Assistant Director, Institutional Effectiveness and Planning

Are you interested in building a career that makes a difference and creates a legacy? Parker University, the fourth-fastest growing college in Texas and the fastest-growing college in Dallas, is currently searching for an Assistant Director, Institutional Effectiveness and Planning to join our rapidly expanding team! We are seeking individuals who desire to use their unique skills to innovate and make an impact.

Under the guidance of the Senior Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, the Assistant Director serves as a dedicated advocate for quality assurance and its development. This role requires a complex and sophisticated understanding of higher education administration, encompassing the interaction between curricula, assessment, accreditation, and continuous improvement across all programs and operations, academic and administrative. The Assistant Director collaborates with the Senior Director to spearhead initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency and elevating quality standards throughout the institution. This includes overseeing the implementation of quality improvement processes, ensuring the seamless delivery of services, and upholding accountability for advancing the mission of the University, academic programs, and administrative units. The Assistant Director will help foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, while actively supporting faculty, administrators, and staff in developing, implementing, and enhancing robust assessment plans. This individual will champion effective utilization of research methodologies and data to inform decision-making processes to foster the University’s capacity to achieve its mission. The Assistant Director will be responsible for the primary supervision and training of the Institutional Effectiveness Manager, Assessment Specialist, and Student Research Assistants.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Facilitate with other team members as a partner with a passion for quality enhancement when overseeing various programs and individuals in the areas of institutional research, accreditation, and assessment to ensure compliance and/or the quality final product.


• Support theoretical and applied research, assessment, and continuous improvement initiatives, which may include, but are not limited to trends, usage, along with the quality and impact upon the University’s mission and goals.


• Assist in providing leadership of assessment activities to improve operational effectiveness and efficiency.


• Perform related duties as assigned to support the mission of the University and its programs.


• Work with those responsible for regional and programmatic accreditation, including external reporting to ensure assessments and deliverables are conducted within established guidelines and policies.


• Provide research based on qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies to support the preparation of comprehensive studies, policy development, and decision-making, including reporting appropriate outcomes.


• Work with staff by managing project/survey oversight, review, analysis, and report production, including preparation and maintaining project documentation.


• Play a leadership role in identifying, acquiring, managing, and integrating educational data and information for purposes of measurement, analysis, monitoring, and reporting, meeting both internal and external requirements.


• Help ensure that programs and activities are aligned with the University’s strategic plan, accreditation criteria, and the foundations of continuous quality improvement.


• Provide training to those involved with assessment and accreditation activities, including the identification, foundational development and evaluation of key assessments, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and plans for improvement based on the data.


• Use advanced technical and management concepts to address highly complex issues.


• Utilize project management skills to meet timelines and deliverables.


• Exercise good judgement in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.


• Perform any other tasks deemed necessary by the Senior Director.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE:

• A master’s degree required. Ph.D. preferred.


• A minimum of 3 years of full-time supervisory experience.


• Post-secondary assessment experience, developing programs and leading faculty and staff development on program assessment and evaluation.


• Comprehensive software knowledge and experience with student information systems, compliance software, statistical packages, and data visualization programs.


• Extensive knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodologies.


• Keen knowledge of guidelines and policies emerging from new federal statues, accreditation standards, and state requirements.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Visual acuity to use a keyboard and view a computer terminal.  Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp.


• May require ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; or the ability to stand and walk.


• Ability to occasionally lift, carry and/or move light to medium weight up to twelve (12) pounds and/or exert up to twelve (12) pounds of force.


• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

JOB REQUIREMENTS/SKILLS/ETC.:

• Leadership experience in training, development, and supervision of staff.


• Excellent communication, collaborative relations, and organizational skills.


• An understanding of Parker University, its history, and its mission is preferred, specifically in relationship to the higher education market within which it resides or equivalent institutions with similar missions and educational contexts.


• Ability to train a wide range of diverse people on the foundational elements and traits of continuous quality improvement.


• Outstanding communication and public speaking skills demonstrated by the ability to interact comfortably and effectively with a wide range of diverse people.


• Ability to write and edit reports based on data analyses, academic standards, and benchmarks.


• Ability to identify and implement creative solutions to problems, while demonstrating proficiency in working both independently and as a collaborative team member, exercising discretion and sound judgment throughout.


• Have comprehensive experience, including program review, evaluating academic and non-academic units, and conducting digital or online evaluations, which include text and data analysis.  

WHY PARKER?

Founded in 1982 by Dr. James William Parker, Parker University has more than 1,800 students and 34 academic programs. Parker University proudly offers its famed Doctor of Chiropractic degree and Business and Technology and Health Sciences programs.

Parker University has been recognized as a Great College to Work For and one of the 25 Fastest-Growing Colleges in the U.S.

Parker University offers competitive salaries, generous benefits, and the opportunity to engage with our unique campus community.

Parker University is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community and strongly encourages candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. Parker University is an equal opportunity employer and affords equal opportunity to all applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected under local, state, or federal laws.