Data Analyst, Institutional Research

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Reporting to the Associate Director of Institutional Research, the Data Analyst is a critical technical and analytical resource within the IR team to support the College's strategic plan, operational efficiencies and data governance. The Data Analyst is responsible for transforming complex institutional data into strategic, actionable insights for faculty, business and senior administration. The Data Analyst ensures the integrity and consistency of all core institutional metrics (e.g., retention, enrollment, graduation rates and student and employee headcounts). The Data Analyst contributes to the financial health of this institution by analyzing, modeling, and forecasting enrollment, admissions, headcount, and expenses with the cooperation of our stakeholders and the rest of the IR team.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Produce compelling data visualizations and regular reports on institutional progress, aggregating findings into cohesive presentations, data briefs or story telling for Institutional Research, business partners and senior leadership.

• Prepare specialized summary reports to support College initiatives, analyzing trends related to enrollment, program of study effectiveness, financial aid, tuition, discount rates, housing, staff, faculty, and other key metrics.

• Serve as a key strategic and business partner and consultant for Admissions, HR, Finance, and Financial Aid to define performance metrics (KPIs) and execute data-driven initiatives.

• Measure financial performance against industry benchmarks and peer educational institutions. Spearhead completion of various internal and external surveys and synthesize the results.

• Identify performance metrics and KPIs with relevant business area leaders, applying innovative visualization techniques to develop interactive dashboards and analyze trends or patterns using large data populations.

• Analyze complex data needs and gather requirements for reports or dashboards, often involving root cause analysis to troubleshoot data discrepancies and correct business processes in partnership with end-users.

• Enforce data quality, process consistency, and knowledge retention through the curation and expansion of the institutional data dictionary/catalog.

• Communicate effectively with internal and external users through written, verbal, and visual storytelling, and develop detailed technical specifications, data mapping, and data flow documentation for major analytics projects.

• Effectively manage workflow with the Project Management Office (PMO) on IR projects to ensure deliverables are completed on time and objectives are met.

• Confidently communicate complex data to diverse audiences and management levels, and handle complex data issues with minimal supervision, escalating critical issues using sound judgment.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS – Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform job.

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's preferred, in a quantitative field (e.g., Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Information Science, or Finance) or a related discipline.

• 2-4 years of progressive data analysis experience, including 1-3 years in institutional research or finance preferred. Graduate work will be counted as professional experience.

• Experience in data disaggregation with a nuanced understanding of ethical, privacy, and confidentiality considerations required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES – May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with job. 

• Strong knowledge of financial principles

• Expert proficiency in MS Excel and the ability to learn new software easily

• Excellent organizational skills including ability to prioritize workload under the pressure of competing assignments

• Ability to compile and communicate complex financial data to present to non-financial audiences

• Superior presentation, written and verbal communication skills

• Proven ability to translate complex analytical findings into clear, actionable insights for diverse, non-technical audiences, including senior leadership.

• Strong organizational and project management capabilities, including familiarity with general concepts, practices, and methodologies for timely execution of Institutional Research projects.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES – Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Requires ability to lift and move objects that are light

• Requires ability to move materials occasionally

WORK ENVIRONMENT – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• Usual Office Conditions

Compensation: $74,500.00 - $91,350.00 annually, commensurate with experience.

 

Grade of Position: S-23-09E

Employment Category: Regular

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Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25

Division of Physical & Digital Infrastructure

This position will be exclusively represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 888 for purposes of wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.

In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week. 

Emerson Employment Categories influence work schedules, benefits eligibility, and time off policies. Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits, such as life and disability coverage and commuter offerings, are available.

Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.