Job Details

Director, Research and Planning

Position Number: 9864347
Location: Norwalk, United States
Position Type: Institutional Research and Planning

Director, Research and Planning

Salary: $154,992.00 - $194,796.00 Annually
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: Director Research and Plan-26
Closing: 11/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Location: 11110 Alondra Blvd., Norwalk, CA
Department: Director Research and Plan-26
Division: Academic Affairs

Description

Equity and Diversity

The District is strongly committed to achieving staff diversity and the principles of equal opportunity employment. The District encourages a diverse pool of applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation in any of its policies, procedures or practices. In fact, the college encourages applications from all segments of qualified people.

Closing Date
This position will close on November 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM

College Profile

Cerritos College is ranked 14th among the top 100 schools with the highest Hispanic enrollment in the United States by the United States Department of Education. Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college's district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Enrollment currently averages 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at http://www.cerritos.edu.

Department Profile

The Institutional Effectiveness, Research, Planning, and Grants (IERPG) Division at Cerritos College provides unbiased research, analysis, and reporting grounded in a holistic understanding of complex college processes. Our goal is to facilitate data-informed decision-making that supports the college's mission, strategic goals, and commitment to student success and equity. We enhance the college's capacity to secure external funding from federal, state, and private sources while ensuring compliance with all relevant requirements and policies. IERPG serves the internal community of Cerritos College administrators, faculty, and students, acts as the clearinghouse for official college data, and responds to external requests for information.

The IERPG Division's purpose is to support Cerritos College's mission, vision, and goals by providing accurate, timely, comprehensive, and relevant information to maintain the research, planning, and accountability processes of the college to advance student success and institutional excellence. We enhance student success by the strategic pursuit of external funding opportunities that support innovative and sustainable instructional programs and pathways and student support services, along with a firm commitment to fiscal and programmatic compliance.

The IERPG Division strives to meet the needs of Cerritos College community by providing reports, research, institutional data, and grants to support Cerritos College's mission, vision, and achieve its goals by continuous improvement and institutional effectiveness. In addition, IERPG leads and supports the planning efforts throughout the District by providing data and information for managing and maintaining the quality and effectiveness of programs and services to support the college towards attaining equitable educational outcomes. The IERPG Division engages in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information about Cerritos College (e.g., data on students and staff, programs, and management and operations) and assists institutional leaders through informing their planning and decision-making. Further, IERPG staff are available as a resource for assistance with data analysis, techniques of institutional research, survey design, research methodologies, student learning outcomes assessment, and special studies on the implementation and outcomes of programs and services as well as grants development.

Summary
Plans, supervises, assesses, evaluates and integrates institutional research supporting strategic planning processes, development and measurement of performance outcomes, institutional and academic planning, and other indicators of institutional effectiveness. Oversees the development and maintenance of up-to-date information databases to support demographic, enrollment, strategic planning, special programs, and institutional performance research, processes, and decisions. The position also provides complex administrative support to the Vice President, Academic Affairs.

Distinguishing Career Features
The Director of Research and Planning reports to the Vice President, Academic Affairs and is responsible for institutional research and decision support.

Job Duties

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Plans, organizes, performs, integrates and evaluates programs, services and research activities of the department including, but not limited to institutional and faculty research, strategic planning, and performance measurement.
Develops and manages an annual institutional research agenda; establishes and administers processes to intake, prioritize, track, and communicate status of research requests and deliverables.
Performs research studies that support planning, evaluation, budgeting, accreditation, and policy.
Provides evaluation design, performance measures, and outcomes reporting support for grants and initiatives aligned with institutional priorities.
Responsible for ensuring accuracy, consistency, and appropriate use of institutional data in official reports, dashboards, publications, and external submissions.
Develops and monitors budgets and maximizes financial resources.
Provides leadership for research, reporting, and analytics technologies (e.g., data warehouse, dashboards, reporting tools) to support institutional planning and decision-making.
Leads, supervises, trains and evaluates assigned personnel. Certifies payroll for assigned personnel. Applies the terms and provisions of applicable collective bargaining agreements; state and federal laws; and District Board Policies and Administrative Procedures in personnel matters.
Directs and conducts an array of research to identify and assess the District's short and long range institutional needs and opportunities. Collects, prepares and maintains statistical information and establishes the appropriate quantitative and qualitative research design and statistical tools to be used in research and decision support.
Directs and participates in research for establishing institutional accountability measures and key performance indicators. Works with administrators and external agencies to determine outcomes and measures.
Leads equity-focused research and reporting, including disaggregation of student outcomes by disproportionately impacted groups; supports the college in identifying equity gaps and monitoring progress toward equity goals.
Provides data and performance measurement support to processes that review programs, accreditation, and compliance.
Provides leadership and coordination for accreditation-related evidence, metrics, and reports; serves as a key resource to accreditation committees for standards-related data, analysis, and documentation.
Researches trends in community-based demographics and economics, trends in education and a variety of other information used to support decisions.
Directs the design and conduct of feasibility studies for new curricula, programs, facilities, and other services that enhance student success.
Assists the college in developing assessments for student learning outcomes.
Assists with, or directs the development of, surveys conducted by the college and directs or performs analysis and preparation of reports based on these surveys.
Directs and coordinates institutional research information reporting to other institutions and agencies (e.g., IPEDS, California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office reporting and accountability metrics).
Audits and releases official information about college student enrollment, faculty, student and staff characteristics.
Directs and coordinates the college strategic planning process as well as other college planning processes.
Ensures integration of program review, assessment, and strategic planning with resource allocation and budgeting cycles; develops and monitors planning calendars, progress reports, and evidence of implementation.
Monitors data integrity.
Leads data governance practices including standard definitions, data documentation, and validation procedures to ensure consistent, audit-ready reporting across systems and stakeholders.
Directs or serves as research consultant for college program review activities.
Coordinates the development and maintains an expanded Data Warehouse for research, planning, and development. Develops and maintains dashboards and other self-service reporting tools to improve transparency and campus access to timely, accurate information.
Supervises data analysis and trend monitoring.
Assists managers, faculty, and staff in construction of reliable and valid research instruments.
Prepares recommendations and/or contracts as appropriate and submits them to administration and/or Board of Trustees for consideration.
Anticipates, prevents, and resolves conflicts and problems under areas of supervision.
Participates in community, state, and national organizations and meetings.
Participates on or chairs committees, task forces, and special assignments.
Maintains currency of knowledge and skills related to the duties and responsibilities.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications for Education and Experience

Requires a master's degree in a social science, mathematics, statistics, business, economics, research, or other related field, or the equivalent and two years of experience conducting research, analyzing data, and presenting findings. Understanding of and sensitivity to meeting the needs of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic background of the student, community, and employee population.

Preferred Qualifications

Management experience in institutional research, planning, or institutional effectiveness in a higher education setting, preferably a community college.
Experience supervising, leading, or coordinating professional research or data-analysis staff and managing multiple research priorities and deliverables.
Experience with state and federal higher education reporting requirements, such as IPEDS and California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office reporting.
Experience developing or using data warehouses, dashboards, business intelligence tools, or other self-service reporting systems.
Experience supporting institutional planning, program review, accreditation, or institutional effectiveness processes through research and data analysis.
Experience with data governance and data integrity, including data validation, documentation, and consistent institutional reporting.

Supplemental Information

Knowledge and Skills

The position requires professional knowledge of:

Principles and practices of institutional research, decision support, and institutional effectiveness in higher education.
Development, maintenance and administration of a budget.
Philosophy and objectives of the community college.
Principles of functional leadership, training and performance evaluation.
Pertinent federal and state laws and regulations.
Student learning outcomes assessment, program review, and measures of student success.
Strategic planning in organization and management practices, assessment, analysis and evaluation of programs, policies and administrative needs.
Current principles and procedures of social science or higher education research planning, design, methodology, and analysis; principles, theories, techniques and methods of inferential and descriptive statistics; computerized information systems used in research such as statistical analysis, word processing, database management, spreadsheets, graphics, and telecommunications.
Student outcomes assessment and measures of institutional effectiveness.
Legislative and educational oversight body processes, requirements, and trends.
Relational database concepts, including logical and physical data layout, programming and report writing tools.
Data privacy and the protection of student records, including FERPA and applicable state requirements.
Data governance principles, including data definitions, documentation, validation, and audit-ready reporting.
Accreditation standards and evidence requirements (ACCJC), and the role of data in accreditation.
Equity-minded research methods, including disaggregation of outcomes and analysis of disproportionate impact.
State and federal reporting frameworks and mandates (e.g., IPEDS and California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office reporting).

The position requires demonstrated knowledge of:

Designing assessment and research processes that support student success and institutional effectiveness.
Organizing work and building an effective team to meet the needs of the assigned areas.
Oral and written language sufficient to prepare reports and professional correspondence.
Human relations/interpersonal skills to conduct performance reviews, deliver presentations, and convey technical information to a wide variety of audiences.
Data visualization and business intelligence tools (e.g., dashboards/reporting platforms) and querying data from student information systems and data warehouses.

Abilities

This position requires the ability to:

Learn, interpret, and ensure compliance with state and federal laws, Title 5, and other federal and state regulations as related to the responsibilities of the position.
Exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive institutional and student data.
Analyze and disaggregate data through an equity lens to identify gaps and inform institutional decisions.
Be open to change and new methods in the assigned area of responsibility.
Continuously engage in learning and self-improvement.
Meet change with innovation to promote and meet the college mission.
Organize, plan, develop, and write new programs, develop new concepts, analyze outcomes, and prepare clear and concise reports.
Guide and direct others in goal achievement.
Direct and facilitate development of personal and team perspectives, and develop and deliver training programs.
Develop and monitor budgets and maximize financial resources.
Work cooperatively and productively with internal and external constituencies.
Advocate for shared governance, collegiality, staff cohesiveness and for the core values of the institution.
Establish, manage and evaluate departmental goals, objectives and annual performance plans.
Design research studies for use in education and social environments.
Apply, interpret, and draw conclusions using advanced statistical concepts.
Prepare complex, compelling proposals and reports, multi-media presentations, and empirical findings, forecasts, and recommendations to large audiences with diverse backgrounds.
Exercise critical judgment and creativity, establish priorities for, plan, and organize a variety of work assignments and the ability to provide leadership and supervision to staff in a Research and Planning Department.

Physical Abilities
This position requires the physical ability to, with or without reasonable accommodation:

Work primarily in an office setting performing sedentary work, with the ability to move between work areas on and off campus.
Communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and in group settings to exchange information and deliver presentations.
Perceive and review printed and electronic materials, including computer screens and detailed quantitative data.
Access work materials and operate standard office equipment.
Occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull objects and materials weighing up to 25 pounds.

Licenses and Certificates
May require a valid driver's license.

Working Conditions
Work is performed indoors in an office environment where minimal safety considerations exist. The position may require a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings, weekends, or split schedules.

Salary/Fringe Benefits

Grade 35 on District Management Salary Schedule ($12,916.00 - $16,233.00/month).

Health and welfare benefits include District contribution for medical/dental/vision benefits and employee life insurance ($50,000). (Cash in lieu option available on medical insurance.)

Participation in the Public Employee's Retirement System that is also integrated with Social Security or State Teacher's Retirement System

22 days annual vacation.

An annual stipend of $4,069 shall be provided to management employees with an earned doctorate degree.

Selection Procedure
After the application closing date, a search committee will review and invite the most qualified applicants for an interview. As these are highly competitive positions, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview. If you have questions or would like to follow-up regarding your application, please contact Human Resources at HR@Cerritos.edu as search committee members are unable to discuss specific recruitments.

Conditions of Employment

This is a full-time 12-calendar month classified manager position. Employment is to be effective as soon as possible following completion of the selection process. Individual who is offered employment shall be required to obtain fingerprints for a criminal history clearance through the State Department of Justice and remit the required fee for processing the fingerprints, Federal Bureau of Investigation (no fee if obtained at Cerritos College Campus Police Station), produce an original social security card, and submit a TB Risk Assessment reviewed and signed by a health professional before employment before employment.

Candidates must be available to work on site and be able to provide proof of California residency prior to employment.

Application Procedures

Application materials must be submitted by the closing date. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible application process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview due to a disability, please contact Human Resources at hr@cerritos.edu as early as possible. While advance notice (ideally at least 72 hours before the application deadline or scheduled interview) helps ensure we can meet your needs, we will make every effort to accommodate requests made at any time.

It is the applicant's responsibility to provide copies of all transcript(s) verifying all educational degree(s) and/or coursework required for the position. Transcripts must be from regionally accredited institutions. A foreign transcript must be evaluated by a NACES certified agency. The website address is www.naces.org.

Required Documents

Cover Letter
Resume/CV
Unofficial Transcripts (Must show all coursework completed and conferral date of the degree)

To apply, visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/cerritosedu/jobs/5495755/director-research-and-planning

The District ensures that all qualified applicants for employment and employees have full and equal access to employment opportunity, and are not subjected to discrimination in any program or activity of the District on the basis of national origin, religion, age, sex or gender, race, color, medical condition, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or because he or she is perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. .