Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner seeks to hire a director of the RI Longitudinal Data System (RILDS) and its center.

The director is responsible for the daily management and operations of the RILDS and the RILDS Center. This position represents RILDS and collaborates with its data governance structures, including the Executive Governing Committee and the Data Governance Committee. The director works closely with Rhode Island state agencies including state executive leadership, national advocacy organizations, community foundations, and research institutions to support a sustainable longitudinal data system. This system informs policy, enhances research aligned with state priorities, ensures data privacy and compliance, and improves access to high-quality information for data-driven decision-making.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic & Operational Leadership
In collaboration with the Executive Governing Committee, set the strategic direction for RILDS. Partner with the Commissioner of Postsecondary Education to lead strategic planning and initiative execution for the RILDS Center. Develop and implement strategies that advance RILDS’ mission to connect data across sectors and over time, enabling research that aligns with state priorities, informs policy decisions, supports program evaluation, and enhances the well-being of Rhode Islanders.

Manage contractual agreements, oversee revenue and expenditures, and ensure effective personnel and budget management. Prepare the general revenue budget request in collaboration with the RIOPC chief financial officer and establish RILDS Center’s fee structure in coordination with the Executive Governing Committee.

Lead team meetings, supervise RILDS personnel, and oversee the hiring, onboarding, and training of staff. Direct analytical and engineering projects while monitoring and reviewing staff performance.

Manage the RILDS Center budget, overseeing federal, state, and private contracts and grants. Lead business development efforts, prepare funding proposals, and ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to a high standard. Seek new partners and funding opportunities for the RILDS Center. Ensure quality and timely response to funding opportunities.

Maintain a deep understanding of RILDS datasets and systems, as well as partner data, systems, and priorities. Provide strategic guidance to staff and respond to changing needs among stakeholders and new developments in data analytics.

Data Governance
Oversee the RILDS data governance program and represent RILDS on the Executive Governance Committee. Manage partnerships with RILDS Data Contributing Agencies.

In collaboration with the Executive and Data Governance Committees, maintain and ensure the implementation of policies related to data access, storage, transfer, metadata, quality, confidentiality, privacy, and security.

In coordination with RIOPC general counsel and RILDS Center staff, oversee the development and execution of data-sharing and use agreements with partners, facilitating cross-agency collaboration on shared issues, and identifying opportunities for program and process improvements to advance data use.

Communications
Cultivate positive relationships with stakeholders, including Rhode Island state agencies, municipal governments, national advocacy organizations, nonprofit leaders, community foundations, and research institutions. Represent and promote RILDS at national, regional, state, and community meetings, presenting about RILDS projects, products, and services.

In coordination with RIOPC, serve as the primary contact for RILDS communications, including media relations and marketing, and manage outreach activities.

Supervise and coordinate the work of professional staff, consultants, and contractors to ensure the effective delivery of RILDS Center services.

Licenses, Tools and Equipment
Data sets, data products, database development, data analysis, geographic information systems, and Internet based communication strategies; Software, personal computers, printers, fax machines, scanners and word processing.

Environmental Conditions
This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Other Duties and Responsibilities
Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s degree
• Minimum of seven years of organizational leadership experience, including management oversight (administrative, business development, personnel management, and project management)
• Demonstrated experience working with integrated datasets or data systems
• Demonstrated competency in data and statistical analysis
• Demonstrated project management and strategic planning experience
• Demonstrated ability to interact with a variety of stakeholders and mediate multiple perspectives to get to a solution
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and verbal communications skills
• Demonstrated proficiency in written communication skills
• Demonstrated understanding of policy implications and data trends and the ability to communicate insights to clients and consumers
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations

Preferred

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as public policy, sociology, political science, economics, statistics, etc.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Rhode Island’s institutions (public, nonprofit, and academic)
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge and subject matter expertise in education and workforce development policy
• Demonstrated knowledge of relevant policies and federal laws that regulate privacy and the exchange of specific types of information (i.e. FERPA, HIPAA)
• Demonstrated experience using business intelligence tools, e.g., PowerBI and/or Tableau, for data visualization
• Demonstrated understanding of governance and decision-making processes and the management of committees
• Demonstrated understanding of IT concepts and systems (IT background not required)
• Demonstrated evidence of fundraising and community partnerships
• Willingness to travel.

This is a non-union-non-classified, full-time position with a pay grade of 16. The director reports to the RI Commissioner of Postsecondary Education, and supervises professional, technical and administrative staff as well as consultants and contractors. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter by December 10, 2024.