor to senior leadership on policy development, enrollment trends, and resource planning.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in institutional research, analytics, or enterprise data management, ideally within higher education or a complex research environment.
• Deep expertise in data infrastructure, analytics, and data-informed decision making.
• Advanced experience with business intelligence and analytics tools such as Tableau, SAP BusinessObjects, or similar platforms.
• Experience working with modern data platforms and tools such as Snowflake, SQL, GitHub, or comparable technologies.
• Strong background in statistical analysis, data visualization, and reporting methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex data modernization initiatives and technology implementations.
• Knowledge of data governance frameworks, FERPA compliance, and data security best practices.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.
• Proven success leading cross-functional teams and managing technical professionals.
• Experience supporting institutional planning, enrollment analytics, student success initiatives, or policy development.
• Strong project management, collaboration, and organizational leadership skills.

Requirements

• Direct the development, maintenance, and modernization of institutional data and reporting systems, including data warehouses and cloud-based platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Fivetran, dbt, BI tools).
• Lead the institution’s data stewardship efforts, including the definition and standardization of institutional data elements.
• Establish and enforce data governance policies, ensuring data integrity, internal controls, data quality controls, and compliance with FERPA and other regulations.
• Ensure data systems are secure, compliant, cost-effective, and responsive to institutional needs.
• Collaborate with IT, data stewards, and subject matter experts to streamline data integration across enterprise systems.

Benefits

• The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $230,000 annually.
• UC Santa Cruz offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees and their families, including health coverage, retirement plans, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.