Department: Educ Research Programs
Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Job Summary:

The Office of Community Education Partnerships (OCEP) seeks a research data analyst with strong technical skills paired with a collaborative mindset and readiness to learn. The individual in the analyst position will work a diverse team that includes core staff, Northwestern faculty, staff, and students, as well as community partners.

OCEP creates initiatives and partnerships that advance equity in learning and positively impact our home communities of Evanston, Chicago, and beyond. This position is part of a research-practice partnership core team that serves OCEP’s collaborative research efforts. Staff and faculty involved in this work engage with youth-serving organizations including local public school districts, parks departments, and other corporate, civic, and community-based organizations to advance mutually-developed goals around education research and practice.

The core team leads research management, communications, and data administration and analysis. The data analyst will collaboratively advise on and conduct analyses and create data visualizations in service of the shared goals of Northwestern and partner organizations; liaise with research and data staff at partner organizations; work closely with data administrators to build, maintain, and provide quality assurance for confidential databases; prepare anonymized extracts for Northwestern researchers for approved projects; and work closely with communications staff to ensure nuanced public understanding of statistics and research results.

The position offers the opportunity to ensure that research, practice, and policy work hand in hand to serve youth in Evanston, Chicago and beyond. OCEP is a collaborative and inclusive team that includes educators, practitioners, and leading education and social policy researchers in one of the largest and most diverse metropolitan areas in the United States.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Works with partners to define requirements based on objectives.
• Informs plans for research, policies, and programs as needed with insight and well-written, evidence-based memoranda and reports
• Manages and plans for data/analysis requests and projects.                                                                        

Administration

• Designs and prepares documentation for qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
• Discuss findings with senior management.
• Summarizes meetings and follows up with group members and potential future partners, including schools, community-based organizations, faculty, staff, and students.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Development

• Manages research and analysis using several databases and/or data tables.
• Designs and writes code for, e.g., data management and statistical analyses.
• Prepares and analyzes reports/data.
• Prepares statistical results for memos, spreadsheets, and presentations targeting both policymaker and academic researchers.
• Extracts required data.
• Determines and coordinates the completion of statistical analyses using appropriate applications.
• Performs data analysis and dataset management across multiple projects.
• Prepares anonymized data extracts for researchers.

Performance

• Completes data cleaning and organizes data files for analysis.
• Reviews data and identifies quality issues.
• Presents findings in an appropriate manner.
• Identifies and works with external data providers to resolve data conflicts.
• Maintains data security.
• Performs descriptive analyses for partners.
• Creates data tables and graphs.
• Contributes to reports for presentation and publication.
• Contributes to presentations of results at internal/external meetings.

Supervises

• Provides work direction and/or supervises staff such as team members, subordinates, contractors, vendors, students, etc.
• Coaches and mentors staff.
• Manages some project tasks ensuring timelines and deliverables are met and meet expectations.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.  
• 3-5 years data analysis/report writing or similar experience required.
• Please see information highlighted in tables below.
• Experience working with STATA, SAS, R, or other programming languages.
• Experience working with large and complex data sets.
• Please highlight requirements:
  • Infrastructure
    • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Outlook)

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Strong interest in education and social policy.
• Strong quantitative skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent data visualization ability.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
• Ability to work discretely with sensitive and confidential data.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work well with a variety of faculty and staff members.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with Tableau, GIS servers, and other workstations.
• Work or volunteer experience in government or community-based youth-serving organizations

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Substantive knowledge of key issues in education policy.
• Strong STATA skills.
• Strong Tableau skills.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern requires all staff and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to limited exceptions. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 and Campus Updates website.

The Northwestern