What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sr. Data Analyst position at Vanderbilt University?
Job Description Summary:
The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center aims to accelerate states’ implementation of evidence- based policies that help all children thrive from the start.
We seek an experienced Senior Research Data Analyst to provide data management and analysis expertise to projects across the Center. The role primarily includes original survey and program data cleaning, data management, and statistical analyses for a portfolio of original research and evaluation projects. The Policy Impact Center’s research seeks to build the evidence base in key areas related to the impact of state policies and programs on outcomes for infants, toddlers, and their families. The role of the Senior Research Data Analyst is essential for transforming raw data into research assets, ensuring the validity and credibility of the Center’s research, resolving complex data challenges, and supporting timely research-based deliverables.
This Senior Research Data Analyst position provides essential data expertise and rigorous analytic support and guidance to a team of data researchers responsible for supporting the Center’s goals to build the evidence base for effective and equitable policymaking, track state progress in building a more effective and equitable system of care, and shape policy development in states through targeted assistance and support.
General Notes:
This position is a term appointment for 12 months beginning upon date of hire, and reports functionally and administratively to the Director of Data and Analytics, Kels Bowman. Applicants from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse environment to continue to build a strong and equitable prenatal-to-3 system of care. This position can be performed remotely, and hybrid remote-work opportunities are available. Visa sponsorship is unavailable for this position.
The primary responsibilities of the position include: Data management, analysis, research, and writing:
Contribute to the development of research questions, study designs, analytic plans, and methodological approaches for original research and evaluation projects
Manage survey data cleaning and preparation, including guiding processes for data collection and testing, providing support in developing the analytic plan and analysis timeline, implementing quality assurance protocols and detailed documentation, constructing clean, validated analytic datasets that serve as the foundation for the Center’s portfolio of original research
Contribute to the development, programming, testing, and refinement of surveys, including reviewing measures, response options, skip logic, and data structures to ensure alignment with research questions and analytic plans
Work independently with messy, real-world data and exercise judgment in resolving data quality issues, missing data, and documentation challenges, ensuring analytic datasets are defensible
Acquire, manage, and analyze raw datasets, including administrative data from state agencies and national longitudinal sources such as Census, with demonstrated ability to merge datasets, clean and prepare data for analysis, and assess representativeness, processes essential to the Center’s research goals
Interpret data and independently select and apply appropriate statistical tests, analyze results, and provide ongoing reports
Contribute to and/or lead the production of written products and academic publications translating the results of policy research and analyses into actionable insights for stakeholders and state policymakers.
Project management and leadership:
Ensure the methodological quality, validity, and integrity of all research analyses conducted, considering the most rigorous possible analytic approaches, appropriate assumptions and interpretation, and careful documentation
Communicate effectively with key project staff to ensure they are appropriately informed of project progress, key decisions, and emerging issues
Take a leadership role in managing data processes including data collection, management, and analysis
Monitor compliance with data security and data retention policies to maintain and ensure
the integrity of the Center’s data and research
Coordinate with clients and stakeholders, as necessary to obtain and manage administrative datasets
Contribute to developing and improving processes and procedures
Mentor and train staff in survey data cleaning, analytic workflows, and team processes
Monitor and supervise students to effectively contribute to projects
Supervisory Relationships:
This position may supervise students and does not have staff supervisory responsibility.
Required/Essential qualifications:
Exceptional interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with others in a team environment
Experience conducting data management, cleaning, and analysis using original survey data
Strong skills in R
Exceptional analytic and critical thinking skills
Excellent project management and organizational skills, strong problem-solving abilities, tenacity about details and organization
Strong written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex concepts clearly and concisely
Experience contributing to original research or program evaluation projects, including developing analytic plans, documenting methods, and interpreting findings
Ability to come up to speed on new topics quickly, multi-task effectively, and produce high-quality work under time constraints; flexible and able to adapt to changing timelines and circumstances when needed
Demonstrated understanding and support for key concepts in diversity, equity, and inclusion
Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment
Master’s degree with major coursework in the field of assignment, plus at least three years of related experience; Additional related experience may substitute for required education
Preferred skills:
Experience providing supervision and guidance to other staff
Skills in Stata
Graduate-level coursework or applied experience in research methods, survey methodology, program evaluation, causal inference, or applied statistics
Experience with survey data tools (e.g., REDCap, Qualtrics)
Knowledge of and familiarity with topics related to early childhood and/or social policy
Coding Test Requirement:
As part of the selection process, competitive candidates will be asked to complete a 2-hour coding test. This test will assess your proficiency in coding, analyzing, and interpreting data. To complete the exercise, candidates will need access to a computer with R software.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich
backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.
Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.