Director of Institutional Research and Analytics, Strategy and Delivery Office, Nazarbayev University

The Director of Institutional Research and Analytics provides strategic leadership for the university data analytics, institutional effectiveness, and advancing institutional rankings performance and global reputation. This executive role drives data-informed decision-making to support strategic planning, quality assurance, accreditation, resource allocation, and continuous improvement.

The Director works closely with senior leadership, schools, administrative departments, quality assurance teams, IT, finance, admissions, and student services.

1. Institutional Research & Strategic Analytics

1. lead the development of a comprehensive institutional research and analytics function.
2. collect, validate, analyze, and interpret institutional data.
3. develop dashboards and associated reports for senior leadership and university stakeholders.
4. provide data-informed recommendations and implement interventions for performance improvement against strategic targets and rankings indicators.
5. identify opportunities to improve student recruitment, retention, progression, completion, employability, research performance, and operational efficiency.
6. provide data and analysis to support strategic and operational planning, institutional policy development, budgeting, and resource allocation.

2. University Rankings

1. provide strategic oversight of the university’s rankings performance, developing a comprehensive rankings strategic framework, aligning institutional priorities, data collection, and improvement initiatives with the university's target rankings outcomes.
2. provide expert advice and guidance to leadership on targeted interventions and high-impact initiatives to drive sustained improvement in rankings performance and enhance the university’s global profile.
3. assume overall responsibility for institutional data submission, scenario modeling, and outcome evaluation across Times Higher Education, QS, and other relevant global ranking systems.
4. maintain a comprehensive statistical data repository and evidence base.
5. ensure the accuracy, consistency, and verifiability of statistical data rankings submissions.

3. Strategic Performance Management

1. support the monitoring of university KPIs and strategic objectives.
2. lead the development performance dashboards.
3. provide early-warning analysis on areas requiring management attention.
4. translate complex data into clear recommendations for senior decision-makers.

4. Data Governance & Quality

1. establish institutional standards for data definitions, ownership, quality, and reporting.
2. implement processes for data validation, reconciliation, and quality assurance.
3. work with IT and data owners to improve data systems and reporting infrastructure.
4. ensure appropriate confidentiality, privacy, and data security practices.

5. Accreditation, Quality Assurance & External Reporting

1. provide institutional data and analysis for accreditation and external quality reviews.
2. support national regulatory and statutory reporting requirements.
3. coordinate data and evidence for institutional audits and reviews.
4. ensure consistency between institutional data, accreditation submissions, and rankings submissions.

6. Research & Sector Intelligence

1. analyse demographic, economic, student, labour-market, and sector trends.
2. produce strategic intelligence reports for university leadership.

7. Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

1. lead, develop, and manage the institutional research and analytics team.
2. build strong relationships with senior leaders and academic and professional services teams across NU, supporting their work as required.
3. share experience across Kazakhstan and the wider region, in alignment with the Societal Impact mandate of the NU Strategy 2026-2031.
4. promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making and effective performance measurement across the university, including through the provision of training and guidance to staff, faculty and senior leaders.
5. represent the university in relevant professional and sector networks.