Non-Represented, Executive Director for Institutional Research

Whatcom Community College (WCC) is a public associate and applied baccalaureate degree granting institution with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve 7,604 students annually on its beautiful 72-acre campus in Bellingham, Washington. Whatcom offers transfer degrees, applied baccalaureate degrees, professional and technical training programs, basic education, job skills, and community and continuing education classes.

Programs and courses are offered through in-person, hybrid, and online modalities to promote access for a diverse student population. The College is committed to equal opportunity and believes diversity of experiences and cultures enrich our campus community. The College is accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

For more information about WCC, please visit www.whatcom.edu About Our Community Whatcom's campus is located in Bellingham (population 95,960). Bellingham showcases a strong commitment to education and is regularly rated on "best of the Northwest" lists. Bellingham is midway between Seattle, WA and Vancouver, B.C. Canada.

The city is surrounded by the rural landscape of Whatcom County (population 226,850), which is home to a thriving network of farms and scenic wilderness. As you explore our community, you'll discover historic neighborhoods, waterfront cities, farmlands and mountain towns all within a few dozen miles of each other. Bellingham and Whatcom County are known for their outdoor activities.

Whether your idea of fun is visiting galleries, watching live theater, kayaking, hiking, snowboarding, or unwinding with a good book, you'll love Bellingham and Whatcom County. To learn more about Bellingham, please visit: http://www.bellingham.org

Position Title: Executive Director for Institutional Research Classification: Non-Represented FTE: 1.0 Schedule: This is a full-time, salaried position customarily requiring approximately 40 hours per week. As an exempt professional role under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the position requires flexibility in work hours, and additional time beyond a standard workweek may be necessary to meet business needs and fulfill job responsibilities.

FLSA Status: Overtime Exempt Grant Funded: No This position is conducted on-sight at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA.

Job Summary

The Executive Director of Institutional Research provides strategic leadership and oversight for the College's institutional research, analytics, assessment, and institutional effectiveness functions of the Assessment and Institution Research (AIR) Office. The Executive Director advances a culture of evidence and inquiry by ensuring institutional data and research are accurate, meaningful, accessible, and appropriately used to support the College's mission, strategic goals, equity commitments, and student success.

Serving as a strategic partner to College leadership, the Board of Trustees, and campus stakeholders, the Executive Director provides research and analytical expertise to inform planning, decision-making, resource allocation, program evaluation, and continuous improvement. Combining executive leadership with hands-on technical expertise, the Executive Director leads complex research, data analysis, reporting, and visualization; translates institutional information into actionable insights; and builds campus capacity to use data effectively.

The position also leads accreditation and supports accountability, state and federal reporting, grants, and other institutional effectiveness initiatives. Reporting Structure/Supervisory Relationship This position reports to the College President.

Strategic Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness Provides executive leadership for institutional research, assessment, and institutional effectiveness, establishing priorities, strategies, and processes aligned with the College¿s mission, strategic goals, equity commitments, and continuous improvement. Provides College leadership and the Board of Trustees with timely, accurate, and actionable evidence to inform strategic planning, policy development, resource allocation, program evaluation, and institutional decision-making.

Provides leadership and oversight for institutional research, assessment, and related analytics functions, ensuring alignment with College priorities, effective resource utilization, staff development, and high-quality service. Serves on the Expanded President¿s Cabinet and other institutional committees and working groups, providing strategic leadership and expertise in data-informed decision-making.

Provides consultation, technical assistance, training, and professional development to faculty, staff, and other College stakeholders in accessing, analyzing, visualizing, interpreting, and appropriately applying institutional data and evidence to support continuous improvement. Provides guidance and expertise to institutional planning, ensuring alignment between key performance indicators (KPIs) and the College¿s strategic work plan, work plan, and other planning documents.

Monitors and analyzes state and federal legislation, public policy, higher education trends, accountability requirements, and emerging practices in institutional research and assessment, evaluating their implications for the College and the communities it serves. Institutional Research, Analytics, and Reporting Leads and conducts complex institutional research, including the collection, integration, management, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of quantitative and qualitative data from internal and external sources, using appropriate research, statistical, and analytical methods.

Develops and oversees research studies, surveys, reports, dashboards, data visualizations, and presentations that translate complex findings into clear, accessible, and actionable information for technical and non-technical audiences. Supports research, assessment, evaluation, and data analysis for grant development and reporting, strategic initiatives, and other institutional priorities.

Partners with State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) to ensure data accuracy and integrity align with SBCTC requirements and coding. Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness Leads the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of institutional assessment strategies and plans, performance measures, key performance indicators (KPIs), and student achievement and outcome measures.

Develops and administers surveys, research instruments, and other methods for gathering and analyzing feedback from students, alumni, employees, employers, and community stakeholders. Uses assessment findings and evidence to evaluate mission fulfillment, institutional effectiveness, equity, program improvement, and progress toward College goals.

Accreditation, Compliance, and External Reporting Serves as the College¿s Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), leading accreditation planning and activities, including compliance, self-studies, reports, campus preparation, site visits, and related requirements.

Coordinates institutional responses to state and federal assessment, accountability, performance funding, and reporting requirements. Serves as the College¿s institutional research and assessment liaison to governmental, statewide, professional, and other external organizations. Data Governance, Integrity, and Ethical Practices Develops and maintains institutional data governance policies, procedures, definitions, methodologies, and standards to ensure the accuracy, consistency, reliability, accessibility, and sustainability of institutional data collection, management, analysis, and reporting.

Ensures the integrity, security, confidentiality, and ethical use of institutional data and research in accordance with FERPA, human subjects protections, College policies, applicable laws and regulations, and professional standards. Performs other related work of a similar nature and level. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Knowledge of institutional research principles, research design, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, statistical concepts, assessment, institutional effectiveness, higher education practices, accreditation, accountability, and strategic planning.

Knowledge of data governance, data quality, privacy, security, and ethical principles governing institutional research and the responsible use of confidential and personally identifiable information. Knowledge of institutional planning processes, data-informed decision-making, continuous improvement, and strategies for advancing college priorities and goals.

Skill in using data analysis, statistical, database, visualization, reporting, and business intelligence technologies, including SQL or comparable tools, to conduct complex analyses and produce accurate, actionable information. Skill in communicating complex technical and analytical concepts clearly and effectively through written, verbal, presentation, and visual formats for technical and non-technical audiences.

Ability to apply research methodology, analytical reasoning, and critical thinking to complex institutional questions; evaluate data quality, validity, reliability, and limitations; synthesize information from multiple sources; and develop evidence-based conclusions and recommendations. Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and intellectual independence; establish effective working relationships; facilitate collaboration; provide consultation; and build trust across the institution.

Ability to provide leadership, mentor and develop staff, establish priorities, manage competing demands and resources, and adapt to changing institutional priorities, regulatory requirements, technologies, and emerging practices while fostering research quality, data integrity, service, and continuous improvement. The ability to actively contribute to a work and learning environment that treats everyone with respect and dignity, while engaging diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences to enhance the College¿s mission, vision, and promise.

Lead Work/Supervisory Responsibilities Provides leadership and supervision of the AIR Office, including hiring, staff development, performance management, workload oversight, and corrective action as needed, and administers the office budget while overseeing operational resources, systems, and technologies that support institutional research, assessment, and related activities.

Working Conditions/Environment Work is performed primarily in an office setting with extensive time spent at a computer workstation, either sitting or standing. The position requires frequent interaction with faculty, staff, administrators, and other stakeholders and may involve frequent interruptions and competing priorities.

Occasional travel for professional meetings, conferences, accreditation activities, and other College-related business is required.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in institutional research, data analytics, statistics, social science, education, business, information systems, or a related field. Five years of progressively responsible experience in institutional research, data analytics, assessment, research, planning, or a related field, including experience analyzing and interpreting complex data to inform organizational decision-making.

Demonstrated experience writing SQL using administrative or database tools, such as SQL Developer, SQL Server Management Studio, Cognos Native SQL, or comparable technologies. Demonstrated experience using research, statistical, data analysis, database, data visualization, or business intelligence technologies to conduct analysis, produce reports or visualizations, and communicate findings (e.

g., Tableau, R, SPSS, statistical applications of Microsoft Access and Excel). OR Equivalent combination education and experience sufficient for the person to perform the duties.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in institutional research, data analytics, statistics, social science, education, business, information systems, or a related field. Experience serving as an Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) or in a comparable accreditation leadership role. College-provided training may be available for candidates who do not have prior ALO experience.

Experience in higher education, particularly with accreditation, state or federal reporting, institutional accountability, assessment, or institutional effectiveness. Experience working with confidential, sensitive, or personally identifiable information, including application of data privacy, security, governance, and ethical standards.

Experience providing leadership or oversight of institutional research, assessment, analytics, planning, or related functions, including leading projects, cross-functional initiatives, teams, or staff and providing direction, consultation, or supervision. Advanced experience applying data analytics, visualization, business intelligence, relational databases, statistical methods, or related technologies to address complex institutional questions and support strategic planning, policy development, resource allocation, enrollment management, student success, or other institutional priorities.

The ability to take action to learn and grow. The ability to take action to meet the needs of others. Licensure, Certification & Other Necessary Requirements Employment contingent upon passing a criminal background check and sexual misconduct review. Occasional travel to meetings, conferences and training sessions may be required.

Salary: This is a 12-month, full-time, non-represented position with an annual salary based upon a range of $126,000.00-$131,000.00 depending on experience.

Benefits

Benefits include comprehensive health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance; Participation in a Washington State retirement plan; Paid sick leave and vacation leave; Eleven paid holidays annually. Additionally, as a Washington State, public higher education institution, WCC offers the following: Whatcom Community College is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF) .

If you work for the College full time, have had Direct Loans and are on an eligible repayment plan, you are eligible to apply. Full-time employees are eligible to apply and participate in the Whatcom Community College Employee Tuition Program, which provides a tuition waiver for available and eligible WCC courses. Full-time employees may qualify for Washington State Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) benefit.

Start Date: As soon as can be arranged with the successful candidate. Application Due Date: For guaranteed consideration, applications should be received by Monday, November 30th, 2026 at 5:00pm. Position open until filled.

A completed application consists of an online application and: Cover letter detailing relevant experience and how the applicant is prepared to meet the duties of the position. Current resume. Values statement that responds to the following prompt: Short Reflection (1 page max): One of the core values of this institution is building an inclusive and supportive campus.

This core value is reflected in our strategic plan, goals and in the work that we do every day. Please describe your experience in building an inclusive environment that supports a sense of belonging. Unofficial Transcripts for all earned degrees; official transcripts required prior to the official start date. List of 5 professional references with contact information.

Mission: Whatcom Community College contributes to the vitality of its communities by providing quality education in academic transfer, professional-technical, and lifelong learning, preparing students for active citizenship in a global society. Vision: Whatcom is a supportive community, empowering lives through education.

Promise: We transform lives through education. We accomplish this by supporting student growth, respecting student investment, embracing diversity, promoting excellence and creating opportunities.

Whatcom Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender presentation, ancestry, ethnicity, family status, immigration status, citizenship, socioeconomic status, genetic information or age in its programs and activities.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Executive Director for Human Resources, by phone: 360.383.3400 or email: [email protected] , 237 W. Kellogg Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. For Title IX compliance: Title IX Coordinator, by phone: 360.383.3400 or email: titleIX@whatcom.

edu , 237 W. Kellogg Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. WCC publications are available in alternate formats upon request by contacting the Access & Disability Services office by phone: 360.383.3139, email: [email protected] , or Washington Relay: 711 Apply for Job Explore Jobs Sign In New User