Director, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research

Job Description and Requirements
To manage the implementation of AURAK’s strategic plan by developing, and coordinating the university’s institutional effectiveness system and leading its institutional accreditation efforts focused on objective, informed decision making and improvement in all areas of operation in the institution.

Responsibilities & Accountabilities

The Director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research (OIER) holds a full-time administrative position and is responsible for the management of staff and daily operations of the unit, the development maintenance and revision of policies and procedures that guide institutional effectiveness and accreditation practices throughout the University, and result in compliance with all associated requirements as deemed acceptable in higher education and institutional and program accreditation where input is required. The Director also leads the monitoring and facilitation or institutional planning, empirical institutional research and organizational change by working with a team of Institutional Effectiveness Coordinators to develop the university’s academic, student and administrative operations and services. The Director is the primary administrator who liaises with national and international accrediting bodies to ensure compliance and reporting. The duties and responsibilities of the incumbent are evidenced through (1) Leadership, (2) Management, (3) Effective Communication (4) Technical Knowledge, and (5) Institutional Improvement. These duties and responsibilities are listed below:

Key Result Area 1: Strategic and Operational Planning and Competitiveness (30%)

Developing processes and guidelines for annual implementation and review of the strategic plan;
Leading the monitoring of strategic initiatives, key performance indicators, risks and operational changes across the university;
Analyzing substantive changes, competitor performance data and overall university KPIs that are to be reported to senior management, the Board of Trustees, the Ministry of Education and accrediting/ranking agencies
Providing guidance as needed to division/unit leaders with the development, implementation and dissemination of the university’s Strategic Plan and Annual Operational Plans;
Reviewing, advising and supporting due diligence regarding MOUs, agreements and service contracts at the stage of planning new initiatives with strategic and operational partners and enhancing such partnerships

Key Result Area 2: Institutional Research and Data Management (25%)

Developing, revising, reviewing and administering policies, procedures, toolkits and resources for management of institutional data and research across the university;
Managing data compliance and reporting to external agencies such as QS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Ministry of Education and its subsidiary entities: the Commission for Academic Accreditation and the Center for Higher Education Data and Statistics
Managing institutional research processes to include institutional surveys, guidance to units on survey design and administration and the preparation of statistical reports for decision making and accreditation compliance reports by senior administrators and academic/non-academic administrators
Key Result Area 3: Continuous Improvement and Accreditation Compliance (30%)

Leading divisions/units in the use of results for effective coordination of continuous improvement strategies that result in compliance with external licensure and accreditation requirements and standards
Conducting research and analysis on best-in-class practices to give guidance to senior administrators, administrators, committees and others to support benchmarking and so improve quality and performance and comply with licensure and accreditation standards
Facilitating institution-wide teams and ad hoc committees for the improvement and reengineering of academic and non-academic unit processes that serve to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness
Leading the development of institutional policies and procedures in alignment with best practices and external regulatory requirements
Providing recommendations for academic program and service improvements based on the review of annual operational plans;
Managing communications and liaison as required with national, regional, state, and local agencies in the areas of educational research, assessment, evaluation and accreditation
Ensuring the preparation and reporting of substantive changes to external accreditation agencies
Leading university teams in the interpretation of standards and requirements and the preparation of self-studies and compliance reports for accreditation agencies
Reviewing narratives and evidences in self-study and compliance reports that are to be submitted to external agencies
Key Result Area 4: Unit Leadership and Management (15%)

Developing and implementing acceptable and comprehensive systems that guide the effective and efficient functioning of the OIER
Supervising staff to ensure the OIER maintains a professional image, provides quality services to the University and its stakeholders, and operates in keeping with institutional policies and procedures;
Providing guidance and training, as needed, to OIER staff and Institutional Effectiveness Coordinators to ensure a sustained satisfactory level of performance and productivity, and personal and professional development in meeting the requirements of their positions in the OIER and across the university;
Providing training to administrators, faculty, staff, students and other stakeholders, as needed, to increase their knowledge of institutional effectiveness, requirements to demonstrate compliance. and acceptable related practices in higher education;
Developing and implementing strategies to assess and improve institutional effectiveness in the OIER as well as throughout the University;
Chairing or participating in university standing and ad hoc committees;
Performing other related duties as assigned by the President.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes

Knowledge of: local, regional, national, international academic and non-academic assessment issues; assessment and evaluation concepts, methods, and models; principles, theories, models and best practices in strategic and operational planning, ranking and change management; current and innovative practices in assessment, planning, research, and institutional effectiveness; current practices in higher education, instructional programs and program development; learning and instructional theories and applications; budget development and administration.

Ability to: conduct strategic and operational planning and design relative to institutional effectiveness, assessment and planning programs; plan and implement assessment strategies; lead through collaboration; promote educational innovation and improvement; prepare, recommend and administer budgets; organize, prioritize, and coordinate the work of others; supervise assigned staff and special project directors; communicate effectively orally and in writing and establish cooperative working relationships with persons contacted in the course of performing assigned duties.

The ability to interact effectively with internal and external constituencies, particularly collegial governance systems with high levels of faculty engagement, in working to fulfill the mission of the institution;
The ability to identify and garner resources that result in quality improvement, institutional effectiveness and accreditation goals;
Proficiency in using Microsoft Office, statistical applications software such as SAS or SPSS, statistics, graphic and survey software.
Objective use of data, results and environmental factors in making appropriate decisions toward goal attainment and mission fulfillment;
Demonstration of respect for and effective utilization of the value added contributions of colleagues in the decision making process;
Effective communication: written, verbal and interpersonal.
Required Qualifications & Experience

The Candidate’s Education, Training and Experience

The ideal candidate is a flexible university administrator who has an effective combination of being highly conscientious and driven to achieve results, is innovative and future-focused, a thought leader in strategy/ranking and has demonstrated experience as an accreditation practitioner who practices integrity and can hold the institution accountable for its regulatory compliances. Such an individual can work both strategically and deliver actionable results gained through leadership experience, education and training that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

An earned doctorate from an accredited institution or equivalent qualifications in educational leadership, business administration, computer science; curriculum quality assurance in higher education or related fields;
Minimum five years of progressive administrative experience at the mid to senior level in higher education administration. Preference will be given to a candidate who has a blend of academic leadership and administrative management experience;
Minimum five years’ experience and demonstrated expertise in planning, assessment, change and accreditation compliance;
Experience with using technology for teaching, learning and systems management. 

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