Montana State University

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 25390

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Ryan Knutson

(406) 994-4061

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

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. https://www.montana.edu/hr/recruitment-guidelines/affirmative_action_plan.html.

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

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.

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