Department Overview
The Office of the President provides leadership and support for the University of Virginia’s highest institutional priorities. UVA is beginning a comprehensive strategic planning process under President Beardsley’s leadership. The strategic planning process, supported from the Office of the President and guided by a faculty-led strategic planning committee to advise the President, will involve University leaders, faculty, staff, students, the Board of Visitors, and other stakeholders.
The strategic planning process will assess UVA’s current state, engage broadly across the UVA community, gather and analyze stakeholder input, and establish a fully developed institutional strategic plan. The resulting plan will guide implementation, evaluation, and progress monitoring across the University moving forward.
To support this work, the Office of the President is establishing a strategic analysis team that will provide research, analysis, project management, and executive decision support for University strategic planning, presidential priorities and strategic initiatives.
Position Summary
The Office of the President at the University of Virginia seeks a Director of Strategic Analysis to join its strategic analysis team for a three-year term appointment.
The Director of Strategic Analysis will be a key leader for the strategic analysis team in the Office of the President that collaborates with executives and strategic planning and analysis leaders across the University of Virginia at the direction of the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives. The Director will provide leadership to a team made up of post-graduate and post-undergraduate fellows and current UVA student interns. The Director leads the group in ensuring management of strategic planning workflows and timely and effective completion of projects. The Director interfaces with senior leadership to manage project needs, engagement with stakeholders to scope projects, and ensures overall impact.
Under the Director’s leadership, the team provides analytical support for the University strategic planning process as well as other complex and large projects that are presidential priorities. The Director is also expected to directly be responsible for conducting high impact research, analyzing data, and providing insights that inform critical decisions for the president and senior leaders. The Director will also ensure the team is highly conversant with the latest tools in data analysis and Generative AI to drive evidence-based decision-making.
The Director will help the team ensure successful engagements in the strategic planning process, strategic initiative development, and business intelligence and special projects. This will include project management of strategic planning work to ensure that initiatives are planned, scoped, and evaluated effectively. The Director will be responsible for developing briefings for executive leadership, background research and documents, and analyses required for strategic planning initiatives. The Director is directly responsible for developing high-impact briefings and presentations that translate complex data into polished, actionable insights for the President and senior leaders.
The Director will be expected to be a collaborative problem-solver and strong team leader who can work in a matrix leadership environment and be highly responsive to a wide range of stakeholders. The work will include identification of data needs, analysis plans, and work streams to support high-impact strategic thinking. The Director will effectively analyze and interpret the data/information to garner key insights and present the information in a clear, concise, and polished manner.
The Director will be comfortable scoping project requirements, gathering extensive stakeholder input and engagement, conducting sophisticated analysis, engaging with financial analyses, developing presentations for executive-level audiences, leading teams in a collaborative, matrix environment and managing others. They will deal well with ambiguity, demonstrate flexibility with changing needs and exhibit grace under pressure. The Director will engage with internal and external stakeholders to gather insights, feedback, and perspectives on strategic initiatives.
In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
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Education: Bachelor's degree required, master’s degree preferred and may substitute for some experience.
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Experience: Eight years of increasingly responsible experience, including 3-5 years of experience in project management, analysis, corporate strategy or strategy consulting. Experience working in higher education or serving higher education clients a plus.
Required Skills and Abilities:
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Experience with and understanding of successful collaborative problem-solving approaches in organizations.
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Strong quantitative skills, including proficiency with statistical analysis and modeling. Ability to apply logical thinking and structured problem-solving to business challenges.
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Proficient in analytical tools and platforms (e.g., Excel, SQL, BI tools, financial modeling, forecasting techniques).
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Excellent oral and written communication skills; proven ability to clearly articulate information in multiple forums to senior executive audiences.
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Ability to handle sensitive issues while maintaining complete confidentiality; strong integrity and sound judgment about highly sensitive information and issues in a variety of settings, including ability to exercise appropriate discretion with highly confidential engagements.
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High level of emotional intelligence, empathy, and collaboration.
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Ability to interact with executive level administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other stakeholders in a productive, positive and professional manner.
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Leadership and management skills; ability to effectively lead in a matrix environment, provide coaching and development for members of a team, and create a highly positive and collaborative work climate.
Physical Demands
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.
Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.
This position has a term of three years.
This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and is eligible for a hybrid schedule, in accordance with UVA’s remote work guidelines.
To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.
Applications received by July 20, 2026 will receive priority review.
Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.
How to Apply
Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0085153. Complete an application with the following documents:
Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.
Internal applicants: Search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website.
Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.
For questions about the application process, please contact Jessica Russo, Senior Recruiter, [email protected].
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.
