Director of Data & Institutional Effectiveness

University of Denver•Denver, CO

About The Position

The Director of Data & Institutional Effectiveness serves as the College of Professional Studies’ (PSC) analytical lead during a critical period of organizational transition. Reporting directly to the Dean, this role is responsible for building and maintaining the data infrastructure, reporting systems, and analytical frameworks that will guide the college through three distinct phases: stabilizing and supporting current students through program teachout, evaluating program and market viability to inform strategic decisions, and building an evidence base for sustainable growth around a focused program portfolio. This is a hands-on, high-visibility role for someone who is equally comfortable designing dashboards and presenting findings to the Dean. The Director leads a small team and works cross-functionally across enrollment, academics, finance, and operations to ensure that every major institutional decision is grounded in clean, accurate, and timely data. The ideal candidate brings rigor and intellectual honesty to their work, and is energized by the challenge of turning complex data into clear institutional direction.

Requirements

Higher education data systems and reporting environments, including SIS (Banner preferred), CRM (Slate, Salesforce), and LMS (Canvas)
Institutional effectiveness principles, accreditation standards, and higher education compliance reporting
Program evaluation methodologies and enrollment analytics
Data visualization and business intelligence tools (Tableau, Power BI, or equivalent)
Fundamentals of financial modeling and enrollment forecasting
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills; able to work with complex, imperfect data and produce clear, defensible findings
Exceptional written and verbal communication; able to present data insights to both technical and non-technical audiences including senior leadership
High degree of intellectual honesty — comfortable surfacing inconvenient findings and standing behind data-driven conclusions
Organized and detail-oriented with ability to manage multiple reporting cycles and analytical projects simultaneously
Collaborative and relationship-oriented; able to build trust across departments and influence without direct authority
Comfortable working in ambiguity and adapting priorities as institutional needs evolve
Mission-driven with genuine investment in student outcomes and institutional health
Steady and grounded during organizational change; a calming, clarifying presence for leadership and staff
Curious, resourceful, and self-directed; finds meaning in building systems and infrastructure that outlast the immediate moment
Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in data analysis, educational technology, or higher education operations with demonstrated expertise in AI applications and advanced analytics
5+ years of experience predictive modeling, and advanced analytics platforms
Master's degree in data science, education, or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
3+ years experience supervising teams and managing complex data projects

Nice To Haves

8+ years of progressively responsible experience in the same areas
Doctoral degree in data science, education, or related field
5+ years supervising teams and managing complex data projects
Professional certifications in project management or operations

Responsibilities

Data Strategy & Institutional Reporting
Institutional Data Leadership: Serve as PSC’s primary steward of institutional data; establish data governance standards, ensure data integrity across systems (Banner, Slate, Salesforce, Canvas), and build a single source of truth for enrollment, academic, and operational reporting
Executive Reporting: Design and maintain dashboards and reports for the Dean and senior leadership that surface enrollment trends, student outcomes, financial performance, and program health in a clear, actionable format
Accreditation & Compliance Reporting: Lead data collection, analysis, and reporting in support of accreditation, university-level reporting requirements, and institutional effectiveness standards
Operational Reporting: Partner with PSC and DU teams to build reliable, automated reporting that reduces manual work and improves decision-making at every level of the college
Program Evaluation & Strategic Analysis
Portfolio Analysis: Build and maintain analytical frameworks to evaluate the performance, viability, and market demand of current and prospective programs; provide the Dean with clear, data-informed recommendations on program continuation, sunset, or development
Teachout Monitoring: Track student progression, completion rates, and risk indicators across the teachout population; provide regular status reports and flag issues proactively to support clean, compliant program closure
Market & Competitive Intelligence: Analyze market trends, employer demand, and competitive landscape to inform decisions about which programs to rebuild around and how to position them
Scenario Modeling: Develop financial and enrollment models that support strategic planning, resource allocation, and revenue forecasting during and after the transition period
Data Operations & Systems
Systems Oversight: Oversee and ensure PSC’s technology stack is integrated, maintained, and aligned with institutional data needs
Process Automation: Identify and implement opportunities to automate data collection, reporting, and workflow processes; evaluate and deploy AI tools where they meaningfully improve team capacity and data quality
Data Quality Management: Establish and enforce data entry standards, audit processes, and quality controls across all institutional systems to ensure reporting accuracy
Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership
Team Management: Lead and develop a data and operations team; set clear priorities, support professional growth, and maintain a high-accountability, collaborative culture
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as a trusted analytical partner to the Dean and other PSC leaders; translate complex findings into plain-language recommendations that non-technical stakeholders can act on
Institutional Voice: Represent PSC’s data and effectiveness function in university-level committees, working groups, and planning processes