Data Analyst, Office of Student Life

The Student Life Data Analyst will report to the Director of Assessment. In collaboration with the Director of Assessment, the data analyst will turn raw information into actionable knowledge that can be used to improve business processes and make strategic decisions at all levels of Student Life.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Works with all units of Student Life to understand their data needs and to interpret their data to allow the units to make data-informed decisions that improve the program and services for IU students.
• Supports data organization and retrieval, create visual representations of data using charts, graphs, and dashboards to make complex information easier to understand and readily available to departments and leadership inside and outside of Student Life.
• Ensures that data projects answer the questions that the organization needs answered.
• Provides digestible, meaningful analysis that aids in decision support.
• Validates the accuracy of data before dissemination, including to other members of team.
• Collaborates on processes for accurately and securely collecting, storing, and disseminating data toappropriate stakeholders.
• Consistently documents data retrieval, cleaning, analytical, and reporting processes.
• Contributes to the development of annual action items for data and assessment that align with theStudent Life and university strategic plans.
• Assesses projects and initiatives to prioritize work based on competing needs and communicatetimelines.
• Provides appropriate training, role expectations, and feedback.
• Connects with supervisor on a consistent basis.
• Assists units within Student Life in developing quantitative Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Performs complex migration and conversion of data in support of analysis efforts.
• Provides advanced analysis of existing data and data structures to interpret and determine validity andquality of data.
• Ensures that all processes and analysis approaches are up to date and as efficient as possible.
• Properly documents all data analysis efforts (data sources, reporting specifications, tools, issue/problemresolutions).
• Creates reporting specifications for complex reports/dashboards/analytical tools and leadstesting/validation.
• Ensures integrity, accessibility, and accuracy of reports/dashboards and data structures.
• Provides advanced consultation and guidance to Student Life staff and leadership to identify businessreporting needs and opportunities for analysis to support business decisions.
• Satisfies ad hoc data requests while balancing larger scale data priorities.
• Effectively deliver presentations and report summaries to varied audiences in terms of statisticalknowledge and background.
• May serve as project leader and participate in committees and communities of practice to share andimprove data analysis practices.
• Stays up-to-date on emerging technologies and tools and makes recommendations for implementation to improve data analysis services and approaches with Student Life.

General Responsibilities

• Conducts experienced assessments to understand client business needs and strategic direction and identifies technology solutions to achieve goals; consults with IT staff and business users to identify, analyze, refine and document business requirements and processes and develop associated solutions.
• Facilitates and leads interviews, focus groups, and workshops to establish current and future business requirements; coordinates the communication between stakeholders and service owners in order to effectively implement solutions.
• Performs experienced business analyses, including construction of data models, business use cases, process flows and technical specifications for transition to IT solutions; establishes system requirements through functional and technical assessments of existing software.
• Provides stakeholders with necessary analysis documentation for buy-in, leadership decision, and implementation; conducts walk-throughs of recommended system functionality and prototypes with business users in small group or large group settings.
• Ensures uniform documentation presentation and content structure including, but not limited to, online documentation.
• Develops test plans and conducts system/integration testing; can test changes, enhancements, and new programs or functions to ensure they meet business needs.

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (preferably in analytic or computer science related field)

Preferred

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Assessment or Higher Education research

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 2 years of business analysis experience working on complex problems and producing concrete, actionable solutions

Preferred

Experience using an advanced statistical analysis software package (SPSS, R, STATA, Prism, etc.)

Experience writing statistical code to process, clean, and analyze data, and generate custom reports

Experience using statistical techniques to demonstrate significant statistical relationships between demographic factors, program variables, and other relevant student success indicators

Experience building a complex data infrastructure with multiple data sources

Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to create interactive dashboards and reports

Experience resolving highly complex integration issues involving multiple technologies and stakeholders

Experience with business intelligence (BI) development techniques and processes

Experience with getting data from multiple sources, creating data flow processes, translating data and delivering data to end users

Experience with Quality Assurance and test-driven development

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient written and verbal communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure
• Demonstrated analytical skills
• Service-oriented and skilled in providing positive, friendly customer service

Preferred

• Working knowledge of programming languages: SQL, R or Python
• Proficiency in SQL and data querying languages, preferably with Oracle and MS-SQL databases
• Knowledge of data extraction and manipulation techniques via RESTFUL API interactions leveraging data formats such as JSON and GraphQL
• Ability to translate complex data into actionable insights
• Excellent presentation skills to effectively convey findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Familiarity with Indiana University systems or working with data in a Higher Education environment

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Job Classification

Career Level: Career

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: General Administration

The Office of Student Life is comprised of 36 departments that work in partnership with students, faculty, staff,and community members to create a premier and thriving student experience for our Hoosiers. We champion student success by creating and supporting transformative experiences through amplifying care, belonging,and well-being. Our office supports all students at Indiana University (IU) Bloomington undergraduate and graduate, first-years and transfers, and domestic and international. Students are truly at the center of everything we do., Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.