Assistant Director of Survey Research and Analysis

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $70,000 - $90,000

Position Summary

The Office of Planning and Institutional Research (OPIR), in the Office of the Provost at Columbia University, supports senior leadership in advancing institutional goals through rigorous data collection, analysis, and reporting. OPIR's mission is to enable strategic, evidence-based decision-making by delivering timely insights into the University's academic, administrative, and operational landscape.

As Columbia develops a coordinated, institution-wide survey program, the Assistant Director of Survey Research and Analysis will be a critical driver of that effort. This role will lead the design and implementation of high-quality surveys of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders (including parents), in partnership with administrative offices across the University.

This position will also represent Columbia in membership associations and consortia survey efforts, providing leadership and coordination in benchmarking, governance, and best practices. The Assistant Director will serve as a methodological expert and advisor to internal stakeholders, helping to shape the survey strategy, calendar, content, and policies that reduce redundancy and survey fatigue while maximizing the utility of collected data.

This is a unique opportunity for a skilled and strategic survey researcher to contribute to a high-impact, collaborative, and fast-evolving institutional initiative.

Responsibilities

Survey Design and Implementation

• Design and implement surveys targeting a wide range of audiences, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other community stakeholders.
• Collaborate with units such as the Offices of the Provost and President, University Life, Faculty Affairs and Advancement, Public Affairs, General Counsel, and Columbia's individual Schools to scope and deliver survey projects.
• Conduct instrument design, pilot testing, and survey programming using Qualtrics.
• Manage survey logistics including sampling strategies, administration, promotion, and monitoring response rates and data quality.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Analyze survey data using appropriate statistical methods and tools (e.g., R, Python, Stata, SPSS).
• Synthesize findings into accessible and actionable insights through written reports, dashboards, slide decks, and presentations.
• Use data visualization tools (Tableau and Power BI) to effectively communicate findings to diverse audiences, including senior leadership.
• Research and implement AI applications to increase timeliness and efficiency of deliverables.

External Collaboration and Representation

• Represent Columbia in survey collaborations through membership associations and consortia; serve as a liaison for national or consortium-administered surveys.
• Coordinate institutional responses to externally administered surveys; ensure alignment with Columbia's strategic interests and standards.
• Monitor external trends and contribute Columbia's voice to peer benchmarking and shared research efforts.

Survey Strategy and Governance

• Provide leadership in the development of a University-wide survey program, including policies, guidelines, and governance frameworks.
• Manage Columbia's institutional survey calendar and coordinate survey timing, content, and methodology to facilitate access for campus leaders, avoid redundancy and mitigate survey fatigue.
• Consult with campus partners to identify and prioritize strategic research questions aligned with institutional needs.
• Serve as a campus resource on survey best practices, ethics, and data stewardship; develop documentation and provide guidance to other survey administrators across the University.

Cross-Team Engagement and Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to OPIR's broader research and analytics portfolio as needed.
• Participate in continuous improvement of survey-related processes, tools, and documentation.
• Track and evaluate the effectiveness of survey efforts and propose enhancements to methodology and reporting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in statistics, social sciences, educational research, or a closely related field.
• 3-4 years of professional experience conducting applied research or survey analysis, ideally in a higher education or institutional research context.
• Demonstrated success managing the full survey lifecycle-from research design and question development to data analysis and reporting.
• Strong understanding of survey methodology, sampling, and quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques.
• Advanced proficiency in Qualtrics and at least one statistical analysis software package (e.g., R, SPSS, Stata, or Python).
• Experience translating data into actionable insights through clear writing and effective visualizations.
• Familiarity with Tableau and Power BI for interactive reporting and dashboard development.
• Excellent project management and interpersonal skills; ability to navigate a decentralized institution and manage multiple stakeholder relationships.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to responsible data handling and confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in statistics, social sciences, educational research, or a related field.
• Experience in institutional research or a comparable applied research setting in higher education.
• Familiarity with survey benchmarking projects or consortia (e.g., COFHE, AAUDE, HEDS).
• Experience working with administrative data from student information systems or enterprise platforms.
• Knowledge of survey governance and best practices in large, complex institutions.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.