Provost's Office - Director of Institutional Research, Academic Affairs

Provost's Office - Director of Institutional Research, Academic Affairs

5151 Park Ave, Fairfield, CT 06825, USA

Posted Monday, February 9, 2026 at 5:00 AM

As one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities and among 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.

Nearly 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools:
College of Arts & Sciences;
School of Communication, Media & the Arts;
School of Social Work;
School of Performing Arts;
College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology;
School of Computer Science & Engineering 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 universities as it was established to be led by the laity. This 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 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition and Best Business Schools: 2025 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.(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..edu

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a completed application and résumé through the University's online application system. Applications submitted outside of the official Careers at SHU website will not be considered. Applicants should not apply through third-party or external job sites, as such postings may be fraudulent or may misrepresent opportunities that are no longer available at the University. A cover letter or statement of interest is 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 Provost, the Director of Institutional Research leads institutional research and analytics efforts that primarily support Academic Affairs, including student success, strategic planning, accreditation, and continuous improvement. The Director is responsible for implementing research and reporting agendas that inform academic planning, assessment, and accreditation, while providing high-quality data analysis and decision support for academic leadership.

The Director plays a key role in advancing data governance and data literacy in support of academic programs and instructional effectiveness. This includes developing training and consultation that enhance data integrity, promote effective use of the university’s data analytics platform for academic purposes, and foster a culture of data-informed decision-marking and continuous improvement within Academic Affairs. Through proactive collaboration with academic leaders, faculty, and staff, the Director will help colleagues optimize data collection and use to drive meaningful insights and institutional effectiveness.

• Manage and implement an institutional research agenda with a primary focus on Academic Affairs, including benchmarking studies, standardized and custom surveys, special research projects, accreditation reporting, rankings surveys related to academic quality, and operational reports supporting instructional and programmatic decision-making.
• Translate academic and strategic priorities into actionable analytics, implementing the strategic vision for institutional research, data visualization, and predictive…