Job Description

Title: Director of Data Engineering and Data Science
Division Name: Finance and Planning
Department: Decision Support

Job Summary

The Data Engineering & Data Science team within the Office of Decision Support is responsible for scoping, designing, and delivering solutions to business problems using a combination of enterprise data warehouse and business intelligence assets.

The Director of Data Engineering and Data Science is charged with:

-Creating a vision and goals for the Data Engineering and Data Analytics unit in support of the University's strategic plan
-Overseeing the design, implementation, and maintenance of data pipelines, data integration processes, data warehouses, or other data platforms.
-Planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and providing oversight of the work of the unit
-Understanding industry standards, trends and best practices to ensure successful management of opportunities and risks for the reporting and data warehouse environment
-Shaping the business intelligence strategy, data management strategies, and business intelligence architecture
-Helping the University optimize its data assets by understanding and promoting best practices in data management, customer service, data quality, and data security and confidentiality.

Additional Information

There is the potential for 100% remote work in this position, within the State of Illinois. Eligibility is based upon employee performance, appropriate remote working environment, and business needs.

The Data Engineering & Data Science team provides a strong business intelligence environment that helps the University make informed and strategic decisions. This groups manages the Enterprise Data Warehouse and provides data access and training.

https://data.illinoisstate.edu/

University Benefit Highlights:
- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
- Paid benefit time

For more University Benefit information: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/ 

Information regarding eligibility for participation in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program can be reviewed here https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/insurance/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$125,000 - $135,000 annual

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s (or higher) Degree

2. Minimum of eight (8) years of experience which included the following:

a. Providing successful project management and guidance to others
b. Supervising a technical team
c. Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting business and management needs/requirements
d. Developing test cases, writing use cases, facilitating meetings, creating deliverables, and establishing healthy business relationships

3. Minimum of three (3) years experience which included the following:

a. Leading teams of Data Modelers, ETL or Data Warehouse developers, and Data Scientists
b. Leading large-scale data analysis and/or data warehousing projects
c. Presenting data warehousing or data analysis topics to leadership, functional and user audiences.
d. Using data warehousing and data analytics best practices.

4. Proven ability to balance theory and practical business reality to produce results

5. Commitment to customer-driven development, service excellence and user satisfaction.

6. Ability to work collaboratively with campus colleagues, vendors and consultants.

7. Leadership skills that engender trust and mutual respect.

8. Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Minimum of 10 years’ experience working at a higher education institution

Work Hours

Core work hours: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods.
2. Distinguish colors on a monitor.
3. Effectively communicate on a daily basis.

Proposed Starting Date

October 2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume
Cover Letter
Reference List
Transcripts - See Special Instructions to Applicants for additional options

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Optional Applicant Documents

Certification of Retirement Annuity

Please Note: These documents may be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

Please fully complete the entire application including, but not limited to, the education and work history portions. Be specific on your work history, including employment dates (if part-time you must list the number of work hours) and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Please do not put "see resume" in the duties and responsibilities section of the work history. This will be considered an incomplete application and incomplete applications will not be considered.

College or university transcripts (may be unofficial) must be submitted prior to the application deadline to receive full consideration. Transcripts can either be uploaded with your application or submitted via the options listed below.

To be eligible for Veteran's Preference points on the exam, appropriate military service documentation such as a DD-214 must be submitted prior to the application deadline.

Transcripts and/or military service documentation may be emailed, faxed, or mailed to Human Resources by the application deadline:

Fax: 309.438.0011, Attn: Colette Homan
Address: Illinois State University
Human Resources
Campus Box 1300
Normal, IL 61790-1300

The Civil Service examination for this classification is based on your application materials and responses to the supplemental questions. No participation other than submission of applicant materials is required from applicants that qualify to take the exam. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score calculated based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register by exam score. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the department for interview. The active register for this classification will be voided when the position is filled.

Illinois State University is authorized to do business within the State of Illinois. All work under this appointment is required to be performed from within the State of Illinois. If hired, out-of-state candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days from the start date for this position. Illinois residency requires proof of a valid Illinois driver’s license or a valid State of Illinois ID card. Failure to produce the required documentation within 180 calendar days will result in immediate termination of employment.

Contact Information for Applicants

Colette Homan
Human Resources
309-438-8848
cshoman@ilstu.edu

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.