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Inside Higher Ed · 4 weeks ago

Exec Director -BI, Data Platforms, and Applied AI

Albany, NY

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

$120K/yr - $130K/yr

10+ years exp

Inside Higher Ed is seeking an Executive Director of Business Intelligence, Data Platforms, and Applied AI, who will be responsible for defining and executing Excelsior University’s enterprise data strategy. This role involves overseeing the Business Intelligence team, ensuring data-driven decision-making, and implementing AI-driven solutions across the institution.

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Responsibilities

Lead the definition, development, and execution of the University’s enterprise data strategy, aligning data architecture, platforms, and AI capabilities with the institution’s digital transformation and operational goals

Collaborate with institutional leaders and stakeholders to contribute to the broader enterprise business strategy, ensuring that data services meet evolving academic, administrative, and business needs

Oversee the delivery of enterprise-wide BI services—including reporting, dashboards, and analytics—that empower data-informed decision-making across all divisions

Design and maintain a secure, scalable data-as-a-service platform to support operational and advanced analytics needs

Ensure reliable integration and performance of reporting solutions tied to key enterprise systems such as Banner SaaS and Salesforce

Provide strategic technical leadership in system integration, API development, and data pipeline architecture

Partner closely with the Analytics & Data Science (ADS) team to support complex analytical workloads, advanced modeling, and AI enablement

Lead the adoption and governance of applied AI solutions institution-wide, ensuring infrastructure and policies support responsible and effective innovation

Establish and champion data governance frameworks that uphold data quality, security, compliance, and accessibility

Monitor emerging trends in data platforms, BI, AI, and integration technologies to continuously refine the data strategy and ensure institutional agility

Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture committed to service excellence and continuous improvement

Qualification

Enterprise data strategyBusiness intelligence solutionsData governance frameworksApplied AI technologiesData architectureSystem integrationCloud-native platformsSaaS enterprise systemsStakeholder managementLeadership skillsCommunication skillsCollaboration skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)

10+ years of experience in business intelligence, data engineering, or enterprise data management, including 5+ years in a leadership role with strategic responsibilities

Exceptional strategic and operational leadership, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills that bridge technical and business perspectives

Proven success in defining and executing technical data strategies and delivering scalable BI solutions in complex environments

Expertise in enterprise system integration, APIs, middleware, and cloud-native data platforms

Experience with SaaS enterprise systems (e.g., Ellucian Banner, Salesforce) and enabling their reporting & analytics and AI functionalities through secure integration

Knowledge of applied AI/ML technologies, including embedded and standalone capabilities integrated into enterprise data ecosystems

Strong understanding of data governance and compliance frameworks, ideally within higher education

Prior experience in higher education or similar data-intensive, complex organizations

Preferred

Master's degree

Experience in Microsoft Fabric is highly desirable

Experience with SaaS enterprise systems (e.g., Ellucian Banner, Salesforce) and enabling their reporting & analytics and AI functionalities through secure integration is highly desirable

Prior experience in higher education or similar data-intensive, complex organizations is highly desirable