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Overview

The Office of Institutional Research serves as the central data and analytics team for the Tufts University community. We provide accurate and timely information to stakeholders across the university, support informed planning and decision-making at all levels, and fulfill key external reporting requirements. We employ an innovative and resourceful staff with expertise in data analysis and survey research, who can communicate the results of their research clearly and effectively. 

What You'll Do

Submitting a cover letter along with your resume is strongly preferred.

The Senior Data Analyst plays a critical role in providing information and insight that helps Tufts achieve its strategic objectives. The Senior Data Analyst assists with the collection, analysis and dissemination of institutional research data, including but not limited to student enrollment, admission, financial aid, faculty, research, outcomes, etc. Under general direction, the Senior Data Analyst is responsible for working with university leadership and other stakeholders to identify information needs, select data sources and presentation mechanisms appropriate to tasks and audiences, and deliver clear, accurate, informative results. The Senior Data Analyst takes a lead role in advancing the development of analytic and reporting systems for institutional decision support.

The Senior Data Analyst acts proactively in defining projects, suggesting areas of investigations, and identifying potential improvements in office policies and procedures; it is differentiated from both Research Analyst and Data Analyst positions based on autonomy, complexity of work, the high impact and visibility of work products (e.g.: Dashboards for Trustees and Senior Administrators). 

Essential Functions:

• Investigate, research, gather, analyze, and summarize data about various aspects of the institution in support of information and research needs for planning and policy-making decisions. Prepare reports and presentations for a variety of audiences by summarizing data and findings.
• Acquire and maintain a deep understanding of university data and how its integration and analysis can inform decision-making; work collaboratively with various university offices to ensure data integrity; extract data from database/data warehouse systems (e.g., Denodo); assist with the design and establishment of databases and information systems that can be used to answer ad-hoc informational requests.
• Drive collection of new data and the refinement of existing data sources; apply and use creative techniques to accomplish this. Assure reliable and consistent data is maintained and available for both ad hoc and longitudinal inquiries.
• Automate current data gathering and reporting systems in conjunction with functional area experts, institutional research team members, and others.
• Develop and maintain dynamic dashboards using Tableau and other business intelligence tools that support institutional decision-making.
• Serve as the university’s IPEDS keyholder; overseeing the compilation and submission of various annual IPEDS surveys.
• Stay abreast of relevant issues in higher education, as well as new tools or techniques that could be used to improve the collection, storage, or reporting of university data.
• Mentor office analysts and undergraduate and graduate research assistants.
• Serve on committees and workgroups as assigned, participate in professional development, and perform other duties as assigned.
• Respond to ad-hoc informational requests from senior leadership.

What We're Looking For

Basic  Requirements: 

• Knowledge and skills as typically acquired through completion of bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• 3-5 years of related experience including relevant technical field experience solving analytical problems using quantitative approaches
• Facility in manipulating and analyzing complex data from varying sources and managing large projects and data sets. Ability to gather, refine, and analyze available data and draw logical conclusions.
• Experience working with querying tools, and/or programming tools such as R, Python, SQL
• Ability to use data retrieval and manipulation tools such as Business Objects and Tableau
• Experience with data visualization software and statistical software
• Excellent capabilities with Microsoft Excel, including proficiency with Pivot Tables, lookup functions, text functions, and logical functions. Proficiency with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
• Proactive problem solving and critical thinking/analysis skills. Must be able and willing to learn new skills.
• Must possess effective verbal, written and interpersonal skills and maturity in judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Must be detail-oriented and have strong organization and documentation skills
• Ability to work effectively on several projects simultaneously, prioritize and follow through on projects, work independently within basic guidelines and parameters and with minimal supervision, and meet critical deadlines
• Ability to establish and maintain effective collaborative working team relationships and get along with widely diverse personalities
• Must be able to maintain a high degree of integrity while professionally handling confidential data

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher in quantitative social sciences, education, public health, statistics, data science, computer science or related field
• Experience in the collection, management, analyses and presentation of data in a university setting
• Experience conducting statistical analyses including significance testing, correlations, regression analysis, and predictive modeling. Familiarity with higher education issues, IPEDS, assessment, and performance indicators
• Experience developing and implementing analytic reporting systems in support of improving access to institutional information
• Understanding of relational and dimensional data models and structures
• Experience with data warehouse and business intelligence issues

Pay Range

Minimum $84,400.00, Midpoint $105,550.00, Maximum $126,700.00
 

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.