Saint Mary’s University

Duties as the Institutional Researcher include, but are not limited to:

• Implementing supporting systems and processes to aid in the production and maintenance of statistical reports on enrolment, grades, teaching load, student demographics in support of planning by Deans and Senior Administrators.
• Providing trending and historical analysis of admissions, enrolment, and retention and attrition rates to support and develop meaningful enrolment projections and forecasts for the upcoming year.
• Preparing reports for patterns of retention, academic standing, graduation, etc. as required in support of committees.
• Curating data to ensure reports are presented in a format that is representative and useable for the purpose at hand.
• Developing alternatives, models, and projections to improve processes and operational effectiveness.
• Developing and maintaining Institutional Research webpages and the Administrator Group Dashboards on SMUport.
• Responding to ad hoc requests for research and analysis and providing advice.
• Acting as a resource for working groups and other committees requiring reporting and/or predictive analytics in support of their work and to inform decision making (e.g. strategic plan implementation).
• Supporting the Associate Vice President Academic and Enrolment Management in the overarching reporting strategy by liaising with Financial Services and linking financial information with performance information.
• Responding to survey from external sectors such as:
  • Researching, collecting, investigating and analyzing data for the National Faculty Data Pool UCASS Survey on full-time and part-time faculty salaries.
  • Tabulating information on the University for release in various guides to universities, including Maclean's Canadian University Report and Universities Canada.
  • Extracting, transforming and submitting data to external bodies on behalf of other departments.
  • Providing statistics and supporting university departments reporting for accreditation.
• Researching and compiling info on collective agreements and may be a member of the bargaining team.
• Coordinating participation in student surveys and conducting analysis and preparing reports on findings relevant to policy and decision-making at the University in the following external surveys:
  • Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSU) surveys of (1) new student decision making and 1st year experience, (2) graduating student outcomes and finances, and (3) continuing student satisfaction and engagement.
  • National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).
  • Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) targeted surveys as required.
  • Academic Group surveys of applicant decision-making and of acceptance offers declined.
  • Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC) graduate outcomes survey.
  • Develops designs, administers and analyzes surveys for internal stakeholders to inform policy and decision-making.
  • Conducts focus groups and ad hoc surveys of students, graduates, employers, and other stakeholders to inform policy and decision making.
  • Saint Mary's Graduate Outcomes Survey of graduates 2 years out to inform program reviews.

To be the successful Institutional Researcher you will have completed a Master's degree, or equivalent, in a program with required application or research methodology and statistical analysis and a minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of directly related experience. You demonstrate strong skills in the use of quantitative analytical software tools for analysis and modelling such as Excel, Access, SPSS, SAS, R and further experience writing reports from a relational database and knowledge of SQL. You are a continuous learner who keeps abreast of current issues in higher education; demonstrate experience with qualitative research methods, including focus groups; and are proficient in writing and presentations. Familiarity with Nvivo, experience working in a university environment; and experience working with Banner/Oracle databases will all be considered an asset.

Saint Mary's University is one of Canada's top primary undergraduate universities--known for its international collaborations, leadership in entrepreneurship, and research that benefits local and global communities. Our programs in Arts, Science, Graduate Studies and the Sobey School of Business are among Canada's best and feature professors who are committed to the success of their students. Saint Mary's provides our 7,000 students with a place that fosters possibility, excellent research opportunities, and distinguished graduate and professional programs combined with a caring community. Nestled in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Canada's east coast, Saint Mary's University is marked by iconic buildings, green spaces and fresh ocean air. The Saint Mary's University community is committed to a prosperous future for the world-a world without limits.

Learn more about working at Saint Mary's University here and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Apply for this opportunity online by visiting www.smu.ca/employment and use our online application system through CareerBeacon. Select the position you are interested in and apply by clicking the "Apply Now" button. Please include the names of three professional references. No telephone calls please.

The search committee will begin to consider applications on November 1, 2019 and continue until the position is filled.

Saint Mary's University hires on the basis of merit and is committed to the principles of employment equity. Saint Mary's University encourages applications from qualified women, visible minorities, Aboriginal people, and people with disabilities. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

Saint Mary's University thanks all applicants for applying. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Saint Mary's University promotes a Healthy Campus including a Scent-Free environment and a Smoke-Free Campus.