Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Analytics

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Position Details

The University of Tampa (UTampa) invites nominations and applications for the position of Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Analytics.

Introduction

For over 94 years, the University of Tampa has been committed to providing exceptional learning experiences in a global context. The University is ideally situated on a beautiful 110-acre, residential campus alongside the Hillsborough River, adjacent to Tampa's dynamic downtown business and medical districts, which comprise a growing, vibrant, diverse metropolitan area. UTampa reflects this vibrancy with 900 distinguished faculty and a talented student body of nearly 11,500 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students drawn from all 50 states and many of the world's countries. UTampa is supported by a committed and talented full- and part-time staff of over 550.

The University is a highly sought-after destination for students and has increased its visibility through top tier rankings in U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and The Princeton Review. Undergraduate applications continue to grow/increase with over 43,000 students applying for 3,300 seats in Fall 2025 class. UTampa’s distinctions include a faculty that is recognized as a top-producer of Fulbright Scholars, top-quality academics with a strong liberal arts foundation, and easy access to internships, community engagement, and outstanding recreational opportunities. Academic programs are housed within the College of Arts and Letters, the Sykes College of Business, the College of Natural and Health Sciences, and the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Education. This four-college model has helped the University retain its small school ambience and scholarly connections while at the same time support a high growth, rapidly evolving, and ever stronger institutional trajectory. 

Partnering with UTampa’s new president, Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, a bold and energetic leader for whom advancing the institution’s success is a key priority, the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Analytics (AVPIRA) will join the University at a pivotal moment. Reporting to the Chief of Staff and Vice President, Operations, the AVPIRA will be an active partner with leaders across campus.

The AVPIRA will provide direction and oversight for institutional research activities that support UTampa’s mission and strategic vision. The AVPIRA is responsible for leading the management of institutional data collection and reporting. They will have direct supervision of the Office of Institutional Research and oversee a comprehensive program of data collection, synthesis, and analysis to inform operational and strategic decision-making. The AVPIRA is expected to be a working leader who contributes to the design and execution of complex analyses and dashboard, ensuring methodological rigor and hands-on engagement with institutional data systems. The AVPIRA will provide vision, leadership, and direction to the design, prioritization, and implementation of institutional research data analysis and assessment activities. They will also provide information to meet reporting requirements as mandated by state, federal, and other external agencies or as needed by a wide variety of campus stakeholders. The AVPIRA also serves as a strategic partner to all vice presidents and their teams in creating an environment that promotes and supports using research and data analysis to guide decision-making and continuous institutional improvement.  They will be expected to provide meaningful research and data analysis to help address a broad range of university opportunities and challenges. Contemporary and comprehensive knowledge of higher education is highly desired.

Critical to success will be the AVPIRA’s ability to foster productive and collaborative relationships with academic and administrative leaders across the University. Such collaborative relationships are critical to realizing the potential of UTampa. To that end, the AVPIRA will possess the ability to inspire a spirit of experimentation and entrepreneurialism, mobilize a high-performing team, advance a results-oriented work environment, retain and recruit talent, and build and manage relationships with key stakeholders.

With several years of leadership experience in best-in-class institutional research operations, the ideal AVPIRA will be a proactive self-starter who operates with intentionality and who possesses an extensive track record of co-creating institutional research strategies. The AVPIRA will also have a keen understanding of institutional research best practices and a comprehensive knowledge of all major functions of the Office of Institutional Research, including significant depth and experience related to model data collection and research operations. The AVPIRA must also be a person of impeccable character and humility with extraordinary communication skills, and a high level of agility, diplomacy, and perseverance. With high emotional intelligence, superb relationship-building skills, and the authenticity to create genuine connections, the AVPIRA will possess the ability to build bridges with a broad array of constituents across campus and a deep understanding of, and passion for, the mission and goals of the institution.

A master’s degree in a related field is required and an earned doctoral degree preferred. Competitive candidates will have ten or more years of progressively responsible work experience in assessment, strategic planning, data analysis, organizational effectiveness, and student learning. An ideal candidate will combine strategic leadership with technical proficiency, demonstrating both the ability to set direction and the willingness to lead processes and projects by example.  Preference will be given to candidates with professional higher education experience.

Position Description, Nominations, and Applications

UTampa has retained the services of Dr. Josh Ward, Senior Client Partner at the executive search firm Korn Ferry, to conduct the search. To request a copy of the full-length position description, to submit nominations, or to send application materials, please contact Dr. Ward at the e-mail address below. 

Applicants should submit the following two documents (in two separate PDFs):  An up-to-date and detailed curriculum vitae and a brief (2-4 pages) letter of interest describing why you are interested in the role of Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Analytics at UTampa, why you would be successful based on your professional experience, and why now is a good time for you to consider this opportunity. For priority consideration, please submit all application materials by December 1, 2025. The two documents should be sent directly to Josh.Ward@KornFerry.com.

Submission Guidelines

To receive full consideration for employment with The University of Tampa, please be sure to submit/upload required documents for this position at time of application submission.  Required documents should be submitted in the attachment box at the bottom of the "My Experience" page of the application before continuing through the application.

Background Check Requirements

Finalists may be required to submit to a criminal background check. Some positions may also require a motor vehicle report and/or a credit report.

Additional Information

This description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not to determine specific duties and responsibilities for any particular position. Essential functions and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific task assigned to the position.