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Troy University

Senior Director of Institutional Research, Planning & Effectiveness

🇺🇸 Troy, Alabama 🕑 Full-Time 💰 TBD 💻 Other 🗓️ August 26th, 2026

Edtech.com's Summary

Troy University is hiring a Senior Director of Institutional Research, Planning & Effectiveness. The role directs institutional effectiveness, assessment, accreditation, and data-driven decision-making across the university, overseeing comprehensive frameworks, coordinating strategic planning and compliance, leading institutional research, and managing staff to support continuous improvement and stakeholder communication.

Highlights
  • Oversee institutional effectiveness, student learning outcomes assessment, accreditation compliance, and data analytics.
  • Develop and implement strategic planning and program review processes aligned with institutional mission and accreditation.
  • Manage institutional data systems, dashboards, and reporting including enrollment, retention, and financial data.
  • Lead quality assurance initiatives, monitor key performance indicators, and support evidence-based decision-making.
  • Supervise IR/Assessment staff and coordinate with multiple departments across campus.
  • Required software knowledge includes survey/assessment platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, Campus Labs), student information systems (e.g., Banner, Colleague).
  • Minimum qualifications include a Master’s degree in statistics or related field and 5-7 years managing technical teams under institutional and accreditation guidelines.
  • Preferred qualifications include a doctoral degree and direct experience preparing SACSCOC or ACHE compliance reports.
  • Strong competencies required in data analysis, project management, leadership, accreditation standards, and educational assessment.
  • Position reports to Finance and Administration division within Institutional Research Planning and Effectiveness department and entails national/international travel.

Senior Director of Institutional Research, Planning & Effectiveness Full Description

Senior Director of Institutional Research, Planning & Effectiveness
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Posting Details 
 Position Information 
Posting Number  | SF2583P
Position Title  | Senior Director of Institutional Research, Planning & Effectiveness
Position Type  | Professional/Salaried
Department  | Institutional Research Planning and Effectiveness - Troy
Division  | Finance and Administration
Campus  | Troy
Work Status  | Full-Time (FT)
Temporary  | No
Location  | Troy - T01

Job Summary 
The Director of Institutional Research, Planning & Effectiveness position typically oversees institutional effectiveness, assessment, accreditation, and data-driven decision-making across the university. The core responsibilities are:1. Institutional Effectiveness & Assessment Develop and maintain the institution’s comprehensive effectiveness framework Coordinate assessment of student learning outcomes (SLOs) across all academic programs Oversee program-level assessment plans and results Aggregate assessment data and report findings to leadership and accreditors Help faculty and departments use assessment results for continuous improvement Ensure alignment between institutional mission, goals, and assessment activities  2. Accreditation & Compliance Serve as liaison to regional and specialized accreditors Prepare self-study reports and accreditation documentation Coordinate institutional response to accreditation recommendations Track compliance with accreditation standards Manage accreditation timelines and evidence collection Prepare for accreditation visits 3. Strategic Planning Develop and maintain the institution’s strategic plan Align strategic goals with mission and accreditation standards Coordinate strategic planning process with all stakeholders Monitor progress on strategic initiatives Publish annual strategic plan updates and progress reports Connect strategic goals to budget and resource allocation 4. Institutional Research & Analytics Collect, analyze, and report institutional data Produce regular dashboards and reports (enrollment, retention, graduation, demographics, financial, etc.) Conduct ad hoc research and analysis for decision-makers Maintain data integrity and institutional databases Benchmark against peer institutions Publish fact books and data summaries 5. Program Review & Evaluation Develop and oversee program review process (academic and administrative) Coordinate annual or periodic reviews of all programs Ensure reviews include student learning outcomes, enrollment, retention, costs Help programs develop improvement plans based on review findings Track implementation of improvement recommendations Report program review results to leadership 6. Learning Outcomes & Curriculum Alignment Develop institution-wide general education learning outcomes Map program-level outcomes to institutional outcomes Coordinate assessment of general education across disciplines Work with faculty on outcomes development and rubric creation Help departments document student achievement of learning outcomes Use outcome data to inform curriculum improvements 7. Data & Reporting Systems Oversee institutional data warehouse or systems Ensure accurate, timely data collection and reporting Provide training on data tools and dashboards Maintain institutional research databases Coordinate with IT on data systems and security Publish regular reports (enrollment, retention, graduation, demographics, etc.) 8. Stakeholder Communication Present data and findings to Board of Trustees Brief senior leadership on institutional performance Support department chairs with assessment and program review Communicate effectiveness results to faculty and staff Respond to data requests from various departments Publish annual effectiveness reports 9. Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) Identify trends and areas for improvement Support departments in implementing evidence-based changes Track whether improvement initiatives are working Conduct surveys (student satisfaction, employee engagement, etc.) Use data to support institutional decision-making 10. Budget & Resource Alignment Analyze resource allocation in relation to outcomes Support evidence-based budgeting Help justify resource requests with assessment data Track ROI on institutional investments Coordinate with CFO on budget decisions informed by effectiveness data 11. Staff Leadership & Team Management Supervise IR/Assessment staff Manage IRPE office budget and operations Provide professional development for team Coordinate with other departments (Registrar, Admissions, Finance, etc.) Build collaborative relationships across campus 12. Professional Development & Best Practices Stay current on institutional effectiveness trends and standards Attend professional conferences (AIR, ACUHO, regional associations) Share best practices with peers Implement new assessment methods and tools Mentor faculty and staff on assessment design Key Competencies for the Director Data analysis and interpretation Strong writing and presentation skills Leadership and collaboration Knowledge of accreditation standards Project management Educational assessment expertise Strategic thinking Attention to detail

Minimum Qualifications 
Master’s degree from an accredited university in a field requiring extensive use of statistics (e.g., statistics, data science, research methods, social science research, or related field). Minimum of five to seven years of experience managing a technical team operating under institutional policy and accreditation requirements. Demonstrated expertise in statistical analysis, data management, and relevant technologies. Knowledge of database administration, data collection, and data governance practices. Knowledge of survey instrument design, survey software, and data analysis methods and tools. Knowledge of SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation and ACHE rules and regulations. Strong project and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively. Strong interpersonal and team-building skills. Ability to interpret technical specifications and instructions and provide sound evaluations. Ability to work independently, exercising judgment on confidential and complex matters with minimal supervision. Ability to bring creative, innovative solutions to problems with a commitment to teamwork and service. Ability and willingness to travel nationally and internationally in an official University capacity.

Preferred Qualifications  | Doctoral degree in a relevant field. Experience with survey/assessment platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, Campus Labs, Anthology). Experience with student information systems (e.g., Banner, Colleague). Direct experience preparing SACSCOC or ACHE compliance reports.
Will this position require driving (personal vehicle, university vehicle, utility vehicle, or golf cart) in order to perform the job duties?  | No
Work Hours  | Standard office hours
Some additional work may be required during evenings and weekend as needed.
List any hazardous conditions or physical demands required by this position  | N/A
Does this position have supervisory responsibility?  | Yes
Posting Date  | 08/25/2026
Closing Date  |
Open Until Filled  | Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants  |
Quick Link  | https://www.troyuniversityjobs.com/postings/48189

 Reference Letters 
Solicit References Through the System?  | No
Last Day a Reference Provider Can Submit Reference  |
Applicant Special Instructions  | Qualified applications will be made available to the department/committee for review immediately upon submission. We ask that you provide email addresses for your reference providers and please be certain that the email addresses you list are accurate. If you are selected as a candidate for consideration by the department/committee, an instructional email will be sent to your reference providers to ask that they submit a reference letter on your behalf via a link to our reference portal. Separate reference letters will be requested for each position to which you apply (if applicable), so your reference providers will be contacted separately for each application on which you list them. Reference letters will not be copied from one application to another. You can assure your reference providers that our system is secure and that all letters are confidential. If your reference providers have trouble using the reference portal, please advise them to contact [email protected].
Supplemental Questions 
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
  1. * How did you hear about this employment opportunity? 
    • Troy University employment website (www.troyuniversityjobs.com)
    • Chronicle of Higher Education
    • Higher Ed Jobs
    • Social Media website
    • Indeed
    • Other employment website (please specify below)
    • Employee Referral (please specify below)
    • Local newspaper (please specify below)
    • Professional journal (please specify below)
    • Other source (please specify below)
  2.  Please specify: 
    (Open Ended Question)
  3. * Regarding your current employment status, please select one of the following: 
    • Not a current Troy University employee
    • Current part-time Troy employee (including adjunct faculty)
    • Current full-time Troy employee - initial appraisal period complete
    • Current full-time Troy employee - still within initial appraisal period (six months for new employees and three months for promoted employees) 
  4. * Do you have a Master's degree from an accredited university in a field requiring extensive use of statistics (e.g., statistics, data science, research methods, social science research, or related field)? 
    • Yes
    • No
  5. * Do you have a minimum of five to seven years of experience managing a technical team operating under institutional policy and accreditation requirements? 
    • Yes
    • No
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
  1. Resume
  2. Cover Letter
  3. List of References
  4. Unofficial Transcript 1
Optional Documents
  1. Letter of Reference 1
  2. Letter of Reference 2
  3. Unofficial Transcript 2
 - Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background check.
 - Troy University is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.
 - Troy University participates in eVerify.