Director of Strategic Data Analysis and Planning, Penn GSE

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and deliver integrative analyses that draw on multiple data systems (e.g., enrollment, programs, staffing, budget, space, and outcomes) to support decisions related to strategy, goals, resource allocation, new initiatives, and implementation.
• Develop and maintain a small, high-value set of dashboards, briefing materials, and analytic routines that provide leaders with a consistent, trusted picture of institutional performance and emerging issues.
• Translate complex analyses into clear narratives, visuals, and recommendations that support timely and confident decision-making.
• Lead institutional research in support of internal and external program reviews, new program proposals, accreditation- or compliance-related analysis, and long-range planning efforts.
• Partner with academic and administrative leaders to interpret data in context and connect findings to concrete planning and improvement actions.
• Establish analytic standards and expectations, moving the school toward a proactive and disciplined planning agenda and a culture of data-informed decision-making.
• Convene and coordinate GSE’s network of data stewards across key functional areas, serving as a neutral integrator and convener for cross-cutting data questions.
• Work with stewards to clarify shared definitions, improve data quality, identify gaps, and prioritize integration and reporting needs.
• Serve as GSE’s primary point of contact with the University’s Office of Institutional Research.
• Address in a timely and effective way all data-related requests from IR.
• Develop data-informed narratives, visuals, and summaries that explain trends in enrollment, programs, faculty, students, and resources.
• Ensure alignment between internal planning analyses and external representations of the school’s work and impact.
• Provide leadership and direction for the Office of Institutional Research and Planning, including supervision of an Associate Director.
• Lead special projects as assigned by the Dean or Chief of Staff.
• Handle sensitive information with absolute confidentiality and represent the Dean’s Office with professionalism and sound judgment.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

ESSENTIAL:

• A Bachelor of Science and 5+ years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong consultative capabilities: translating ambiguous questions into analytic work plans, aligning stakeholders, and delivering on tight timelines.
• Experience with student, HR, finance, and/or CRM systems (e.g., Slate, Workday, Salesforce, Qlik, or similar) and translating operational processes into analytic definitions.
• Demonstrated ability to independently extract, validate, and integrate data across multiple systems.
• Familiarity with data governance practices (shared definitions, data stewardship networks, documentation, and change control).
• Skilled in data visualization and institutional storytelling for both internal governance audiences and external stakeholders (boards, donors, university leadership).
• Experience with SQL tools, business intelligence and visualization platforms, statistical/analysis tools, spreadsheet and reporting tools, and institutional systems.

PREFERRED:

• Advanced degree in higher education, public policy, statistics, data science, analytics, or a related field.
• Higher education institutional research experience, especially in a decentralized environment.
• Experience supporting program review, accreditation, compliance reporting, and/or new program proposals with rigorous, defensible analysis.
• Advanced SQL proficiency and experience building repeatable analytic pipelines (e.g., views, stored procedures, reproducible queries, QA checks).

*All applicants must submit a cover letter, along with their resume/CV, detailing their interest in the position. Cover letters may be uploaded to the same section as the resume/CV section.

Job Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School: Graduate School of Education

Pay Range: $101,750.00 - $120,000.00 Annual Rate

Equal Opportunity Statement: The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements: Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits:

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn’s exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you’ll find great deals for University faculty and staff.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child.