Director of Institutional Research

Founded in 1890, The Taft School is a coeducational boarding and day school for students in grades 9 - post graduate. The school’s mission is to educate the whole student with an emphasis on the importance of not only academic achievement but also the development of integrity, service, and a lifelong love of learning. Taft maintains a strong belief in high academic standards, recognizing the importance of intellectual rigor as a foundation for success. Student wellness — ensuring that students are supported emotionally, physically, and mentally — is also at the forefront of the school’s work.

Academically talented students from as many as 50 different countries and 35 different states are guided by an extraordinary faculty on its beautiful 226-acre campus. Taft’s community includes approximately 495 boarding and 100 day-students, and an employee base of nearly 270, including approximately 135 faculty members.

The Opportunity:

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Institutional Research is responsible for planning, developing, directing, analyzing, and conducting institutional research. In this capacity, the Director will partner with the board of trustees, senior administration, faculty, staff and students to develop practical and effective systems for qualitative and quantitative data collection and measurement in support of school strategy, operations, and adult and student learning and growth. Research and data should help leadership and the board assess enrollment strategy, the efficacy of programs and policies, student outcomes, and the school’s overall fulfillment of its mission. Ultimately, the Director of Institutional Research will be responsible for presenting data that supports informed decision making in the school’s strategic planning.

Responsibilities:

The primary duties of this position will be to design and conduct institutional research activities, including activities designed to support program review and assess and improve institutional performance.The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assess data needs to assist in the measurement of outcomes and/or indicators of progress that are essential to school performance as developed by the board and leadership




• Coordinate and supervise all aspects of institutional research and planning associated with program review, admissions and financial aid, accreditation, and student learning outcomes.




• Provide, in collaboration with the senior leadership group, support and leadership for the creation of an environment in which assessment activities are understood and practiced for ongoing improvement.




• Coordinate the collection of data and the development of benchmarks and metrics to measure program and institutional progress.




• Monitor information such as outcomes and assessment data, demographic data, and enrollment data in order to contribute to the design and implementation of an ongoing institutional research agenda.




• Participate in institutional strategic planning and help monitor progress toward strategic goals.




• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators on research projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing educational and institutional effectiveness, fostering a culture of data-informed decision-making across the institution.




• Support the dissemination, synthesis, and use of findings and data among stakeholders through written reports and briefings; facilitating strategic conversations among stakeholders.




• Design surveys and conduct quantitative and qualitative studies, collect and summarize data, and provide analysis and interpretation for planning, review, and decision-making.




• Ensure the integrity and privacy of all institutional data, adhering to best practices in data governance and security.




• Develop and monitor budgets and expenditures for institutional research.




• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School.

Qualities and Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Demonstrated enthusiasm and ability to be a life-long-learner who practices a growth mindset towards self and others




• Strong collaboration skills and a demonstrated ability to work across an entire institution with multiple departments and constituencies




• Experience learning and adapting emerging artificial intelligence tools to improve quality of research and analysis




• Strong project management skills, with a proven track record of leading complex research projects from inception to completion, including the presentation of actionable insights to diverse audiences




• Strong pattern detection and system thinking skills




• Strong statistical, analytical, presentation, problem-solving and predictive modeling skills




• Ability to work independently, one-on-one, and collaboratively with administrators, faculty, staff, and students in organizing and implementing research studies for the institution




• Excellent communication skills for a wide variety of audiences, both oral and written.




• Demonstrated experience with data visualization tools




• Demonstrated proficiency in research, survey design, and analysis.




• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in an appropriate academic discipline with an emphasis on both program evaluation/assessment and qualitative and quantitative research methods.




• At least three years of experience in a similar role.

Application Instructions:

Please visit the Careers at Taft Page at www.taftschool.org to complete your online application, which includes uploading the following:

• Resume




• Cover letter, addressing the following:

  • 
    What attracts you to this role at Taft?

  • 
    A project you have led that generated actionable data, particularly with a significant qualitative element.

  • 
    Your philosophy around teaching and/or project management and collaborating with colleagues.

  • 
    Examples of supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in a professional setting

  • 
    Experience using artificial intelligence and data visualization




• Reference List