Director of Institutional Effectiveness - University of Providence : Job Details

Director of Institutional EffectivenessPOSITION SUMMARY The Director of Institutional Effectiveness provides strategic leadership for institutional research, assessment, accreditation, and data-informed decision-making at the University of Providence (UP). This role ensures compliance with the standards of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and supports other programmatic accreditation requirements. The Director plays a key role in cultivating a culture of continuous improvement, planning, and accountability across academic and administrative units. Working closely with university leadership, the Director supervises the institutional research team and contributes to institutional planning, policy development, and evaluation. RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and coordinate institutional effectiveness, planning, and assessment processes in alignment with NWCCU and other accreditation standards.
• Serve as or support the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) in maintaining NWCCU accreditation, including preparation of reports and self-studies.
• Support departments in meeting programmatic accreditation requirements, including self-study preparation and outcomes-based evaluation.
• Oversee development and implementation of comprehensive assessment plans for academic and co-curricular units.
• Collaborate with academic and administrative units to design, implement, and evaluate student learning outcomes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Mentor faculty in curriculum mapping, assessment design, and integration of findings into program improvement.
• Supervise Institutional Research staff in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Coordinate data submissions to external agencies (e.g., IPEDS, state reporting), ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Provide analytical support to senior leadership on enrollment trends, student success, faculty workload, and resource allocation.
• Develop and deliver training and resources on assessment best practices for faculty and staff.
• Promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement across the university.
• Support university-wide strategic planning, including development and monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Promote best practices in data governance, quality assurance, and institutional research methodologies.
• Represent the university in regional and national organizations related to institutional research, assessment, and accreditation.

EDUCATION:

• Required: Master's degree in a related field.
• Preferred: Doctoral degree in education and assessment.

EXPERIENCE: Required:

• Progressively responsible experience in institutional effectiveness, research, or assessment.
• Strong research and analytical skills, including proficiency with tools such as SPSS, R, SAS, Tableau, or Power BI.
• Demonstrated experience with regional accreditation processes, preferably NWCCU.
• Knowledge of federal reporting requirements (e.g., IPEDS, Common Data Set).
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a small university environment.

Preferred:

• At least 5 years of experience in institutional research or data analytics, preferably in higher education.
• Experience with federal and state higher education reporting requirements.
• Familiarity with student information systems (e.g., Banner, Jenzabar, Colleague) and learning management systems (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard).
• Experience supervising professional staff and managing cross-functional projects.
• Experience in a private, faith-based, or mission-driven institution.

Disclaimer: This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have valid authorization to work in the United States of America without the need for current or future employer-sponsored work authorization. An equal opportunity employer covered by the Montana veterans' and handicapped persons' employment preference act The University of Providence is a Catholic, student-centered, mission-focused university. For more information, please contact Human Resources at 406.###.####.