The anticipated hiring range for this position is $125,000 to $150,000. Hiring offers will be determined based on the final candidate's qualifications and experience. The recruiter can share more information about what the anticipated hiring salary would be based upon your specific qualifications during the selection process.
The CIA offers a substantial benefits package that includes
medical coverage available at no cost to qualifying employees, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, short and long term disability insurance, retirement savings plan with high employer contributions, a generous paid time off program, and more!
As the benefits package at the CIA results in a significant value above the base hiring salary for this position, we encourage you to apply so that our recruiters can share more information with you about the benefits of working for the CIA.
POSITION SUMMARY The Director - Institutional Intelligence leads Culinary Institute of America's (CIA's) capability to anticipate change and make informed management decisions. The role connects institutional data, student behavior, market developments, and industry signals to identify emerging risks, uncover opportunities, and recommend action. Its primary focus is Admissions, Student Life, and Academic Affairs, with analysis extending across functions wherever these decisions require a broader institutional view.
As a strategic thought partner to leadership, the Director frames the questions CIA should be asking, challenges assumptions, and develops forecasts, scenarios, and recommendations that shape future direction. The role uses AI and advanced analytics to strengthen insight, accelerate discovery, and give leaders earlier visibility into what is likely to change and where action can make a difference.
The Director leads the Institutional Intelligence agenda, combining forward-looking decision support with trusted institutional research and reporting. The role partners with IT and functional leaders to deliver this capability within established institutional policies and technology governance.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES Institutional Intelligence and Management Decision Support- Set and lead an intelligence agenda aligned with CIA's strategic priorities, concentrating on decisions affecting recruitment, enrollment, the student experience, and academic development. Proactively identify questions and opportunities for leadership attention.
- Connect evidence across the student journey and the wider institution, drawing on Finance, Marketing, industry, and other sources as needed. Reveal relationships and emerging patterns that departmental reporting alone may miss.
- Translate insight into management choices: what may happen, why it matters, available responses, and their likely consequences. Present recommendations with assumptions, confidence levels, trade-offs, and clear points for action.
AI Enabled Foresight and Predictive Analytics- Lead the application of AI and advanced analytics to forecasting, pattern detection, research synthesis, and scenario development. Select uses that improve decision quality, speed, and the ability to anticipate change.
- Develop leading indicators and early-warning views of enrollment, student progression, demand, and academic capacity. Test alternative scenarios and identify when changing conditions should trigger a management response.
- Validate analytical and AI-generated findings against reliable evidence, test forecast performance and potential bias, and communicate uncertainty. Work with IT and data owners on approved tools and access; institutional AI policy and technology governance remain with designated owners.
Admissions and Enrollment Strategy- Anticipate changes in recruitment demand, applicant behavior, conversion, and yield by connecting admissions data with market, demographic, competitor, and industry intelligence. Recommend priorities for markets, channels, programs, and recruitment activity.
- Lead enrollment forecasts and scenario analysis with Admissions and academic leaders. Assess implications for student mix, revenue, class capacity, and resources; identify emerging shortfalls or opportunities early enough to act.
Student Life and Student Success- Connect engagement, belonging, service use, academic progression, and student feedback to identify emerging needs and risks to persistence and completion. Develop actionable insights with Student Life and academic partners.
- Help leaders prioritize and test support strategies before challenges become entrenched. Evaluate interventions using appropriate comparisons and follow-up measures, distinguishing predictive signals from evidence of causes or impact.
Academic Affairs and Future Program Development- Combine student outcomes, enrollment trends, employer needs, and external developments to anticipate changes in program demand and educational needs. Inform curriculum priorities, program development, delivery models, and academic capacity.
- Lead scenario analysis and evaluation for academic portfolio and resource decisions, partnering with Finance where relevant. Recommend options that balance educational quality, student outcomes, market relevance, and financial sustainability.
Institutional Research and Trusted Evidence- Lead core institutional research, including IPEDS and other assigned external reporting, accreditation evidence, surveys, benchmarking, and effectiveness analysis. Maintain accurate, timely submissions and documented methods.
- Establish consistent measures and analytical standards for decision support. Work with functional data owners and IT to resolve data-quality issues and reporting requirements; IT retains technical ownership of systems, integrations, and security.
Leadership and Institutional Influence- Build capability in forecasting, applied AI, research, and decision support while maintaining dependable core reporting.
- Convene leaders around shared questions, challenge assumptions constructively, and build confidence in using evidence. Track recommendations, resulting decisions, and outcomes to refine the intelligence agenda and perform other relevant duties as assigned.
Data Capabilities & Governance- Partner with IT and institutional leaders to develop an appropriate data strategy to support the current and future needs of the organization.
- Partner with IT and institutional leaders to define and implement appropriate data governance and data quality standards and processes within the school.
- Partner with IT to develop and iterate data, analytics and AI capabilities needed to support the CIA.
- Any and all other duties as assigned.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKEDuring the first 12-24 months, success will be assessed against priorities and measures agreed with the supervisor and key leaders during the first 90 days:
- Leadership routinely uses forward-looking intelligence to make consequential decisions in Admissions, Student Life, and Academic Affairs, with clear examples of action taken earlier or priorities changed.
- Connected analysis reveals risks and opportunities that individual functions had not identified, leading to coordinated responses and documented results.
- Forecasts and leading indicators provide useful warning of changing conditions; their accuracy, timeliness, and decision value are regularly tested and improved.
- AI-supported analysis delivers demonstrable gains in insight, speed, or decision quality, with findings validated and limitations understood.
- Scenario analysis informs enrollment and academic choices; student-support initiatives are evaluated; core reporting remains accurate and timely.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Education:
- Bachelor's degree in analytics, institutional research, higher education, economics, social science, business, or a related field.
Experience:
- A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in institutional intelligence, strategic analytics, institutional research, or a related field, including leadership of staff or substantial analytical initiatives.
- Demonstrated success shaping management decisions through forecasting, scenario analysis, connected research, and actionable recommendations.
- Practical experience applying AI or advanced analytics to decision support, with the ability to evaluate outputs, test assumptions, and communicate uncertainty.
- Experience leading research and reporting priorities; knowledge of higher-education assessment, accreditation evidence, IPEDS, and student-data privacy requirements, including FERPA.
- Demonstrated success shaping management decisions through forecasting, scenario analysis, connected research, and actionable recommendations.
- Practical experience applying AI or advanced analytics to decision support, with the ability to evaluate outputs, test assumptions, and communicate uncertainty.
- Experience leading research and reporting priorities; knowledge of higher-education assessment, accreditation evidence, IPEDS, and student-data privacy requirements, including FERPA.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS- Master's degree in analytics, institutional research, higher education, economics, social science, business, or a related field.
- Experience developing predictive models, evaluating interventions, or combining institutional data with market and competitive intelligence.
- Experience in a multi-campus institution, culinary and hospitality education, or workforce development.
REQUIRED SKILLS- Understanding of enrollment, student success, and academic planning, with the ability to connect these areas to broader institutional priorities and external developments.
- Strategic curiosity and the ability to connect disparate signals, challenge assumptions, and anticipate implications for CIA.
- Strong research, quantitative analysis, forecasting, and data storytelling; ability to distinguish evidence, inference, and uncertainty.
- Credibility with senior leaders, constructive influence across functions, and clear recommendations that support timely decisions.
- Sound judgment, team leadership, discretion, and commitment to responsible data use, academic quality, and student success.
- Excellent written, verbal communication, and presentation skills required. Must have demonstrated ability in organizational, time management, problem solving and interpersonal skills.
- Strong computer experience, which must include abilities to work effectively with MS Office suite products, i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Advanced skills in Excel required.
WORKING CONDITIONS - Must be available to work nights and weekends as required due to business needs.
- Regular work requires the use of a computer, sometimes in excess of eight (8) hours per day.
