Summary

The Director of Research will have a strong background in higher education research, possess advanced skills in data analysis and statistical software, and demonstrate the ability to lead a team and communicate complex findings clearly and accurately. This position requires extensive experience in a research environment with a focus on higher education.

Description

Department Information

Position Description

The Director of Research, under the direction of the Senior Director of Research and Data Governance, will lead the Department's research and data agenda to inform policy and promote student success. This role involves overseeing a team of data and research analysts, mentoring staff across the Department in producing high-quality legislative reports, and providing guidance and oversight on data analysis and storytelling to ensure high-quality data insights are used to inform key policy and legislative conversations.

The Director of Research manages several specific research projects/reports related to student success in postsecondary education in alignment with the higher education Strategic Plan empowering the use of data for policy and programmatic change. The Director will also lead and collaborate on research projects to evaluate program outcomes and policy initiatives.

The Director of Research will bring experience with empirical higher education research, experience with national, state, and institutional higher education research and policy, and a working knowledge of national datasets and previous experience working with student-level higher education data in a research setting. The Director of Research will provide high-level oversight and support to improve the Department’s data quality, data analysis, and reporting with a high level of attention to detail.

Supervision Exercised

This position supervises three employees: Two research and data analysts, and one senior data and policy analyst.

Description of Job

Scope of Responsibilities

The Director of Research plays a critical role in advancing the Department’s strategic priorities through data-informed decision-making and collaborative research initiatives. Under the supervision of the Senior Director of Research and Data Governance, this position leads the development and execution of the Department’s research agenda and oversees a team of analysts dedicated to producing high-quality, actionable insight. This position is responsible for:

Research Strategy & Executive: Direct the Department’s research agenda, including the design, implementation, and evaluation of projects that support policy development and operational improvement. Team Leadership & Quality Assurance: Supervise a team of data and research analysts ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and integrity of all data analysis and reporting outputs.

Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain collaborative relationships with legislators, state agencies, institutional staff, and researchers, to facilitate data sharing and joint initiatives.

Interagency Representation: Represent the Department on panels, boards and working groups to promote cross agency collaboration and advance shared research goals.

Data Governance & Continuous Improvement: Lead efforts to improve research outputs, including the development and refinement of data quality control processes, to enhance data availability and inform policy decisions.

Job Duties

The duties listed below reflect the different types of work that may be performed. The omission of any specific duty will not prevent the assignment of work that is appropriately related to this position.

The Director of Research will drive research projects, oversee the development of effective data visualizations and reports for a variety of stakeholders, and establish partnerships with internal and external partners. Key responsibilities include:

In partnership with divisional leadership, creates and executes the Department’s research agenda related to state priorities.

Directs the day-to-day operations of data, research, and policy analysts, including supervision, mentorship, and performance monitoring.

Creates the Department’s research agenda and leads the creation of research and data analysis to answer time-sensitive questions and inform policy decisions.

Leads the development of reports, dashboards, and visualizations to effectively communicate data-informed findings to stakeholders, including legislators, state agencies, and higher education institutions.

Leads and supports efforts to transform data and policy analyses into effective presentations and reports to answer time-sensitive questions.

Analyzes and provides succinct reports on policy and research topics related to postsecondary education.

Provides oversight and mentorship to CDHE in authoring high-quality legislative reports.

Assists with the administration and monitoring of research grants.

Develops and oversees data quality control processes for data analysis and reporting across the Department.

Develops and fosters partnerships with internal divisions, state agencies, and external researchers to enhance data sharing and workflow.

Represents the Department on panels and boards (such as the Statewide Longitudinal Data System Sustainability Advisory Group) to facilitate data sharing across Colorado state agencies in strategy-aligned and responsible ways.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Qualifications
Education and Experience

Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

Master’s degree from an accredited university or college in public policy or administration, higher education, research methodologies, or a related field, with a demonstratable focus on higher education.

Background Check Requirement

This position is subject to a federal background check. Final candidates must successfully complete and pass the background screening process as a condition of employment. The screening may include verification of education, employment history, criminal records, and other relevant information in accordance with applicable laws and departmental policy.

Experience:

A minimum of five years of experience with research and data analysis, with at least two years specific to higher education.
At least one year of direct supervisory or management experience.
Work experience with student-level data in an institutional research setting at a college or university.
Work experience conducting research using student-level data on behalf of a governmental or non-profit organization.
Formal experience leading projects related to higher education research, data, and policy.
Experience working with large, student-level datasets and a demonstrated ability to manage, analyze, quality check, and document practices related to data effectively.
Proven ability to synthesize complex research findings into succinct summaries for a variety of stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications
Education:

Doctoral degree from an accredited university or college in higher education, public policy, research, or a related field, with a demonstratable focus on higher education.

Experience:

Leading quantitative empirical research projects resulting in peer-reviewed or non-academic publications.
Establishing and executing a research agenda.
Public service experience, especially in state government.
Giving presentations on authored research and reports to large formal audiences, including giving testimony to public bodies.
Work experience leading a successful quality improvement process.
Creating high-impact interactive data visualizations.
Formal or informal editing experience.

Knowledge of:

Candidates must possess a strong understanding of research methodologies, data management, and the higher education landscape. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of:

In-depth knowledge of current higher education policy trends, research areas, and the challenges facing postsecondary students.
Advanced proficiency with, and ability to train staff on, best practices for data analysis in Microsoft Excel to reduce manual errors.
Modern quantitative and qualitative methods of research in a policy or higher education context, including inferential statistics and survey design.
National higher education datasets.
Data management principles and best practices for handling sensitive student-level data.
Working knowledge of SQL Server and proficiency with statistical software like Stata, SPSS, or R.
Best practices for data visualization and storytelling using packages such as Tableau or Power BI.

Ability to:

Communicate effectively, both written and verbally
Comfortably present to internal external audiences on complex research projects in variety of topical areas related to higher education
Accurately portray data and translate data-informed findings for a broad audience
Employ a high level of attention to technical detail and accuracy
Establish and maintain relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders
Learn quickly, prioritize tasks, and efficiently manage time
Work independently and as part of a team
Mentor staff with different backgrounds to meet set standards
Manage multiple priorities and be flexible as they change
Think critically and apply reasoning and analysis
Take initiative to solve problems and innovate
Manage sensitive and confidential information
Work in an environment with a degree of ambiguity

Supplemental Information

Physical and Mental Standards (Hybrid Setting)

The physical and mental standards described here are representative of those that must typically be met by employees to perform the essential functions of this class successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Frequently sit/stand at a desk for extended periods of time

Frequently move from one area/building to another and sit/stand during the course of a day/week/month for meetings

Occasionally may push or pull an object

Frequently use finger dexterity and operate a keyboard

Regularly lift 10 pounds and occasionally lift 25 pounds

Frequently use vision to read documents, view computer screens, and see close and distant objects

Frequently use speech and hearing to engage in conversation, in person, and over the telephone

If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquires to HR@dhe.state.co.us

Typical Working Conditions

The employee typically works in a standard office environment where the noise level is moderate, and the office has controlled temperatures. Works a 40-hour work week, either remotely, hybrid, or in-office, depending on the arrangement met during employment with the supervisor during normal office hours of Monday– Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Job duties may occasionally require working extended hours or hours outside of the regular schedule.

The position may require periodic in-state and out-of-state travel requiring occasional overnight stays. The position requires the ability to travel independently through the state including overnight stays.

Notice

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. The duties, expectations, and actions listed for this role may change at any time with or without notice.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Colorado Department of Higher Education is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our Human Resource Director at HR@dhe.state.co.us or call 720.264.8575.