TBR | The College System of Tennessee

The Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness serves as the senior officer responsible for leading, coordinating, and advancing the College’s strategic planning and institutional effectiveness initiatives. This role includes oversight of institutional research, college benchmarks, assessments, accreditation support, and special projects as assigned. The Executive Director ensures the integration of data-informed decision-making across all units, supports continuous improvement, and promotes accountability and transparency. This position reports directly to the President and serves as a key advisor on institutional performance and strategic direction.

Essential Functions

1. Strategic Planning & Leadership

• Collaborates with the President to lead strategic planning and institutional effectiveness initiatives.
• Organizes and coordinates a comprehensive, systematic approach to the development, maintenance, and publication of the College’s strategic plan.
• Facilitates cross-functional planning sessions and ensures alignment of unit goals with institutional priorities.
• Monitors progress on strategic goals and provides regular updates to the President and Cabinet.

2. Institutional Effectiveness & Assessment

• Leads the development of data-informed benchmarks and performance indicators to support continuous improvement.
• Oversees institutional assessments and research activities to evaluate and document effectiveness.
• Provides guidance to departments in setting goals, analyzing data, and aligning outcomes with strategic priorities.
• Ensures the use of assessment results to inform planning, budgeting, and decision-making.

3. Reporting & Data Management

• Submits an annual effectiveness report identifying strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations aligned with the Strategic Plan.
• Ensures timely development and distribution of semester and annual college profiles, dashboards, and statistical analyses.
• Develops and maintains a college-wide data access system to support monitoring, trending, and reporting across all units.
• Ensures data integrity, consistency, and accessibility for internal and external stakeholders.

4. Accreditation & Compliance

• Assists the SACSCOC liaison to ensure ongoing compliance with accreditation standards and reporting requirements.
• Supports the preparation of accreditation documentation and coordinates institutional responses to accreditation-related inquiries.

5. Academic Program and Program Reviews

• Assist the academic offices in obtaining the data needed to support the development of new programs or maintenance/continuation of existing programs.
•  Collaborates with the Associate Vice President for Faculty, Curriculum, and Programs to ensure academic program reviews are conducted, documented, and used for improvement.
• Supports the integration of program review findings into strategic planning and resource allocation.

6. External Reporting & Representation

• Serves as the College’s representative for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s Quality Assurance Funding report.
• Coordinates the preparation and submission of external reports and advises the President on outcomes and strategic implications.

7. Communication & Engagement

• Advises the Cabinet and College leadership on areas of effectiveness and opportunities for improvement.
• Communicates institutional performance and strategic progress to internal and external audiences.
• Partners with Public Relations to develop and maintain a website dedicated to planning, institutional effectiveness, and research.
• Maintain data that assists college in programming and marketing that includes area workforce needs, postsecondary enrollments, college going rates, national benchmarks, etc.

8. Special Projects & Innovation

• Leads or supports special projects as assigned by the President, including initiatives that enhance institutional capacity, innovation, and responsiveness.
• Identifies emerging trends and best practices in higher education planning and effectiveness and recommends their adoption.

Supplemental Functions

• Provide leadership for the College Leadership Council (College Planning Council).
• Participate in appropriate College System of Tennessee activities.
• Serve on college committees as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education, Training, and Experience

Required:

• Master’s degree.
• Experience relevant to the responsibilities of the position.
• Minimum of five years in higher education, preferably in a leadership role in planning and effectiveness.
• Experience in building reports, conducting data analysis, and formulating recommendations for institutional improvement.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning leadership at the college level or similar organization.

Preferred:

• Doctorate degree.
• Educational background in fields compatible with the role; mathematics or statistics preferred.
• Experience with student information systems; Banner preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Work Characteristics

• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning, benchmarking, and data analysis for institutional improvement.
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research, assessment, and analysis for decision-making.
• Strong leadership and personnel management skills; ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Expertise in planning, evaluation, and continuous improvement systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and function effectively as a team member.
• Strong organizational skills: ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Effective presentation skills.
• Proficiency in computer applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet).
• Commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, teamwork, high-quality service, and institutional effectiveness.

Titles Supervised

• Director, Institutional Research
• Work-study students

Working Conditions

• Standard office environment with typical sitting and computer use.
• Travel to Columbia State centers, sites, and service area locations.
• Varied work hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.

Hiring Salary Range: $86,790- $ 108,480

This position is based at the Columbia, TN Campus.

About Columbia State Community College:

As Tennessee’s first community college (established in 1966), Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five of our campuses.  Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents.  Columbia State is known for excellence both inside and outside the classroom.

Columbia State offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to the following:

• Vacation and Sick Leave
• 14 paid holidays
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Retirement plans
• Optional 401K and 403B Deferred Compensation Plans
• Educational benefits for the employee and their spouse and dependents

Columbia State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies:

Executive Director of Human Resources
humanresources@columbiastate.edu
1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN 38401
931-540-2501