Director of Data Design and Visualization, Institutional Effectiveness - UT System Administration

The director of data design & visualization leads the development of data visualization strategies for the Institutional Effectiveness (IE) team, a department within the UT System’s Division of Academic Affairs, Research and Student Success. The IE team promotes a culture of continuous improvement and enhances evidence-based decision making by offering services in planning, assessment, business intelligence, institutional research, and data visualization. The director transforms complex institutional data into clear, engaging, and accessible visuals that support data-informed decision-making and effective storytelling for the UT Board of Trustees, System leaders, and a wide range of other stakeholders. Reporting to the associate vice president for institutional effectiveness, the director ensures that visualizations are accurate, timely, and user-centered – combining design and technical expertise with a deep understanding of higher education data to create impactful and intuitive data products.

The director will apply recognized data storytelling and visual analytics techniques that elevate the value of data as a strategic asset. This includes alignment with principles such as accuracy, context, audience appropriateness, and ethical representation of information. The ideal candidate combines strong design and technical expertise with a firm comprehension of higher education data and dynamics.

Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Coalesce a deep understanding of visual design principles, color theory, accessibility, and user-centered design in development of creative, sophisticated, intuitive, information assets.
• Lead the design of dashboards, infographics, reports, and other visual assets using platforms such as the Adobe Creative Suite, Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent.
• Collaborate with dashboard developers on interactive data assets and the user experience/interface.
• Collaborate with data analysts and decision-makers to align visualizations with strategic themes and information needs.
• Mentor and guide team members in visualization best practices.
• Translate data into meaningful stories and narratives tailored to diverse audiences, including executive leadership, faculty, staff, and the public.
• Ensure data integrity, appropriate use of metrics, and consistency in visual representations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on effective data presentation and communication of insights.

Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, data analytics, visual communication, information systems, or a related field with a minimum of three years of professional experience designing and delivering data visualizations and dashboards in a business, institutional, or public-facing context.

Additional skills, experiences, and qualifications include:

• Demonstrated expertise in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite and one or more modern data visualization platforms (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Proven ability to communicate data effectively to a non-technical audience.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in graphic design, data analytics, visual communication, information systems, or a related field.

• Experience in higher education or complex organizational environments.
• Four or more years of professional experience designing and delivering data visualizations and dashboards in a business, institutional, or public-facing context.
• Experience as a supervisor or mentor.

Application Process
For full consideration, applications should be accompanied by a letter of interest, a resume, and three professional references. Review of applications will begin immediately.

Benefits and Compensation
Compensation for the position is budgeted for $95,000 to $105,000.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits and much more. Additionally, Tennessee residents do not pay a state income tax. For more information on the University of Tennessee’s benefits, visit https://hr.tennessee.edu/benefits/