Data Analyst, Institutional Research

The Office of Institutional Research (OIR) serves as a 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.

Drawing on technical and analytical competencies, the Data Analyst will extract, analyze, visualize, and describe a variety of institutional data for internal operational and strategic decision making as well as external reporting to federal agencies, rankings agencies, and other organizations. The Data Analyst will work collaboratively with the Institutional Research staff to maintain and further develop the quality and accessibility of institutional data; they will collect, refine, and manage data from internal and external information systems and data stewards.

The Data Analyst will leverage Denodo to create and modify data sources to improve the responsiveness and effectiveness of OIR's strategic analysis work. The Data Analyst will prepare reports, presentations, and interactive data visualizations for a variety of audiences. Throughout, the analyst will be expected to continually hone their technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills and participate in committees and other work as assigned.

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. Respond to internal and external data requests of varying complexity in a timely fashion.
• 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.
• Develop and maintain dynamic dashboards using Tableau and other business intelligence tools that support institutional decision-making.
• 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.
• Serve on committees and workgroups as assigned, participate in professional development, and perform other duties as assigned. Assist the university's IPEDS keyholder; completing 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.

Basic Requirements:

• Knowledge and skills as typically acquired through completion of bachelor's degree or equivalent
• 2-3 years of related experience including relevant technical field experience solving analytical problems using quantitative approaches
• Basic familiarity with social science research methods, quantitative methods in particular. Ability to use data retrieval and manipulation tools such as Business Objects and Tableau
• Experience with data visualization software and statistical software
• Experience working with querying tools, and/or programming tools such as R, Python, SQL
• 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.
• Effective verbal, written and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences. Ability to effectively visualize data.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines, prioritize and follow through on projects, work independently on several projects of varying scope at the same time, and adapt to changing situations, demands, priorities, and procedures. Ability to work independently within basic guidelines and parameters and with minimal supervision.
• Ability to establish & 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

• Familiarity with institutional research and/or higher education more broadly
• Experience with Microsoft Excel/Word macros
• Experience in the collection, management, analyses and presentation of data in a university setting
• Understanding of relational and dimensional data models and structures
• Experience with data warehouse and business intelligence issues