Senior Institutional Research Analyst

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Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year)

Campus: Waterloo

Reports to: Manager, Integrated Analysis and Planning

Employee Group: WLUSA

Application Deadline: 06/18/2024

Requisition ID: 7511

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion , Laurier's thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Our locations are situated on the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. We recognize the unique heritages of Indigenous peoples and support their intentions to preserve and express their distinctive Indigenous cultures, histories, and knowledge through academic programming and co-curricular activities. Laurier's Centre for Indigegogy is one example of how Laurier honours Indigenous knowledge.

Under supervision of the Manager, Integrated Analysis and Planning, the Senior Analyst will support the coordination, design, extraction, compilation, analysis, reporting and presentation of institutional data on students, faculty, instructional activities, program outcomes, institutional effectiveness, and other aspects of the internal or external environment as requested.

The Senior Institutional Research Analyst will regularly interact and collaborate with other members of the Institutional Research & Planning Office, departments throughout the university and external partners. The results of the work completed by the Senior Institutional Research Analyst will provide valuable information and strategic insight to the University's most senior leaders, contributing directly to decision-making and strategic planning. This position has a university-wide mandate and is based at the Waterloo campus.

• Transform, interpret and present findings of internal and external analytical models, data and reports for internal evidence-based decision-making and planning purposes and external reporting
• Develop and conduct complex, customized analysis to support University or division-level strategic planning.
• Analyze trends and patterns in institutional data and performance
• Analyze survey instruments and results that reach internal and external constituents.
• Provide support to the development of qualitative and quantitative reports for various external constituents such as the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) and Statistics Canada
• Improve, and assist with the automation of current data gathering, analysis and reporting in conjunction with functional area experts, data team members, administrators, and others
• Provide expertise, analysis and support related to other departmental and institutional priorities
• Develop accurate analysis, graphs and presentations on university wide data to convey complex information in an understandable and compelling manner
• Communicate with technical and non-technical users to gather data, reporting and analytical requirements.

• 3-5 years of prior experience in designing, conducting and/or presenting research, including data design, extraction, compilation, analysis and reporting of data. Higher educational research experience is preferred
• Master's degree or PhD that utilizes analytics/quantitative research methods and statistic is preferred
• Experience with sophisticated research efforts including appropriate methodologies such as multivariate analytic techniques, statistical analysis, predictive modeling, survey design, sampling strategies, and data visualization.
• Proficiency with research design, statistical procedures and analysis including the ability to conduct complex, customized analysis and consider a variety of creative, unique problem solving approaches
• Ability to conduct quantitative and qualitative research, including data collection, analysis and reporting.
• Experience working with large databases, including extracting, evaluating and manipulating data for reporting and analytical purposes using query tools and/or programming language (e.g., SQL).
• Experience with financial models is an asset.
• Ability to prepare reports and presentations that communicate analyses and research findings in an effective manner
• Ability to take a systems approach or view for each analysis and understand how the analysis fits into or will impact the university system or business processes involved
• Highly motivated, optimistic, focused and results oriented
• Knowledge of, exposure to, and deep interest in higher education
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate well to a wide variety of end users including senior leaders in both one-on-one situations and in larger group meetings
• Excellent organizational skills, accuracy and detail orientation with an ability to manage multiple assignments using various data sources and the ability to prioritize across a wide variety of projects with competing deadlines
• Effective interpersonal and liaison skills including the proven ability to interact effectively with and establish collaborative relationships with internal and external constituencies.
• Ability to exercise discretion and tact in all interpersonal contacts, and to maintain confidentiality of sensitive data and information pertaining to the duties and responsibilities of the position
• Desire to continuously improve the University's data collection, reporting, and analytic efforts
• Expertise with Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
• Proficiency with statistical packages (such as SPSS, Stata) and SQL.
• Experience working with relational databases, extracting and manipulating data, and reporting tools (e.g., Cognos 11).

This position is not eligible for educational equivalencies.

This position is a full-time limited term position. Regular hours of work are 8:30 - 4:30pm Monday - Friday. Flexibility in hours may be required due to periods of high volume. When possible the manager will adjust hours so that no more than 35 hours are worked in a week.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, as per Policy 8.14 (Flexible Work Policy). In-person attendance for events, as required to meet operational needs, is expected. On occasion, this schedule may need to be adjusted to meet operational requirements.

Hiring salary range posted: $36.14 to $38.20 with an annual step progression on anniversary date up to $41.30. Considerations for new hire step placements include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier's core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.