Director of Data Services

One of only three selective universities within the University System of Georgia and a top 10 ranked public university in the Southeast, GCSU offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 majors, more than 30 graduate programs, doctorates in education and nursing, professional certificates, and continuing education programs.

As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), GCSU is committed to fostering a liberal arts environment that values academic preeminence, interdisciplinary inquiry and an inclusive learning community. GCSU enjoys a strong reputation for academic excellence and nationally ranked programs according to US News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Colleges of Distinction - among other ranking sources.

Georgia College & State University takes great pride in combining the educational experience of a private liberal arts college with the affordability of a public university. Faculty and staff are dedicated to student engagement and experiential learning through high-impact practices such as internships, service- and community-based learning, leadership development, study abroad opportunities, mentored undergraduate research and a capstone project that fosters intellectual curiosity, reasoned inquiry and critical thinking.

The university's beautiful and historic campus is located downtown in Milledgeville, Georgia, a charming college town of approximately 19,000 residents in Central Georgia, and only 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. Milledgeville is also the home of noted American author and alumna, Flannery O'Connor, '45, and the college community enjoys many exciting literary arts programs at O'Connor's former home, Andalusia, a National Historic Landmark owned by the university. Milledgeville is located on the banks of beautiful Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee, allowing faculty, staff and students to take full advantage of the environmental and recreational benefits of being part of a lake community. For cultural, educational and leisure opportunities beyond Milledgeville - Macon and Atlanta are located within easy driving distances.

Georgia College & State University is dedicated to protecting academic freedom in addition to supporting freedom of expression as outlined in the University System of Georgia's Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom policy and its Ethics Code of Conduct. For more information, visit us online at gcsu.edu.

Job Summary

The Director of Data Services reports to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and provides leadership in governing university data and information assets to ensure the availability of data sufficient for fulfilling operational needs and for decision-making that supports the mission, goals, and strategic priorities of Georgia College & State University (GCSU). This position serves as a key coordinator in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations and other major initiatives. In partnership with Institutional Research, data custodians, and other units across campus, this position supports data integrity and security efforts which facilitate operational efficiencies, improve decision-making, and enhance reporting. Working with senior university officials, the Director of Data Services promotes the value of data as a shared institutional asset, advocates for the appropriate investment of resources, and directs processes that improve the quality, integrity, and availability of data.

Responsibilities

Institutional Project Planning and Coordination - 20%

• Serve as institutional co-lead for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations and other major initiatives.
• Provide leadership for projects involving the retooling of core operational processes and having impact on institutional data stores.

Institute and Manage Data Integrity and Quality Assurance Mechanisms - 20%

• Enforce existing policies and, when needed, establish new policies to align the institution with applicable regulations and reporting requirements.
• Partner with GCSU's Information Security officers to establish mechanisms ensuring data privacy and security.
• Establish processes to ensure institutional data is accurate, consistent, accessible, and available in a timely manner.

Support Data-Driven Decision Making - 15%

• Work with Institutional Research to determine and support a standard set of data access and reporting tools.
• Coordinate regular data quality checks and process audits to ensure compliance and ongoing suitability of operating processes and controls.
• As needed, help fulfill requests for dashboards, reports, analytical tools, and forecasting models.
• Champion the integration of data sources and develop increased access to data to advance the mission of the University.
• Work with Institutional Research to guide implementation of an institutional strategic plan for data collection, use, and access.
• Champion digital transformation initiatives to achieve workflow efficiencies, improve data quality, and enhance client experience.
• Facilitate data analysis as a strategic partner for leadership.

Information Technology Project & Portfolio Management - 15%

• Provide high-level project and portfolio management support for Information Technology initiatives.

Curate the Data Dictionary with Institutional Research - 10%

• Formalize and publish definitions of key terms, metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Develop clear, non-technical definitions for all stored data elements, including sample queries and examples of appropriate use.
• Facilitate creation and maintenance of data standards, including data definitions, dictionaries, and classification procedures for enterprise information systems.
• Ensure documentation of functional data quality and integrity requirements, making these available to appropriate end users.

Coordinate GCSU Data Governance Structures and Activities - 10%

• Establish guiding principles for institutional data governance.
• Define the qualifications, responsibilities, and obligations of the various data governance roles.
• Develop operating standards and structured protocols for the collection, validation, protection, storage, use, and dissemination of institutional data.

Establish Training and Professional Development Programs - 5%

• Educate the campus community on privacy, security, and the ethical use of data.
• Coordinate training for users of data management, access, and reporting tools.

Other - 5%

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements

Bachelor's degree in data science, information systems, statistics, computer science, business analytics, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field; OR 5-10 years of progressive experience in data management, analytics, institutional research, or information governance.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Relevant credentials such as Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP), CIPP, CIPM, CISM, PMP, or equivalent governance/security/project management certifications.
• Higher education domain knowledge.

Preferred Educational Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in data science, information systems, statistics, computer science, business analytics, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field.

Preferred Experience

• Experience promoting data-driven decision-making in research, teaching, outreach, and operational contexts.
• Experience with advanced analytics techniques such as predictive modelling and data mining.
• Experience with artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in data analytics.
• Proven leadership in large-scale projects such as ERP implementations and data governance portfolios, with strong milestone and risk management skills.

Proposed Salary

This position is a pay grade 11. The available salary range is $68,519 to $90,000. Starting salary within this range is based on relevant years of experience.

For more information about GCSU compensation practices, click here: https://www.gcsu.edu/humanresources/pay-grade-structure.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES

• Familiarity with reporting and analytics methods such as KPI design, dashboarding best practices, and statistical or forecasting concepts supporting institutional planning.
• Familiarity with data quality practices such as profiling, validation rules, reconciliation processes, and use of metrics for accuracy, timeliness, and consistency.
• Hands-on technical experience with Power BI, Tableau, modern cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, BigQuery, Azure Synapse), or enterprise ETL tools.
• Demonstrated ethical standards, professionalism, and service-oriented interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving and customer service skills.
• Strong judgment in prioritizing work, balancing stakeholder interests, and adapting to shifting demands.

KNOWLEDGE

• Understanding of data governance and stewardship models, including metadata management, master data management, data lineage, and stewardship roles.
• Familiarity with data warehousing concepts, data lake, ETL/ELT patterns, data catalogs, and integration of disparate source systems.
• Knowledge of legal and privacy frameworks relevant to student and employee data, including FERPA, HIPAA, and applicable state and federal regulations.
• Understanding of role-based access controls and data classification models.

SKILLS

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for all audiences.
• Ability to guide evaluation and selection of BI platforms, integration tools, cloud platforms, and analytics toolchains.
• Ability to build consensus, secure executive sponsorship, and translate technical concepts into actionable institutional priorities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, particularly with partners in Information Security and Institutional Research.
• Capacity to lead through organizational change, shifting priorities, and evolving regulatory requirements with resilience and agility.
• Advocacy for data as a shared institutional asset and for embedding evidence-based decision-making across units.
• Skill in implementing durable quality controls to ensure accurate, consistent, and timely enterprise data.
• Proficiency in operationalizing secure, role-based data access while enabling analytical needs for academic and administrative stakeholders.
• Ability to produce concise dashboards, narratives, and recommendations that influence policy and operational decisions.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (USG). The Board of Regents prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual's age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). No individual shall be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activity because of the individual's protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual's protected status, except that preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.

Other Information

This is not a supervisory position.

This position does not have any financial responsibilities.

This position may be required to drive.

This role is not considered a position of trust.

This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).

This position will not travel.

This position does not require security clearance.

This position may travel 1%-24% of the time.

Background Check

• Criminal Background Check
• Education Verification
• Motor Vehicle Report

To apply, visit https://careers.hprod.onehcm.usg.edu/psp/careers/CAREERS/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=36000&JobOpeningId=304582&PostingSeq=1