About Sacred Heart University
As one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities and among the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. Nearly 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication, Media & the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Performing Arts; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; School of Computer Science & Engineering and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic universities as it was established to be led by the laity. This contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts and, at the same time, cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition and Best Business Schools: 2025 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio; a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu
View SHU’s Faculty Experts Here
To apply
Qualified candidates are invited to submit a completed application and résumé through the University's online application system. Applications submitted outside of the official Careers at SHU website will not be considered. Applicants should not apply through third-party or external job sites, as such postings may be fraudulent or may misrepresent opportunities that are no longer available at the University. A cover letter or statement of interest is preferred for all staff positions.
Sacred Heart University complies with all federal and state employment laws and regulations. Applicants must be lawfully authorized to work for any employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for this position.
Position Summary
Under the direction of the Provost, the Director of Institutional Research leads institutional research and analytics efforts that primarily support Academic Affairs, including student success, strategic planning, accreditation, and continuous improvement. The Director is responsible for implementing research and reporting agendas that inform academic planning, assessment, and accreditation, while providing high-quality data analysis and decision support for academic leadership.
The Director plays a key role in advancing data governance and data literacy in support of academic programs and instructional effectiveness. This includes developing training and consultation that enhance data integrity, promote effective use of the university’s data analytics platform for academic purposes, and foster a culture of data-informed decision-marking and continuous improvement within Academic Affairs. Through proactive collaboration with academic leaders, faculty, and staff, the Director will help colleagues optimize data collection and use to drive meaningful insights and institutional effectiveness.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
- Manage and implement an institutional research agenda with a primary focus on Academic Affairs, including benchmarking studies, standardized and custom surveys, special research projects, accreditation reporting, rankings surveys related to academic quality, and operational reports supporting instructional and programmatic decision-making.
- Translate academic and strategic priorities into actionable analytics, implementing the strategic vision for institutional research, data visualization, and predictive analytics.
- Oversee and advance the university’s data analytics platform as it relates to academic planning, assessment, and accreditation, including governance, adoption, and data literacy initiatives for academic stakeholders.
- Conduct institutional research studies to assess the effectiveness of academic programs, curricula, pedagogical initiatives, and academic policies, ensuring meaningful engagement of faculty and academic leaders in data-informed decision-making.
- Develop and apply advanced data analysis techniques, including predictive modeling, statistical analysis, and trend identification, to support enrollment patterns, progression, retention, completion, and other academic success indicators.
- Extract, analyze, and visualize complex academic and student data sets, producing actionable reports and dashboards that inform academic priorities.
- Provide data analysis, insights, and consultation to Academic Affairs leadership, academic departments, and committees, supporting continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making.
- Collaborate with data stewards, IT staff, and assessment professionals to optimize academic data management, improve data quality, and align processes with institutional and academic data strategies.
- Stay current on best practices in institutional research, academic assessment, and accreditation, integrating emerging methodologies and technologies to enhance support for Academic Affairs.
- Serve on Academic Affairs–related committees and task forces, contributing expertise in data analysis, assessment, and institutional effectiveness.
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, & Other Attributes
- Master’s degree required; doctoral degree desirable, preferably in a field relevant to higher education, research, or assessment.
- Minimum of five years of experience in institutional research, academic assessment, or a closely related field.
- Expertise in research design, statistical methodologies, predictive modeling, survey design, and data visualization, particularly as applied to academic programs and student success.
- Proficiency in data analysis tools, including SQL, SAS, SPSS, Excel, and business intelligence platforms (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
- Understanding of data warehousing concepts and relational database structures.
- Strong project management and change management skills, with a track record of driving results.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey complex data in an accessible manner.
- Demonstrated experience leading teams and supervising staff.
- Strong commitment to student learning, academic quality, and student success for all students.
Unusual Working Conditions
Extra hours may be necessary as required by certain projects, workloads, and deadlines.
This job posting provides an overview of the role's general nature and expected tasks. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all duties performed. The university reserves the right to modify or reassign job responsibilities at any time. This posting description does not constitute an employment contract, either explicit or implied.
Sacred Heart University is a space that respects and embraces differences, recognizes the unique contributions that individuals can make, and creates a community that maximizes the potential of all faculty and staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.
