Senior Data Analyst

The Senior Research and Data Analyst will support the Education Analytics and Technical Services team in developing a portfolio of data-driven advisory services and toolkits to help state clients leverage their data to analyze graduate-to-employment pathways. This work will support the establishment and operation of formal Education Economics offices, focusing on supply-demand analytics for occupations and skills, employment outcomes, and workforce trends. The role emphasizes applying data analysis to generate actionable insights and related products that enhance workforce competitiveness and strengthen pathways to opportunity for individuals. Key audiences include employers, policymakers, and state agency leaders including labor market information, research, and higher education data system leaders.

Context

Strada Education Foundation supports programs, policies, and organizations that strengthen connections between education and employment in the U.S., with a special focus on helping those who have faced the greatest challenges securing economic opportunity through postsecondary education and training. Strada’s strategic plan defines five focal areas by which to improve pathways to opportunity through post-high school education: clear outcomes, quality coaching, affordability, work-based learning, and employer alignment. Strada leverages research, strategic philanthropy, investments, communications, advocacy, and collaborating organizations in the pursuit of this mission.  

Key responsibilities: this Senior Data Analyst role involves integrating and analyzing education and workforce data to generate insights specific to the technical assistance function offered to Strada state clients that will inform evidence-based policy and decision-making. The analyst will work through a team approach with diverse datasets, conduct advanced research, and develop data-driven products and tools to support state stakeholders and decision-makers.

Data Management (30%)

• Identify, integrate, and manage diverse workforce and education datasets from state, federal, third-party and proprietary sources.
• Develop and maintain efficient data processing pipelines for ELT/ETL cleaning, transforming, and harmonizing complex datasets from diverse sources.
• Work within a cloud-based data warehouse environment for analysis and generating custom reporting.
• Implement best practices implementing data quality checks and data governance practices to ensure data accuracy and consistency within the cloud data warehouse.

Data Analysis (40%)

• Conduct analyses of labor market trends, workforce supply and demand, migration patterns, and higher education and skills alignment.
• Develop and apply statistical models to explore regional workforce dynamics and occupational demand projections.
• Use SQL, Python, R, or similar tools for data wrangling, modeling, and analysis.

Data Reporting and Visualization (20%)

• Translate research findings into policy-relevant insights targeted to key stakeholders in postsecondary education and training. 
• Develop reports, dashboards, and presentations to communicate key insights to stakeholders.
• Create interactive visualizations using Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms.
• Collaborate with partners to refine data products that inform workforce and education policy decisions.

Team Leadership & DEI Commitment (10%)

• Provide guidance and mentorship to Strada research colleagues on data relating to education and workforce alignment and measuring diversity and representation of populations in workforce data and analysis. . 
• Partner with Human Resources and DEI leadership to promote equitable workplace practices and diverse perspectives.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive environment that encourages innovation and cross-functional teamwork.
• Model transparency, respect, and inclusion in all professional interactions.

The Person: Qualifications and Experience

• Education: a bachelor’s degree in data analytics, education or social science research, mathematics, business, or a related field or equivalent work experience; master’s degree preferred.
• 3-5 years minimum experience conducting analysis on complex datasets.
• Familiarity with R Studio, Python, SQL, SAS/STAT, Stata or other data & statistical analysis
• Experience leveraging cloud-based data warehouse environments such as Snowflake, Redshift, Databricks, or similar platforms for data analysis, transformation, and reporting.
• Experience with visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI or other business intelligence platforms.
• Familiarity with educational, government labor and state workforce data.
• Knowledge of subscribed workforce and economic data services and products such as Lightcast, Chmura, Moody’s or similar platforms, including experience integrating their API connections for ongoing data extraction and analysis.
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Excellent strategic analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.
• Experience using project management methodologies for analysis projects.
• Ability to multi-task and work under time pressure.

Additional Desired Experience

• Experience working with state-level or other large-scale workforce, education, and economic datasets.
• Experience working in fields such as education and or economic research, business. intelligence, social science research or policy analysis.
• Familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices in visual design.

It is likely the role will naturally entail some travel for conferences and other meetings up to 15%.