Senior Director, Curriculum & Faculty Analytics

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

The Senior Director, Curriculum & Faculty Analytics leads a large, experienced team of data analysts, researchers, and data scientists to deliver actionable insights that enhance faculty operations and curriculum development. This role enables just-in-time interventions and personalized learning experiences by leveraging advanced statistical analyses and machine learning models integrated into workflows that support the learner journey.

The Senior Director oversees the development of tools and metrics, including dashboards and reports, that enable data-driven decision-making, improving instructional quality, mentorship support, and learning effectiveness. Collaborating with teams across Academic Delivery, Program Development, and Schools, this role identifies opportunities to develop innovative analytics tools and lead research initiatives that drive industry-leading advancements.

A key focus of this role is analyzing factors influencing student success and optimizing faculty interactions and outreach while supporting personalized learning experiences that improve student outcomes.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

* Develops and implements a vision and strategy for leveraging analytics to enhance faculty operations, curriculum development, and personalized learning experiences, driving enhanced student outcomes.

* Collaborates with university leadership to define and executes strategic plans aligned with institutional goals.

* Oversees the design, creation, and management of dashboards, reports, and analytics tools that empower stakeholders with actionable insights.

* Partners with faculty and curriculum development teams to drive the adoption of analytics tools and establish effective and scalable support processes.

* Analyzes factors influencing student success and provide actionable recommendations to optimize faculty outreach, interactions, and support, as well as enhance the design and effectiveness of learning experiences.

* Evaluates faculty initiatives and student outreach efforts to determine their effectiveness in enhancing student outcomes.

* Delivers high-impact reports and executive summaries to internal and external stakeholders.

* Guides the use of advanced statistical models and machine learning to enhance faculty workflows, personalize learning experiences, and improve student outcomes.

* Partners with Product and Data Engineering teams to design and manage data integration frameworks that ensure seamless access to relevant systems and data.

* Coordinates with external vendors and technical experts to integrate data sources and maintain strong vendor relationships.

* Defines and maintains metrics to improve instructional quality, mentorship support, curriculum effectiveness, and equitable student outcomes.

* Develops frameworks to support faculty managers in evaluating team member performance fairly and equitably.

* Creates and manages effective processes to promptly address faculty-related needs and concerns regarding data, reports, and analytics tools, ensuring seamless resolution and collaboration with Faculty Operations teams to maintain access and functionality.

* Partners with Academic Delivery, Program Development, Schools, and EdTech teams to align analytics initiatives with institutional priorities and foster innovation.

* Identifies and leads research initiatives to develop novel analytics tools and frameworks that drive industry advancements and continuous improvement.

* Leads the design, execution, and analysis of faculty and student surveys and focus groups, integrating findings into strategic initiatives.

* Ensures the accuracy, consistency, and security of curriculum, instruction and mentoring-related data by collaborating with product and data engineering teams.

* Conducts regular data quality reviews and address issues proactively.

* Leads, mentors, and develops a diverse team of analysts, researchers, data scientists, and data leaders, fostering a culture of collaboration, professional growth, and high performance.

* Manages recruitment, talent retention, and succession planning to build a high-performing team.

* Serves as a trusted advisor to university leadership by delivering insights and strategic recommendations that influence decision-making.

* Engages with key stakeholders to identify data needs and promote data literacy through workshops, training, and communication.

* Oversees the budgeting and resource allocation for analytics initiatives, ensuring cost-effective operations without compromising quality.

* Regularly assesses resource allocation to ensure alignment with strategic priorities and anticipate future needs as analytics programs scale.

* Manages vendor contracts and service agreements to maximize value and alignment with departmental objectives.

* Stays informed on emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in research, data analytics, and data science.

* Implements processes that ensure efficiency, innovation, and alignment with industry standards.

* Identifies and mitigates risks associated with data management and research, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and institutional policies.

* Proactively addresses compliance issues and maintain the highest standards of integrity in research activities.

* Develops frameworks to mitigate risks in data integration, privacy, and security, ensuring adherence to evolving regulations and institutional policies.

* Represents the university at conferences, professional organizations, and forums to enhance its reputation and influence in the higher education industry.

* Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

* In-depth knowledge of statistical analysis, machine learning, and AI applications, including natural language processing and predictive modeling, to improve educational workflows and student outcomes.

* Strong knowledge of BI platforms (eg. Tableau, Power BI), ETL tools, and AI/ML frameworks, with the ability to guide teams in leveraging these tools for advanced analytics, data visualization, and decision-making.

* Proven ability to develop and implement a forward-looking analytics strategy that enhances institutional priorities.

* Demonstrated success in leading large-scale change initiatives, particularly related to data systems, team structures, and institutional processes, with the ability to guide teams through transitions effectively.

* Proven track record of leading research initiatives and developing analytics tools.

* Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively advise senior leaders, align cross-departmental initiatives, and promote data literacy.

* Exceptional project management skills to oversee multiple complex initiatives, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality outcomes aligned with strategic goals.

* Expertise in managing budgets, vendor relationships, and resource allocation to maximize value and maintain operational excellence.

Education

* Master's degree in data science, analytics, computer science, social sciences, education, or a related field with coursework in research methods and statistics required.

Experience

* 12 years of experience in data analytics, data science, institutional research, or a related field.

* 7 years in leadership or supervisory roles overseeing large, cross-functional teams, including 5 years managing managers.

* Extensive experience collaborating with product and data engineering teams to design and manage data integration strategies that consolidate relevant data into a centralized warehouse, enabling seamless access for analytics and research purposes.

* Experience delivering actionable insights for operational improvements.

* Extensive experience partnering with academic, technical, and operational teams to align analytics efforts with institutional priorities.

* Experience managing large budgets, including oversight of vendor contracts and resource allocation for analytics initiatives.

Experience in lieu of education

An equivalent combination of training, experience, credentials, or accomplishments demonstrating the ability to perform the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

* Significant experience in a higher education environment, with a deep understanding of faculty operations, student success metrics, curriculum development processes, and their interplay.

* Familiarity with the tech industry and proven experience collaborating with software development teams to deliver analytics-driven solutions.

* Proficiency in Decision Intelligence principles, including the ability to design decision-support systems that enable evidence-based strategies and drive institutional success.

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Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.