Associate Provost Strategic Analysis

Overview

The Associate Provost for Strategic Analysis will conduct research and prepare reports on a wide range of special studies to support institutional planning and decision‑making. The position will transform data into information through analysis and effective, tailored reporting to assist leadership in making strategic, data‑informed decisions. Recognizing data as a critical University resource, the Associate Provost will inform and influence and support planning priorities, the evaluation of programs and initiatives, and consideration of policy recommendations.

Reporting to the Deputy Provost for Resource Planning, the Associate Provost will complete special studies and prepare reports, interpret findings, and present insights and recommendations to leadership. The successful candidate will have a passion for translating ideas and questions into research studies, discovering solutions hidden in large data sets, supporting leaders and committees to shape planning and consider alternative paths, connecting research and analysis to actions and decisions, and communicating findings.

This person must have experience in research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation and presentation of findings to leadership.

The Associate Provost for Strategic Analysis will:

• Complete studies on topics of strategic importance to the University, working closely with senior administrator(s) to define the scope and approach for the study. Translate and contextualize findings to provide decision‑support and planning information, including highlighting key findings and their implications for action.
• Demonstrate across campus the effectiveness of approaching planning and decision‑making thoughtfully, intentionally and analytically.
  • Frame questions and issues effectively and pursue opportunities to inject data and analysis into planning discussions. Foster a culture of data‑informed decision making, planning and analysis more generally. Develop background materials and analysis for groups and committees where strategic positioning issues are regularly discussed.
  • Connect with cabinet members and other senior leaders to understand broad swathes of Princeton’s operations, translate cabinet officer questions and issues into effective studies for analysis, encourage decision‑support opportunities, and connect issues and planning topics across otherwise siloed areas.
  • Inform planning and decision‑making by identifying and elevating the driving issue around which to tailor studies, bringing data and analytical analysis to bear on questions, and surfacing insights and actionable recommendations.
• Lead efforts to organize an indexed, searchable, annotated inventory of existing analytical reports, studies, and dashboards to support decision‑making and inform research on similar issues.
• Remain current on trends that affect higher education and develop and maintain relationships with organizations within the university and outside that are conducting education research and evaluation. Use insights from this knowledge to suggest analysis, test assumptions, and contextualize information at Princeton.
• Contribute to institutional efforts to improve data quality and reporting by identifying strategic data needs, assisting in the establishment of standards and processes for reporting and presentation of data and analysis, and developing standard and ad‑hoc reports.
• Work with campus partners to develop, deploy, and support University data management and governance protocols related to data access, architecture, maintenance, and oversight. Engage data stewards and others to influence the University’s current and future efforts at meta‑data and data management.
• Manage a small team of analysts.

Essential Qualifications

• Masters degree in a relevant field, such as but not limited to social science and policy analysis
• Considerable operational experience at a senior level at a college or university and demonstrated strengths in planning and analytical work
• Prior professional experience conducting analytical research in higher education or industry
• Demonstrated success in developing strategies to understand a…