Working Title: Director of Data Governance
State Role Title: N/A
Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)
Position Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime
College/Division: Strategic Planning and Engagement
Department: 100379 - Planning, Analytics, Institutional Resear
Pay Band: N/A
Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience
Specify Range or Amount:
Is this a JMU only position? No
Is this a grant-funded position? No
Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No
Beginning Review Date: 06/22/2026
About JMU:
Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.
Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.
Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.
JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.
JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.
General Information:
The office of Planning, Analytics, and Institutional Research seeks a collaborative and visionary Director of Data Governance to lead institution‑wide data stewardship efforts within PAIR. The director will work with campus partners to guide the development and implementation of data governance policies for the university, strengthen data quality practices, and cultivate a campus culture that values responsible and informed data use.
This position reports to the Executive Director of PAIR. The office of Planning, Analytics, and Institutional Research (PAIR) provides accurate data and actionable insights to support strategic, evidence‑informed decision‑making across James Madison University. The office coordinates university‑level strategic planning, manages institutional survey administration and analysis, partners with areas across campus to conduct research and analysis to support institutional decision-making, and manages official institutional reporting to state and federal agencies.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead the Data Governance Council, establishing priorities and coordinating institution‑wide governance activities.
- Develop and implement strategic data governance frameworks aligned with university goals.
- Partner with Information Technology to create, refine, and maintain policies related to data quality, data definitions, metadata, classification, and lifecycle management.
- Support compliance with institutional data policies and risk‑mitigation practices.
- Oversee and expand a university‑wide Data Community of Practice, promoting shared learning for data stewards, analysts, and other data professionals.
- Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among academic and administrative units.
- Design, coordinate, and deliver data literacy initiatives that empower faculty and staff to understand, interpret, and apply data responsibly.
- Collaborate with PAIR colleagues and campus partners to develop training materials, resources, and reporting tools that support data‑informed decision‑making across campus.
- Serve as a consultant to campus partners on data governance, stewardship, and responsible data practices.
- Provide insight and support for high‑impact data projects across the university.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in information science, data management, higher education administration, analytics, or a related field.
- Experience designing and delivering training, preferably on data or technology topics.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and cross‑campus collaboration skills.
- Demonstrated experience in data governance, data management, data stewardship, institutional research, or analytics within an ERP system.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in higher education.
- Prior leadership of governance committees, councils, or data‑related working groups.
- Experience leading cross-functional projects, preferably around data-related topics.
- Familiarity with data privacy regulations, data security standards, and compliance practices.
- Demonstrated openness to change, preferably through an awareness and enthusiasm of change management practices and principles.
Additional Posting Information:
JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.
Conditions of Employment:
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.
EEO Statement:
James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.
We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.
Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.
Reasonable Accommodation:
If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or [email protected]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.
