Institutional Research Analyst – Analytics & Assessment

Job Description:

Essential Functions

Partner with academic and administrative departments to define research questions, clarify data needs, establish project scope, and identify appropriate analytical approaches.

Design, develop, and maintain self-service dashboards displaying enrollment, retention, completion, course success, and other institutional outcomes, collaborating with the IR Analyst – Reporting & Compliance to ensure consistency with approved data definitions.

Conduct statistical and trend analyses of institutional outcomes; interpret findings and communicate implications to support planning and decision-making.

Administer institutional surveys, including student satisfaction, Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE), employee engagement, and graduate outcomes surveys, in coordination with responsible departments. Responsibilities include instrument design, distribution, analysis, and reporting.

Support academic program reviews by preparing relevant analyses and data summaries and facilitating discussion of findings with faculty and academic leadership.

Provide analytical and technical support for general education and student learning outcomes assessment, including data collection tools, analysis, and reporting. Faculty and academic leadership retain responsibility for academic judgments and resulting program or instructional changes.

Present findings clearly to academic committees, President’s Council, and other audiences.

Cross-train with the IR Analyst – Reporting & Compliance to provide backup coverage for required reporting during peak workload periods.

Other Duties as assigned

Supervision Received: This position reports to and is supervised by the Director of Institutional Research

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Minimum qualifications (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

Education: Bachelor's degree in quantitative, research, social science, or related field.

Experience: Three-five years of experience in data analysis, institutional research, assessment, or a related analytical role, preferably in higher education.

Strong SQL and relational database skills; proficiency in Python for data manipulation, cleaning, exploratory analysis, and visualization; experience with federal or state regulatory or compliance reporting; advanced proficiency in Excel and at least one statistical software package, such as SPSS, R, or SAS; experience with business intelligence or data visualization tools, such as Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms; experience with survey design, administration, and analysis; strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to explain data clearly to nontechnical audiences; and demonstrated ability to manage detailed, deadline-driven work with a high degree of accuracy.

Preferred qualifications

Master’s degree; Experience supporting academic program review or student learning outcomes assessment; Familiarity with a student information system such as Banner, Colleague, or PeopleSoft; Familiarity with Python for data manipulation, cleaning, exploratory analysis, and visualization; Working knowledge of SQL and statistical software (R, SPSS, or similar); Experience in a community college or other open-access public higher education setting.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Strong data visualization and dashboard design skills, with an eye toward usability for non-technical end users.

Consultative approach to fielding requests — able to translate a vague question into a well-scoped analysis.

Solid grounding in survey methodology and basic inferential statistics.

Comfort presenting to faculty and staff audiences and facilitating data-informed discussion.

Strong organizational skills to manage multiple concurrent requests and survey cycles.

Physical Requirements: Duties performed causes light fatigue of eyes, fingers, or other faculties as a result of repetitive motion and/or long periods of standing or sitting. Duties require little physical effort in work with light to moderate (up to 25lbs) easy-to-handle materials.

Working Conditions: Primarily an office environment with extensive computer use. Workload includes periodic survey administration windows and program review cycles that require flexible prioritization. Occasional attendance at faculty or committee meetings outside standard hours may be required.

This general outline illustrates the type of work which characterizes the job classification. It is not an all-encompassing statement of the specific duties, responsibilities and qualifications of individual positions assigned to the classification.

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Join the Vermont State Colleges System Team

At the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS), our mission is grounded in empowering students and strengthening communities across Vermont. When you join our team, you become part of a dedicated, statewide community that believes in the transformative power of education — not only in the classroom, but in careers, lives, and local economies.

VSCS encompasses Vermont State University, the Community College of Vermont, and our System Office, with 12 centers, 5 campuses, and more than 10 additional learning sites across the state. Deeply rooted in our communities, we provide affordable, flexible, and innovative programs designed to meet the needs of today’s learners — from recent high school graduates to adult students reentering the workforce.

Through strong partnerships and a shared commitment to workforce development, we help build a vibrant, resilient Vermont. Our employees are key to this mission. We offer competitive compensation and benefits, opportunities for growth, and a workplace culture that values collaboration, diversity, and purpose.

If you’re passionate about education that makes a real and lasting difference, we invite you to grow your career with the Vermont State Colleges System — and help shape the future of our students, our communities, and our state.