RI Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner seeks to hire a chief data and research officer who will provide strategic leadership for RI Longitudinal Data System (RILDS) and the Council on Postsecondary Education institutional research functions alongside Rhode Island College and Community College of Rhode Island. This role is responsible for overseeing data infrastructure governance for the RILDS, and coordinating analytics across institutions to enhance research capacity, reduce duplication, and support statewide strategic goals through integrated, cross-sector data insights. The chief data and research officer will lead efforts to align data systems with the PK–20 strategic plan, promote data-informed decision-making, and ensure compliance with privacy and security standards.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Integration: Coordinate and lead centralized data and research services at RIOPC, develop and execute strategic plans that align data efforts with statewide goals in equity, workforce alignment, and student success. Serve as a key advisor to the commissioner and institutional leadership on data strategy, analytics, and research priorities.

• Data Infrastructure & Governance: Oversee the development and maintenance of shared data warehousing infrastructure, ensuring security, scalability, and efficiency. In partnership with institutional stakeholders, the RILDS Center, and its committees lead data governance efforts, ensuring compliance with FERPA, HIPAA, and other privacy regulations. Manage data-sharing agreements, metadata standards, and protocols for data access, transfer, and release.

• Research & Analytics Coordination: Lead and coordinate research efforts across RI’s public higher education institutions ensuring that institutional research at CCRI and RIC is strategically aligned with statewide goals and supported by shared infrastructure, tools, and expertise. Supervise cross-institutional research initiatives that leverage linked K–12, postsecondary, and workforce data to generate insights into student pathways and workforce outcomes. Guide the development of dashboards, reports, and analyses that support institutional planning, accreditation, and performance improvement. Promote the use of advanced analytics tools (e.g., R, AWS, Power BI, Tableau) and best practices in data visualization, methodology, and longitudinal analysis.

• Operational Management: Coordinate staffing, budgeting, and resource allocation across RILDS and institutional research teams. Facilitate shared software licensing and procurement to reduce costs and improve access to analytic tools. Oversee project timelines, deliverables, and quality assurance across all data and research functions.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: Cultivate partnerships with state agencies, research institutions, and community organizations. Represent RIOPC and RILDS at local, regional, and national convenings. Communicate complex data insights to diverse audiences, including policymakers, institutional leaders, and the public.

Other duties and responsibilities

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Required

• Master’s degree in public policy, education, sociology, economics, statistics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of leadership experience in data systems, institutional research, or analytics.
• Demonstrated experience managing integrated or longitudinal datasets and leading cross-sector research initiatives.
• Strong understanding of data governance, privacy regulations, and compliance frameworks.
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., R, Power BI, Tableau, AWS).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Preferred

• Familiarity with RI’s education and workforce policy landscape.
• Experience in higher education institutional research and accreditation processes.
• Evidence of successful grant writing, fundraising, or business development.
• Understanding of IT systems and infrastructure (technical background not required).

This is a non-union, non-classified, full-time position with a pay grade of 16 and a salary range of $115,000-165,000. To apply, submit a resume, cover letter, and provide three references by March 11, 2026.