Job Description

Director, Data and Research

Reports to: Chief of Schools, Area 3

Preferred Start Date: October 1, 2026

Salary Range: $110,000-$120,000

Description

The Director of Data and Research leads CRCSD's data analytics, research, student information, and registration teams. The primary charge is to establish best-in-class data systems, research practices, and analytical capabilities that enhance districtwide decision-making, academic outcomes, and operational effectiveness. As both a strategic leader and hands-on manager, the Director streamlines workflows, builds capacity across departments, and ensures data practices are accurate, scalable, and equitable.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Data Strategy

• Develop and execute a comprehensive data, research, and analytics strategy aligned with CRCSD's Strategic Plan.
• Manage department priorities across reporting, analytics, research, governance, performance monitoring, and decision support.
• Translate district leadership inquiries into actionable analyses, research, or reporting tools that inform policy and operational choices.
• Foster a data-informed culture among staff, emphasizing continuous improvement and evidence-based planning.

1. Capacity Building and Improved Collaboration

• Strengthen districtwide data literacy by providing professional learning opportunities, self-service tools, and ongoing support.
• Partner with school and district leaders to identify data needs and deliver tailored analytical solutions.
• Communicate complex findings clearly to key stakeholders, including the Superintendent, Cabinet, Board of Education, and community.
• Communicate and interpret data findings effectively for educators, administrators, the Superintendent, Cabinet, the Board of Education, and the community.
• Facilitate a cross-functional network of data owners across district departments to align definitions, quality controls, and access standards.
• Build partnerships with external organizations and researchers to leverage data and research for educational and organizational improvement.

1. Data Health, Governance, Security, and Systems Management

• Lead and enforce the district's data governance framework, including policies, standards, data ownership, access, and accountability.
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of district data through validation processes, data dictionaries, and quality controls.
• Manage core data and analytics platforms, including Infinite Campus and Tableau, to support operations, reporting, and decision-making.
• Provide hands-on technical expertise for database management, query writing, report design, system integrations, and advanced troubleshooting.
• Partner with Technology leadership to build, secure, and maintain efficient data infrastructure and automated reporting workflows.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state data privacy laws in collaboration with the Chief Compliance Officer and legal partners.
• Oversee data sharing agreements, tier-one user support, and district-wide training on responsible data privacy and usage.

1. Data Analytics, Research, and Insights for Improvement

• Lead the strategy, development, and delivery of district data analytics, reports, dashboards, and research capabilities to provide actionable insights for educators, administrators, and leadership.
• Provide analytical leadership, quality oversight, and hands-on development for complex models, forecasts, and visualizations across academic and operational domains.
• Lead the implementation and ongoing evaluation of early warning systems to identify students needing support and monitor intervention effectiveness.
• Direct applied research and program evaluation efforts to measure effectiveness, outcomes, and return on investment for district initiatives and investments.
• Prioritize and develop forecasting and scenario models related to enrollment, staffing, finance, facilities, and resource allocation.
• Translate complex data and research findings into clear conclusions, recommendations, and strategic next steps for district leadership.

1. Registration, State Reporting, and Student Records

• Oversee centralized registration, student records management, and mandatory state/federal reporting functions.
• Establish rigorous validation procedures and reporting calendars to guarantee data accuracy and regulatory compliance.
• Develop, codify, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and documentation for all registration and reporting workflows.
• Ensure mission-critical operational processes have backup coverage, cross-training, and business continuity plans.

1. Supervision and Leadership

• Lead and manage the Data and Research team through effective supervision, mentoring, professional development, collaboration, accountability, and clear performance expectations.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, priorities, service expectations, and workflows across the department.
• Lead and manage internal systems, project intake, practices, and workflows to improve efficiency, effectiveness, responsiveness, and customer service.
• Create a collaborative working environment in which team members understand how their individual responsibilities contribute to the department's broader purpose and district priorities.
• Ensure the department maintains the technical expertise and capacity necessary to fulfill its systems, reporting, analytics, research, registration, and data quality responsibilities.
• Plan, coordinate, lead, manage, and deliver targeted professional learning directly and through department staff for school and district administrative support staff and secretaries. Professional learning should address data systems, data entry protocols, registration management, data quality, and reporting expectations.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of department systems, services, staffing, and workflows and recommend adjustments needed to meet evolving district priorities.

Required Technical and Professional Competencies

The successful candidate must combine strategic leadership and team management with the technical expertise necessary to lead, evaluate, and directly perform critical aspects of the department's work when needed.

Candidates should demonstrate knowledge and experience in K-12/Higher Education in the following areas:

• Student information system administration, preferably Infinite Campus, including configuration, database management, reporting, records, registration, integrations, user support, and advanced troubleshooting
• Relational databases, Structured Query Language, query development, query review, data integration, application programming interfaces, and automated data transfers
• Business intelligence and visualization tools, including Tableau, Power BI, or comparable platforms
• Dashboard and report development, report automation, data visualization, key performance indicators, and self service reporting
• Data preparation, validation, analysis, statistics, forecasting, scenario modeling, predictive analytics, and early warning systems
• Data quality, governance, data dictionaries, stewardship, privacy, security, access controls, and Data Sharing Agreements
• State and federal education reporting requirements, student records, registration processes, and applicable privacy and compliance requirements
• Research design, survey development and analysis, program evaluation, implementation monitoring, effectiveness analysis, and return on investment
• Project management, process improvement, technical documentation, professional learning, and organizational change
• Executive communication, data storytelling, and translating complex findings into practical recommendations

This is a hands-on leadership position. While responsibilities should be appropriately distributed across the team, the Director must possess demonstrated technical depth and be capable of independently performing essential systems, reporting, analytical, and research work when necessary.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle and/or feel objects, tools or controls; talk and hear. The employee frequently must squat, stoop or kneel, reach above the head and forward 0 to 24 inches and on occasion up to 36 inches. The employee continuously uses hand strength to grasp items. The employee will frequently bend or twist at the neck and trunk more than the average person while performing the duties of this job. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds 0 to 12 feet and occasionally up to 20 feet, such as food trays, canned goods and frozen food packages. The employee will sometimes push/pull items such as carts and food preparation equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus while preparing food.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is consistently above average.

The information contained in this job description is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individual holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

The Cedar Rapids Community School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The district does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability.