North East Association for Institutional Research

Director for Survey Research and Evaluation

Employer Info:

Villanova University

https://www1.villanova.edu/university.html

Villanova University, a co-educational Roman Catholic institution, was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. A premier institution of higher education, Villanova provides a comprehensive education rooted in the liberal arts; a shared commitment to the Augustinian ideals of truth, unity and love; and a community dedicated to service to others. The University community welcomes and respects members of all faiths who seek to nurture a concern for the common good and who share an enthusiasm for the challenge of responsible and productive citizenship in order to build a just and peaceful world. Diversity and inclusion have been and will continue to be an integral component of Villanova University’s mission. The University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.

Job Name

Director for Survey Research and Evaluation

Posting Date

05/21/2026

Brief Description

The Director for Survey Research and Evaluation in the Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness will lead a highly respected team that drives insights for strategic planning and institutional priorities. In addition to serving in a leadership role within survey research, this position is an opportunity to transform how data informs decisions and contributes to a university committed to igniting change.

This position will oversee the design, administration, and analysis of campus-wide surveys, ensure rigor and integrity, and bring results to life through dynamic dashboards, compelling infographics, and clear, actionable narratives. The Director’s work will empower leaders, faculty, and staff to make informed choices that will help shape the student experience and advance Villanova’s mission.

Why work at Villanova?

Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University’s founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others.

Villanova has been included among the nation’s best colleges and universities. VU’s inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 “Best Colleges” rankings is another indication of the University’s continued prominence and forward momentum.

Villanova’s most precious asset is our people. As an employee, you will receive a holistic benefits package, generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs including gym membership, professional development, tuition assistance, and more.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.

Job Category

Institutional Research

Job Type

Full-Time

Education Level Required

Bachelors

Location City

Villanova, PA 19085, United states

How to Apply

To apply, follow this URL: https://jobs.villanova.edu/postings/35123

Direct Link

Click here for more info

Job Details

Duties and Responsibilities:	Lead the development, administration, and analysis of surveys within Villanova’s Systematic Survey Cycle (e.g., Entering Student Survey, Senior Survey, Climate Surveys, HERI Faculty Surveys). Lead the development, administration, and analysis of commissioned surveys for academic and administrative units, aligning survey initiatives with institutional and strategic goals. Supervise and mentor survey research staff, fostering professional growth and collaboration. Deliver compelling presentations and reports that translate data into actionable insights for senior leadership and campus stakeholders. Advance reporting practices by: Incorporating visualization tools and dashboards to complement traditional reporting. Using infographics and narrative techniques to make findings more accessible and actionable. Supporting secure, streamlined data sharing through university-approved platforms. Ensure methodological rigor and compliance with data privacy standards. Perform other duties and assist with projects as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:	Formal Education Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Survey Research, Statistics, Educational Research, Data Analytics, etc.). Work Experience 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in survey research, institutional effectiveness, or a related field, including team leadership and supervisory responsibilities. Track record of effective people leadership—mentoring, coaching, prioritizing workload, and managing performance. Work Skills Sophisticated project management skills, with the ability to scope, sequence, and deliver multiple initiatives – likely in different phases – simultaneously on time and to a high standard. Strong applied statistical analysis using modern software platforms (e.g., significance testing, regression, factor analysis, clustering, reliability/validity testing, weighting, benchmarking, etc.). Mastery of survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics)—complex logic, embedded data, panel management, integrations/APIs, and governance. High-level proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel (e.g., complex formulas, nested logic, pivot tables, Power Query, data modeling, and data transformation). Comfort working with large, complex datasets, including data pipelines, joins/merges, documentation, and quality control. Strong data visualization capability using Tableau and/or Power BI, including data modeling, calculated fields/measures, parameters, drill-through, row-level security, and dashboard UX. Exceptional data storytelling and communication, producing infographics and narrative-driven summaries tailored to diverse audiences. Polished presentation skills with the ability to brief senior leadership succinctly and persuasively. Knowledge of cloud-based collaboration and secure data sharing platforms. Ability to maintain strictest levels of confidentiality working with often highly sensitive data and information. Specific Job Knowledge Strong expertise in survey methodology, including instrument design, sampling, bias assessment, scale construction, and measurement validation.
Preferred Qualifications:	Formal Education Master’s or Ph.D. in Survey Research, Statistics, Educational Research, or related field. Work Experience Experience working in higher education, preferably in Institutional Research or Institutional Effectiveness, with knowledge of higher education data standards. Work Skills Advanced proficiency in SPSS and/or R, including use of syntax/scripts to support advanced survey analysis methods and development of reproducible, well‑documented analytic workflows. Demonstrated experience designing and maintaining a standardized dashboard system for survey reporting, including recurring refresh cycles, role‑based access, and support for longitudinal and comparative analysis. Experience communicating with senior stakeholders on methodological tradeoffs, assumptions, and interpretation of complex statistical findings. Specific Job Knowledge Awareness of emerging technologies, including AI tools for data analysis and visualization, and the ability to evaluate their potential for institutional research. Familiarity with accreditation and compliance reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead the development, administration, and analysis of surveys within Villanova’s Systematic Survey Cycle (e.g., Entering Student Survey, Senior Survey, Climate Surveys, HERI Faculty Surveys).
Lead the development, administration, and analysis of commissioned surveys for academic and administrative units, aligning survey initiatives with institutional and strategic goals.
Supervise and mentor survey research staff, fostering professional growth and collaboration.
Deliver compelling presentations and reports that translate data into actionable insights for senior leadership and campus stakeholders.
Advance reporting practices by:
- Incorporating visualization tools and dashboards to complement traditional reporting.
- Using infographics and narrative techniques to make findings more accessible and actionable.
- Supporting secure, streamlined data sharing through university-approved platforms.
Ensure methodological rigor and compliance with data privacy standards.
Perform other duties and assist with projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Formal Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Survey Research, Statistics, Educational Research, Data Analytics, etc.).

Work Experience

5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in survey research, institutional effectiveness, or a related field, including team leadership and supervisory responsibilities.
Track record of effective people leadership—mentoring, coaching, prioritizing workload, and managing performance.

Work Skills

Sophisticated project management skills, with the ability to scope, sequence, and deliver multiple initiatives – likely in different phases – simultaneously on time and to a high standard.
Strong applied statistical analysis using modern software platforms (e.g., significance testing, regression, factor analysis, clustering, reliability/validity testing, weighting, benchmarking, etc.).
Mastery of survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics)—complex logic, embedded data, panel management, integrations/APIs, and governance.
High-level proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel (e.g., complex formulas, nested logic, pivot tables, Power Query, data modeling, and data transformation).
Comfort working with large, complex datasets, including data pipelines, joins/merges, documentation, and quality control.
Strong data visualization capability using Tableau and/or Power BI, including data modeling, calculated fields/measures, parameters, drill-through, row-level security, and dashboard UX.
Exceptional data storytelling and communication, producing infographics and narrative-driven summaries tailored to diverse audiences.
Polished presentation skills with the ability to brief senior leadership succinctly and persuasively.
Knowledge of cloud-based collaboration and secure data sharing platforms.
Ability to maintain strictest levels of confidentiality working with often highly sensitive data and information.

Specific Job Knowledge

Strong expertise in survey methodology, including instrument design, sampling, bias assessment, scale construction, and measurement validation.

Preferred Qualifications:

Formal Education

Master’s or Ph.D. in Survey Research, Statistics, Educational Research, or related field.

Work Experience

Experience working in higher education, preferably in Institutional Research or Institutional Effectiveness, with knowledge of higher education data standards.

Work Skills

Advanced proficiency in SPSS and/or R, including use of syntax/scripts to support advanced survey analysis methods and development of reproducible, well‑documented analytic workflows.
Demonstrated experience designing and maintaining a standardized dashboard system for survey reporting, including recurring refresh cycles, role‑based access, and support for longitudinal and comparative analysis.
Experience communicating with senior stakeholders on methodological tradeoffs, assumptions, and interpretation of complex statistical findings.

Specific Job Knowledge

Awareness of emerging technologies, including AI tools for data analysis and visualization, and the ability to evaluate their potential for institutional research.
Familiarity with accreditation and compliance reporting.