Department Summary:

The Office of Institutional Research & Assessment serves as a source of information about Drake University. The mission is to provide data, reports, and research that support institutional accreditation, planning, strengthen teaching and learning, and promote understanding of the nature and quality of education at Drake University. Learn more about Institutional Research & Assessment at https://www.drake.edu/oira/.

Job Summary:

The Director of Institutional Research & Academic Assessment provides strategic leadership and forecasting by validating, analyzing, and integrating institutional data into operations and decision-making.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree in related field

Three years’ relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

- Doctorate degree in related field

- Experience leading and managing data governance activities in a higher education environment

- Experience developing Power BI reports/analytics

- Experience with Blackboard Analytics data warehouse system

- Experience synthesizing available external research and data for process improvement

Job Duties:

• 20% - Integrate analysis of institutional data into operations and decision-making; develop analysis and reporting tools that assist with the integration of information resources with operations; communicate institutional and national data analyses to campus community and senior leadership. 
• 20% - Provide central administrative leadership, management, and coordination of multi-level outcomes assessment with an emphasis on student learning and educational program outcomes assessment. Collaborate with college level assessment leadership to coordinate and implement effective and efficient assessment processes. Provide guidance to colleges, departments, and programs on assessment of student learning outcomes and data needs related to program review and accreditation. Develop appropriate annual and other periodic reports documenting assessment activities and use of information for improvement. 
• 20% - Lead institution-wide activities related to Institutional Research and Assessment including supervision of Institutional Research and Assessment staff. Ensure the quality and accuracy of data submissions related to external and internal reporting. 
• 20% - Lead and oversee institutional analytics and data governance strategy. Co-chair the institutional Data Governance Council. Ensure that institutional analytics and data governance strategy is coordinated and enforced across all academic and administrative units on campus.
• 10% - Oversight of internal program review processes including policies, mechanisms for program review, and schedule of program reviews. Oversight of OIRA team collaborations with programs, colleges and academic units to enable efficient and effective program reviews; ensures appropriate maintenance of records. 
• 10% - Serve as institutional liaison to Higher Learning Commission. Lead, manage, and coordinate the development and implementation of Higher Learning Commission institutional accreditation and quality assurance initiatives, focusing on enhanced integration with institutional practice. Collaborates with appropriate stakeholders in the initiation, implementation, coordination, and refinement of assurance processes. Develop and manage documentation of quality assurance efforts. Collaborate with appropriate campus partners to ensure effective monitoring of and compliance with national and state academic policies.

Salary and Benefits:

At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts. If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time with our Drake Benefits Guide 2026. One of our popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Drake also participates in not one, but two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children. Tuition Benefits