Staffing is a fundamental component of effective institutional research, yet determining and securing adequate resources can be difficult. In addition, as was noted in an AIR Forum presentation on the Achieving the Dream project (Rincones and Champion, 2008), even when colleges allocate money for positions they have difficulty finding institutional research practitioners. With new institutional research offices developing, existing offices expanding, long-time practitioners retiring, and demands on institutional research increasing, staffing issues--securing adequate funding; hiring, training, and retaining staff; and providing career development opportunities--will be acute. This chapter addresses three questions. First, what are adequate institutional research staffing levels, and how can institutions achieve them? Second, what skills do institutional researchers need to conduct cutting-edge institutional research? Finally, what do colleges and universities need to do to ensure institutional research professionals' job satisfaction and retention? In addition to answering these questions about the characteristics of the ideal institutional research office of the future, the authors propose their view of its optimal structure and organizational location. (Contains 1 note.)