Job Description
Chief Data Officer Montana State University
Position Information
Announcement Number: STAFF - VA - 25390
For questions regarding this position, please
contact:
Ryan Knutson
(406) 994-4061
"mailto:rknutson@montana.edu"> rknutson@montana.edu .
Classification Title: Executive Director
Working Title: Chief Data Officer
Brief Position Overview
Montana State University is looking for a Chief Data Officer who
will be expected to lead the fulfillment of the mission of
University Data and Analytics by supporting and coordinating all
institutional research, institutional effectiveness, assessment,
accreditation, mandatory reporting, business analytics, and other
data-focused decision-support activities.
Position Number: 4C2530
Department: University Data & Analytics
Division: VP for Information Technology
Appointment Type: Professional
Contract Term: Fiscal Year
Semester: If other, specify From date: If other, specify End date: FLSA: Exempt
Union Affiliation: Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE: 1.0
Benefits Eligible: Eligible
Salary: Salary commensurate with experience, education, and
qualifications.
Contract Type: MUS
If other, please specify: Recruitment Type: Open
Position Details
General Statement
The Chief Data Officer (CDO) under the guidance of the Vice
President for Information Technology provides strategic oversight
of the University's data strategy and data analysis.
The CDO's primary focus areas are governance, innovation,
analytics, and operations. The CDO achieves these goals through the
management of University Data and Analytics. The office implements
approaches to data analysis, data architecture, data management,
and institutional research.
The CDO works closely with university leadership along with other
departments and offices and acts as a conduit from leadership and
others in the institution to identify appropriate analytics to
address institutional questions and communicate results to the
President and other audiences.
The CDO oversees UDA staff, including operations analysts and data
scientists who: design and conduct complex analyses of the
University and other pertinent external data; regularly interact
with and communicate analytical outcomes to University
decision-makers, including the President, Vice Presidents, Deans,
faculty, staff, and students; develop innovative methods for
conveying information; disseminate official results to appropriate
agencies/audiences.
Duties and Responsibilities
Leads and guides the University Data and Analytics office.
Responsible for governance structures for data and
analysis.
Responsible for developing and continuing a strategic vision for
data at MSU.
Direct the collection, analysis, and presentation of
institutional and/or comparative data used to support and enhance
policy formation and decision-making.
Direct reporting of all institutional data required by Federal,
State, and accreditation agencies, the Board of Regents, and by
campus administrators and committees.
Champion the integration of data sources and develop increased
access to data to drive the mission of the University.
Facilitate the analysis of data as a strategic partner for
leadership.
Contribute expertise in supporting student success efforts and
initiatives.
Contributes expertise in supporting institutional diversity,
equity, and inclusion efforts.
Increase the ability for key data stewards/stakeholders to
effectively use data including areas such as enrollment management,
space management, strategic priority action plans, annual operating
budgets, institutional effectiveness and efficiency, faculty and
staff effectiveness, and assessment of return on program
investments.
Collaborate with the MSU System campuses Chancellors and CEOs
related to a four-campus need for data analysis and
integration.
Consult on survey design and analysis for campus
constituents.
Required Qualifications Experience, Education, Knowledge &
Skills
1. Master's degree in the social sciences, data science,
statistics, higher education, industrial/financial engineering, or
related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education
and/or experience.
2. Five or more years of work experience in institutional research
or analytics-related contexts.
3. Demonstrated experience in effectively communicating data
analysis to organizational leaders and in public settings.
4. Progressively responsible project management experience.
5. Progressively responsible experience in managing staff,
including retention, coaching, and performance/discipline
management.
6. Demonstrated understanding of data management practices.
7. Advanced knowledge of research design.
8. Experience operating in a complex administrative information
system.
9. Demonstrated successful experience applying data visualization
tools and software (e.g.Tableau, Argos, Power BI) to facilitate
user comprehension.
Preferred Qualifications Experience, Education, Knowledge
& Skills
1. Terminal degree from an accredited university in social
sciences, data science, statistics, industrial/financial
engineering, social, behavioral, or decision sciences, higher
education or related field from an accredited university, or an
equivalent combination of relevant education and/or
experience.
2. Progressively responsible experience working in a higher
education setting.
3. Experience operating in an Ellucian Banner ERP
environment.
4. Experience in data warehousing.
The Successful Candidate Will
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working
relationships with various constituencies, including
administrators, diverse student body, faculty, and staff.
Aptitude for identifying process inefficiencies, identifying
solutions, and successfully implementing changes.
Ability to organize and prioritize multiple assignments.
Excellent written and oral communication, with demonstrated
ability to communicate data and analysis to a lay audience.
Process and outcome orientation the ability to see how outcomes
of projects will impact the organization.
Demonstrated service, and inclusive design orientations ability
to collaborate with and view the process and product from the lens
of constituents/end users.
The ability to provide decision support generated through data
and informed analyses.
Position Special Requirements/Additional
Information
Montana State University values diverse perspectives and is
committed to continually supporting, promoting, and building an
inclusive and culturally diverse campus environment. MSU recognizes
the importance of work-life integration and strives to be
responsive to the needs of dual-career couples.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act,
MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled
veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim a
veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference
information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
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.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive
statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements, but as a
general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts
Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and
responsibilities to this job at any time.
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to
perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without
reasonable accommodation. The requirements listed above are
representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability
required.
This position has supervisory duties?: Yes
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies: 1
Desired Start Date: Upon completion of a successful
search
Position End Date (if temporary): Open Date: Close Date: Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on July 7, 2025; however,
applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate
applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does
not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color,
religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin,
physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status
in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act,
MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled
veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim
veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference
information located in the Demographics section of your
profile.
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
To apply, visit
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Montana State University
Job Tags
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