Executive Director, Institutional Research and Planning

Foothill-De Anza Community College District


Salary: $167,359.15 - $235,491.17 Annually

Job Type: Full Time - Administrator

Job Number: 25-137

Location: District, CA

Department: Office of Chancellor

Closing: 6/29/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit: AMA

Description


*Any complete applications received after the initial review date will only be forwarded to the hiring committee at their request.

This position will become Open Until Filled after the initial Review Date. Any complete applications received while the position is Open Until Filled will be reviewed by the hiring committee only upon committee request.

The Foothill - De Anza Community College District does not have a remote work policy. All employees are expected to be available to work in person and on-site per the requirement of the department.

Foothill - De Anza Community College District Mission Statement:

The mission of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District is student success and educational excellence. The district and its colleges provide access to affordable, quality educational programs and services that develop a broadly educated and socially responsible community that supports an equitable and just future for California and the global community. Every member of our district contributes to a dynamic instructional and learning environment that fosters student engagement, equal opportunity, and innovation in meeting the various educational and career goals of our diverse students. Foothill-De Anza is driven by an equity agenda and core values of integrity, inclusion, care for our students' well-being, and sustainability.

Position Purpose

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Strategy, Institutional Effectiveness, and Engagement, the Executive Director of Institutional Research and Planning is responsible for providing leadership for institutional research and planning throughout the District. This involves overseeing institutional research, strategic planning, and data management to support district-wide and college-level decision-making. Key duties include analyzing districtwide data on student and program outcomes, facilitating strategic and integrated planning processes, ensuring data accuracy, and collaborating with colleges and departments to meet state and federal reporting requirements. The Executive Director plays a key role in the development, implementation, and monitoring of key performance indicators identified in District planning documents and plans, organizes, designs, coordinates, supervises, and implements comprehensive institutional research and planning projects in alignment with the District's vision and strategic priorities.

The Executive Director plans, designs, and conducts research to meet compliance with state, federal, district, and college requirements and accreditation standards while ensuring the accuracy of state and federal reports. This role establishes effective working relationships with all District departments, divisions, and college leadership to provide assistance and improve effectiveness in meeting the educational needs of students and the community. Additionally, the position collaborates with and supports college IRPE offices to ensure alignment across district and college research and planning priorities.

Nature and Scope

The role of the Executive Director of Institutional Research and Planning is to support informed decision-making with thorough and accurate data and information. The Executive Director provides visionary and effective leadership, delivering reliable, complete, and understandable data to inform decision-makers in areas impacted by change. The Executive Director works with individuals, groups, and committees districtwide to create and implement efficient and effective strategies to provide students the means to obtain their educational goals.

The Executive Director of Institutional Research and Planning supervises a small team consisting of Senior Research Analysts and Research Data Analysts, as well as temporary staff required for specific projects.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are typical but not limited to the following:

• Plan, organize, design, coordinate, and implement a comprehensive program of research projects for the District (Central Services, De Anza, and Foothill) regarding the evaluation or efficiency of instructional and student support programs, including selection of research design and instruments, implementation of data gathering methods, statistical analysis, and reporting results in written and oral forms.
• Develop a comprehensive long-range planning process that results in a comprehensive and integrated planning system for the District.
• Plan, design, generate, and present various reports to guide strategic planning for the District in coordination with the colleges.
• Manage research data warehouse system with an indexed archive of screens and templates suitable for viewing information, responding to federal, state, and local surveys, questionnaires, and to comply with federal, state, and local data collection or accountability requirements.
• Provide research data and support as needed to expand fundraising capacity of the foundation and support the preparation of grant applications; prepare reports and provide support as required by other external agencies and internal constituencies.
• Partner with internal and external agencies dealing with technology, admissions and records, financial aid, and other relevant agencies to ensure districtwide consistency and integrity of student data.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously validate and evaluate the institutional research data warehouse and the web-based data access tools, and related database systems to ensure accuracy, accessibility, and alignment with District planning and decision-making needs.
• Integrate statistical and planning software, processes, models, and client-server database procedures with academic master planning. Retrieve information from District/information systems; verify and interpret results for use in a variety of presentations and reports.
• Plan, design, manage, and consult with others on a variety of projects relating to District planning, institutional accountability, effectiveness, and decision-making. Actively participate in and lead the District's strategic planning process and assessment of plan implementation while working within the District participatory governance structures.
• Chair the District Institutional Efficiency Committee; serve as a resource to the Chancellor's Advisory Council; maintain membership and seek leadership roles in state and national research organizations; work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators to develop, maintain, and support the research and planning needs that facilitate student access and success. Represent the District in community, governmental, and professional organizations as appropriate to research and planning; develop ways for exchanging research reports and significant development among colleges/districts.
• Supervise the design and implementation of data collection/extraction, analysis, and reporting processes and standards; create, build, and modify queries and reports; develop data standards and systems documentation to improve data governance and provide training to guide users on proper use and maintenance of data and systems. Assign, evaluate, and provide professional development opportunities to institutional research and planning staff; establish standards of performance and methods of operation.
• Develop, maintain, and be accountable for the research and planning budget; perform other administrative duties as required; provide work direction and guidance to assigned personnel.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge

• Research and planning methods and techniques and statistical and planning processes, software, and models including current technical aspects of data mining, information management, and other related cloud and web-based technologies.
• Comprehensive knowledge and direct experience with computer software associated with research, such as reporting applications, spreadsheets, statistical software, data warehousing, databases, inter/intranet, operating systems, and networks, etc.
• Data governance, warehousing, and database procedures and techniques, including best practices for data integrity, accessibility, and security.
• Familiarity with the mission and priorities of the California Community College (CCC) system, including policies related to accreditation processes, accountability metrics, and reporting requirements for state and federal compliance (e.g., California Community College Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) Management Information Systems (MIS), Student Centered Funding Formula, and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)).
• Strategic planning principles and processes in higher education, including the integration of research and planning for institutional effectiveness.
• Principles of organizational development, participatory governance, and institutional decision-making in a multi-college district environment.
• Project management and change management principles applicable to complex, cross-functional research and planning initiatives.
• Supervisory and leadership skills to implement the District institutional research and planning vision.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Operation of personal computer, interfacing with servers and related equipment.

Skills and Abilities

• Understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation of community college students, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to plan, design, coordinate, supervise, implement, and evaluate comprehensive institutional research and planning projects to inform decision-making in support of district/college strategic priorities and goals.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including the ability to synthesize data/information for multiple audiences.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; develop, prepare, and deliver oral/multi-media presentations.
• Develop and supervise the preparation of assigned data reports; read, interpret, and explain plans and research findings.
• Ensure effective use of technology and information systems to support institutional research and planning functions, including the use of data visualization, reporting, and analytical tools; collaborate with Educational Technology Services staff to maintain integrity, data accessibility, security, and system integration.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Work independently with little direction in a multi-project, fast-paced environment and meet concurrent deadlines.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Two (2) years of post-baccalaureate education or work experience related to institutional educational research or other organizational data analytics demonstrating the required competencies for the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent.
• Five (5) to seven (7) years combination of post-baccalaureate education and work experience in an area related to educational research.
• Successful experience in supervision or project management.
• Familiarity with higher education accreditation, governance, budget procedures, enrollment management, assessment, student success, and an understanding of community colleges.
• Well-developed communication, technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills.

Working Conditions

Environment

• Typical office environment.
• May include travel to conduct work.

Physical Abilities

• Hearing and speaking to exchange information in person and on the telephone and make presentations.
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard.
• Vision sufficient to read various materials.
• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Bending at the waist.
• Lifting and carrying objects up to 20 lbs.

APPLICATION PACKET

1. A District on-line application on http://hr.fhda.edu/careers/. *In the application, you will provide information, which demonstrates your understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation of community college students, faculty and staff. Additionally, you will be asked to explain how your life experiences, studies or work have influenced your commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
   
2. A cover letter addressing your qualifications for the position.
   
3. A current resume of all work experience, formal education and training.
   

For full-consideration, all required application materials must be included in your application packet and must be received by 11:59 pm on the closing date. We are unable to accept additional, non-required materials, such as reference letters.

Please allow yourself ample time to complete your application and resolve any technical difficulties that may arise with your submission. You may also visit our 'Applicant Information' to assist with technical difficulties at: http://hr.fhda.edu/careers/a-applicant-instructions.html. We cannot guarantee a response to application questions within 48 hours of the closing date.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Position: Full-Time, Contract, 12-months per year
Starting date: As soon as possible upon completion of the search process.

Excellent benefits package which includes medical coverage for employee and eligible dependents, dental, vision care, employee assistance program, long term disability, retirement benefits and basic life insurance. For information on our benefits package that includes medical for employees and dependents, visit our web site: http://hr.fhda.edu/benefits/index.html. In addition, the District is a participating member of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the successful applicant would be a member of the Administrative Management Association (AMA). The current Administrator Handbook can be found online at: http://www.fhda.edu/ama/2018AdministratorHandbookwithAppendices.pdf.

Persons with disabilities who require reasonable accommodation to complete the employment process must notify Employment Services no later than the closing date of the announcement. The successful applicant will be required to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. All interviewing costs incurred by applicant are the responsibility of the applicant.

Foothill-De Anza Community College District serves a diverse student population in the heart of Silicon Valley and is committed to academic excellence, student success, and a supportive work environment for employees.

As part of that commitment, FHDA is one of the few community college districts to offer an Affordable Employee Housing Program for qualifying employees. Beautiful, modern apartments are currently available at For more information about our application process contact:
Employment Services
Foothill-De Anza Community College District
12345 El Monte Road
Los Altos Hills, California 94022
Email: employment@fhda.edu
http://hr.fhda.edu/



To apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/fhda/jobs/5361138/executive-director-institutional-research-and-planning




jeid-e09be24755d8824098e7e514554aaf79








Copyright 2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency

Return to Search Results