<p>Institutional research (IR) is an emerging profession in Asian higher education; yet the processes through which IR practitioners develop their professional identities remain theoretically understudied and institutionally undersupported. This qualitative study investigates the complex identity construction among a unique cohort of IR professionals employed in non-administrative positions but working within (quasi-)administrative departments at regional universities in mainland China. Through a multi-case qualitative research design spanning seven universities, it systematically examines 13 IR professionals’ cognitive perceptions of their institutional environments, processes of professional belief identification, and strategic interest considerations within these contexts. Findings indicate that these self-described “boundary navigators” are confronting a tripartite predicament of identity fragmentation, epistemic isolation, and institutional constraints on career progression. This stems from their being simultaneously squeezed by two conflicting operational models or logics (academic and administrative), while perpetually failing to integrate into either of the university’s two dominant groups: faculty or administrators. Drawing on structuration and social identity theories, this study identifies three key coping strategies employed by this group and elucidates the mechanisms through which individual and institutional factors collectively shape their professional trajectories. This paper contributes to providing empirically grounded recommendations for enhancing IR practices and supporting IR professionals across diverse non-elite universities.</p>