Institutional Effectiveness Data Strategist

The Institutional Effectiveness Data Strategist supports Palmer College's institutional effectiveness and information strategy by developing trusted analytics, advancing information governance, supporting metadata and SharePoint architecture initiatives, improving business processes through workflow automation, and helping prepare institutional information assets for responsible AI and decision-support technologies. The position bridges institutional research, analytics, information stewardship, and digital modernization so that data, documents, reports, and knowledge assets are structured, reliable, secure, and useful for decision-making, accreditation, compliance, and operational improvement.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build queries, datasets, dashboards, reports, and visualizations to support institutional decision-making, accreditation, assessment, operational improvement, and strategic decision-making.
• Collect, process, validate, analyze, and report data from institutional systems, surveys, and external sources.
• Support institutional surveys, assessment activities, and other data collection efforts used for strategic planning, accreditation, reporting, and decision-making.
• Support official institutional reporting, including recurring internal reports and external reporting requirements such as IPEDS or accreditor requests.
• Promote consistent use of approved metrics, calculations, dashboards, and reporting standards.
• Support institutional data governance, information stewardship, data quality, documentation, and standardized definitions to promote consistent, reliable, and trusted institutional information.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify, document, and improve data standards, ownership, and information management practices.
• Support the organization, classification, accessibility, and long-term management of institutional information assets, records, and knowledge resources.
• Promote information structures and metadata practices that improve information retrieval, collaboration, operational effectiveness, and future technology readiness.
• Identify and support opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and streamline institutional processes through automation, technology, and process improvement initiatives.
• Assist in evaluating, documenting, implementing, and continuously improving business workflows and operational practices.
• Support institutional readiness for emerging artificial intelligence and decision-support technologies through effective information management, governance, and responsible use practices.
• Assist with the evaluation and implementation of AI-enabled solutions that enhance productivity, decision-making, and operational effectiveness while maintaining appropriate oversight and data stewardship.
• Collaborate with institutional stakeholders, committees, and project teams to advance analytics, information management, process improvement, and institutional effectiveness initiatives.
• Maintain compliance with applicable policies, regulations, professional standards, and institutional expectations while supporting a culture of continuous improvement and service excellence.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree in data / business analytics, information systems, computer science or a related field required; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered
• One to three years of experience in institutional research, analytics, reporting, information systems, business intelligence, process improvement, higher education administration, or a related setting
• Ability to collect, process, analyze, interpret, visualize, and communicate institutional data clearly and accurately.
• Ability to understand definitions, metadata, data stewardship, source-of-truth concepts, and documentation practices.
• Experience with SQL, Power Querry, Power BI, Excel, survey platforms, SPSS or similar statistical tools, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Power Automate, or data visualization tools
• Experience with applied research, accreditation support, IPEDS, assessment, institutional reporting, dashboard development, metadata, or workflow automation
• Understanding of responsible AI concepts, including authoritative sources, confidentiality, permission-aware information access, human review, and the importance of accurate institutional definitions
• Ability to translate technical and analytical concepts for nontechnical audiences through writing, visuals, presentations, documentation, and training materials
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional stakeholders, including IT, institutional effectiveness, academic and clinical leaders, student support areas, and administrative departments
• Ability to manage confidential information, prioritize competing requests, work under time pressure, and maintain accuracy despite frequent interruptions
• Commitment to staying current with analytics, institutional research, Microsoft 365, automation, AI, information governance, and higher education reporting practices

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Perform sedentary to light work in a ventilated, lighted, and temperature-controlled office setting 
• Frequent need to stand, stoop, walk, sit, lift objects (up to 10 pounds) and perform other similar actions during the workday
• May require extended periods of mental concentration, screen use, data review, writing, and collaborative problem solving.
• Ability to work varied hours as job responsibilities or institutional needs require.