Chief Data Officer

Position Details

Position Information

Position Title
Chief Data Officer

Requisition Number
E00061P

Position Category
Executive

Campus Location
Weber State University - Ogden, UT

Hours per week

Months per year
12

Alternate work schedule

Pay Grade

Salary

FLSA
Exempt

Job Summary/Basic Function

The Chief Data Officer (CDO) serves as the primary data strategist and operational data leader at Weber State University. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Administrative Services and working in close strategic and operational partnership with the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the CDO leads university-wide data governance, data privacy, analytics infrastructure, and data-driven decision-making to support student success and operational excellence.

This role balances high-level policy with tactical execution. Beyond establishing governance policies, the CDO actively engages with data pipelines, reporting frameworks, and analytical tools to turn raw data into actionable institutional insights. The CDO ensures institutional data is accurate, secure, compliant with privacy mandates, and accessible for strategic planning, enrollment management, and academic outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Data Pipeline & Model Operations: Actively audit, build, and optimize institutional data workflows, predictive models, and reporting structures alongside the core data analyst team.
• Student Success Analytics: Responsible for the analysis of complex datasets related to student enrollment, engagement, retention, course offering optimization, and student support services to yield actionable insights.
• Self-Service & Dashboard Development: Responsible for the design, deploy, and maintain user-friendly dashboards and self-service analytics platforms for academic and administrative decision-makers.
• Privacy Framework Operationalization: Establish, maintain, and enforce robust data privacy protocols aligned with FERPA, state privacy regulations, and industry standards across all campus data handling practices.
• Access Controls & Data Minimization: Work directly with data stewards and IT security teams to define, audit, and maintain role-based access controls, data retention schedules, and data minimization practices.
• Privacy Audits & Risk Assessments: Conduct practical data privacy assessments and security risk evaluations across administrative departments, academic units, and third-party software integrations.
• Ethical Data Management: Establish campus-wide standards for ethical data collection, algorithmic transparency, and responsible AI usage in student monitoring and institutional analytics.
• Data Integrity & Standard Enforcement: Develop and directly supervise data quality standards, data dictionaries, and master data management across core enterprise platforms.
• Policy Translation: Translate abstract governance policies into practical, day-to-day operational workflows, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and data stewardship guidelines.
• Infrastructure Coordination: Partner closely with the CIO to ensure institutional data architecture, cloud storage, and ETL pipelines align with operational needs and scalability.
• Academic & Administrative Alignment: Build collaborative relationships with Associate Provosts, Deans, Vice Presidents, and department heads to identify critical data needs and deliver custom analytical solutions.
• Data Literacy & Capability Building: Responsible for the hands-on training sessions and workshops for faculty and staff to build practical data literacy and self-service capabilities across campus.

Required Qualifications

Required:

• Master's degree in Data Analytics, Computer Science, information Systems, Statistics, Higher Education Administration or related field.
• 8 years of related work experience
• Experience with database languages, business intelligence/data visualization tools, data modeling, and complex reporting environments.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred:

• Experience in higher education, including familiarity with Student Information Systems (like Ellucian Banner, Workday)
• Doctorate degree in a related field of study
• Significant experience with analytics tools and platforms.
• Demonstrated management and supervisory abilities.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to form collaborative relationships with other university offices including academic colleges and units
• The ability to prioritize and manage multiple, simultaneous projects with attention to detail and adherence to deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from a variety of communities and cultures
• Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and procedures governing data confidentiality and security.
• Advanced knowledge of analytics methods in higher education, including both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Background Check?
Yes

Benefits Summary

WSU offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, long-term disability, life insurance, retirement, a wellness program with release time and paid incentives, tuition benefits, free tickets to athletic and performing arts events, and paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Posting Detail Information

Job Open Date
10/20/2026

Review Date
11/19/2026

Job Close Date

Open Until Filled
Yes

Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting
https://jobs.weber.edu/postings/29563

Notes to Applicant

If you are passionate about what you could offer and accomplish here at WSU, we would love to hear from you. The position comes with a generous benefits package.

To apply, please complete the online application and attach a cover letter, current resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references. Application materials should address the required and preferred qualifications of the position.

Screening of applications will begin November 19, 2026. Position will remain open until filled.

Criminal background check required as a condition of employment.