AVP Office - Director of Institutional Research, Accreditation, & Decision Support

As the second-largest Catholic university in New England, and one of 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. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s eight colleges and schools: College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication, Media & the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Computer Science & Engineering; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology 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 institutions as it was established and led by laity. The 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 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition, and Best Business Schools: 2024 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

To apply
Only applications submitted through the official Careers at SHU site will be accepted for employment consideration. If you are viewing this job advertisement through a different site, please visit Careers at SHU to submit a formal application.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a complete application and resume via our online application system. A cover letter or statement of interest is also 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 Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness, the Director of Institutional Research, Accreditation, and Decision Support (IRADS) leads institutional research efforts to support student success, strategic planning, accreditation, and continuous improvement across the university, The Director is responsible for implementing the university's research agenda, managing dashboard production, and providing data analysis, reporting, and research to support institutional operations and objectives.
The Director plays a key role in advancing data governance and is responsible for developing data literacy training across the university to enhance data integrity, promote the adoption of the university’s data analytics platform, and foster a culture of data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement. Through proactive consultation, the Director helps colleagues optimize data collection and use to drive meaningful insights and institutional effectiveness.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
• Manage and implement the institutional research agenda, including benchmarking studies, standardized and custom surveys, special research projects, external reporting, rankings surveys, accreditation support, and operational reports.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable analytics, implementing the Vice Provost’s vision for institutional research, data visualization, and predictive analytics.
• Oversee and advance the university’s data analytics platform, including governance, adoption, and data literacy initiatives.
• Conduct institutional research studies to assess the effectiveness of university programs, policies, and operations, ensuring stakeholder engagement in data-informed decision-making.
• Develop and apply advanced data analysis techniques, including predictive modeling, statistical analysis, and trend identification, to enhance institutional research capabilities.
• Extract, analyze, and visualize complex data sets, producing actionable reports and dashboards that support institutional strategy and operations.
• Oversee the production of data analysis, insights, and consultation for university groups and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with data stewards and IT staff to optimize data management, improve data quality, and align processes with institutional data strategy.
• Supervise and mentor IRADS staff, ensuring the professional development of team members.
• Stay current on best practices in institutional research and effectiveness, integrating new methodologies and technologies