BCT Partners – Data Analysts – Early to Advanced Career

About BCT     
We harness the power of expertise and innovation to solve complex social problems, transform lives, and create lasting change.   
     
BCT is a management consulting firm that tackles complex social problems through data analytics, innovative solutions and program management. We believe complex issues are best solved through collaboration. As a result, we employ a multidisciplinary approach that combines domain expertise, research, evaluation, technology, organizational development, and a passion for change.     
     
To learn more about how we live our values of Ubuntu (“I am because we are”) and our mission, go to our website and follow us on social media.     
https://www.bctpartners.com/    

About the Role 
The Data Analyst plays a critical role in transforming raw and complex data into actionable insights that inform strategic and operational decision-making. As a member of BCT’s Analytical Solutions Team, the analyst supports the implementation of the precision analytics platform by leveraging machine learning, social science methodologies, and advanced analytics to help clients improve the effectiveness of their social programs.  

This role encompasses the full lifecycle of data activities, including data discovery, cleaning, and transformation, as well as the integration and analysis of structured and unstructured data. The Data Analyst is responsible for conducting in-depth analyses, creating visualizations, and developing reports to communicate findings effectively. A key aspect of the role involves applying Large Language Models (LLMs) to extract insights from unstructured text, such as narrative reports and transcripts, and supporting prompt engineering, output evaluation, and the integration of LLMs into reporting tools. Additionally, the Data Analyst ensures data quality and model performance through rigorous validation and continuous optimization. 

We are hiring multiple roles and welcome applicants interested in either full-time or part-time opportunities.  

To learn more about our clients and projects, please refer to the “Client Work & Project Types” section at the bottom of this job posting.   
How You Contribute to the Team: 

ETL and Data Transformation 

• Work with data from primary and secondary sources, compiling and aggregating large datasets for reporting and analysis. 

• Perform data manipulation tasks including importing, cleaning, transforming, querying, validating, and modeling data to support decision-making. 

• Apply Large Language Models (LLMs) to extract, summarize, and classify information from unstructured text such as narrative reports and transcripts. 

• Develop and refine prompts for analytic tasks (e.g., categorization, sentiment analysis, summarization) and integrate LLM outputs into dashboards and reporting tools. 

• Lead or support the design and deployment of prompt strategies and workflows to ensure high-quality LLM outputs across diverse use cases. 

• Evaluate and optimize LLM performance, including model selection, prompt engineering, and result validation. 

Working with Data Models (Testing and Training) 

• Assist in or lead the development and validation of predictive models such as decision trees, random forests, regression, and clustering models. 

• Prevent data leakage using techniques like k-fold cross-validation. 

• Evaluate model performance using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and mean squared error. 

• Perform model tuning and optimization by adjusting hyperparameters to improve performance. 

• Collaborate with data scientists and team members to deploy models into production environments and monitor their ongoing performance. 

Quality and Control Analysis 

• Develop and implement quality assurance checks to ensure data accuracy and integrity. 

• Use formulas and algorithms to support data interpretation and ensure analytical rigor. 

Perform these and other reasonable tasks as assigned by management in support of BCT’s goals and objectives.  

What You Bring to the Table: 

As no individual candidate meets every qualification, we encourage candidates who meet most of these requirements to apply! 

Education & Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Analytics, Statistics, Information Management, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience. 

• For candidates without a degree, a high school diploma or GED with 2+ years of recent relevant professional experience may be considered. 

• A background in social sciences, public policy, or statistics is highly valued. 

Technical Skills 

• Proficient in data analysis, manipulation, and visualization using:
  - Programming & Analytics: SQL, Python, R, Excel 
  - Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI
  - Statistical Software: SPSS, Stata, or similar 

• Familiarity with relational databases (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle, Microsoft Access), including understanding of database structures and ETL processes. 

• Experience or interest in AI tools or platforms, particularly for application development or AI-assisted coding, is a strong plus. 

Domain Knowledge 

• Interest or experience in working with social program data (e.g., federal, nonprofit, or community-based initiatives). 

• Experience collaborating with academic or social science researchers to generate actionable insights. 

Analytical & Research Skills 

• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, extract insights, and support evidence-based decision-making. 

• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting capabilities. 

Communication & Collaboration 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences. 

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including remote teams. 

Project & Organizational Skills 

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines. 

• Strong critical thinking, decision-making, and organizational skills. 

• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in dynamic, fast-paced environments. 

Tools & Platforms 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams). 

There are multiple factors considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align with the specified role, geographic location, education as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position. 

The starting salary range for this position is intentionally broad, as we are hiring multiple roles that span various levels of experience and responsibility. The base salary for this position ranges from $65,000 to $85,000.  Regular full-time staff may participate in BCT’s partially subsidized medical, dental and vision coverage, fully vested 401k plan with company match, company paid life and disability insurance plans, paid family leave, and a generous paid time off policy. Regular part-time staff receive paid time off and may be eligible to participate in the 401k plan.   

This is a remote position located in any of the fifty United States or Washington, DC. Though we do have staff in all four time zones, BCT Partners works primarily on Eastern Time.  We support and encourage a strong staff community, leveraging virtual communication tools and collaborative work practices. The African philosophy of Ubuntu (“I am because we are”) is an overarching value that influences our leadership and interactions.     

Client Work & Project Types: 

Diverse Client Portfolio: Our data analysts work with a broad range of clients including federal agencies (National Science Foundation, Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHSA), major foundations (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Casey Family Programs, Living Cities), state and local government agencies, universities, and direct-service nonprofits across the country. 

Project Categories: Data analysts at BCT Partners contribute to multiple types of high-impact projects: 

• Program Evaluation & Impact Assessment: Conducting rigorous quasi-experimental evaluations of social programs using precision causal modeling techniques to determine "what works" for different populations 

• Predictive & Prescriptive Analytics: Building machine learning models that help organizations predict outcomes and provide tailored recommendations for individual cases or program participants 

• Workforce Development Analytics: Analyzing employment programs, career pathway initiatives, and economic development efforts to optimize job placement and training outcomes 

• Health & Human Services Analytics: Evaluating residential treatment programs, child welfare systems, mental health services, and other human services to improve client outcomes 

• Community Assessment & Equity Analysis: Conducting geospatial analyses of community needs, nonprofit effectiveness, and resource distribution to address systemic inequities 

• Educational Program Evaluation: Assessing STEM education initiatives, college readiness programs, and educational interventions to improve student success 

Technical Applications: Our analysts work with diverse data sources including program administrative data, electronic health records, survey data, Census/ACS data, IRS nonprofit filings, and text data. They develop automated dashboards, recommendation engines, and evaluation systems that provide real-time insights to frontline practitioners and organizational leaders. 

Impact Focus: All projects are designed to advance equity and improve outcomes for underserved populations, with particular emphasis on communities of color, low-income families, youth aging out of foster care, individuals with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.