Position Description
The Data and Decision Analyst serves as a quantitative and
technical analyst within the Division of Strategy and
Effectiveness. Reporting directly to the Associate Director of
Strategic and Data Analysis, this role performs hands-on data
collection, statistical modeling, dashboard development, and
analytical reporting to inform institutional decision-making and
strategic initiatives.
In addition to core analytics, this position plays a pivotal
operational function in divisional process automation and
optimization, identifying manual workflows across systems and
leveraging data pipelines, scripts, and automation tools to
streamline division-wide initiatives.
Through a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Director of
Institutional Effectiveness, the analyst also directly supports key
assessment, accreditation, and institutional performance monitoring
processes.
Position Responsibilities
Strategic Analytics & Decision Support (Primary Report:
Associate Director)
- Stakeholder Consultation: Partner with academic and
administrative stakeholders to clarify decision questions, define
metrics and data requirements, identify appropriate data sources,
and translate analytical findings into clear, actionable
recommendations.
Data Extraction & Integration: Extract, clean,
integrate, and analyze complex datasets across enterprise systems
to support strategic decision-making.
Visualization & Dashboard Development: Build,
deploy, and maintain interactive business intelligence dashboards
and data visualization tools for divisional and institutional
leadership.
Predictive Analytics & Tracking: Conduct trend,
cohort, longitudinal-outcomes, comparative, and predictive analyses
of institutional, IPEDS, and other external higher-education data
to identify patterns, benchmark performance, and inform decisions
related to student enrollment, retention, academic performance,
post-graduation outcomes, and institutional efficiency.
Briefings & Reporting: Assist the Associate
Director in preparing analytical briefs, data presentations, and
executive summaries for strategic initiative teams.
Process Automation & Operational Efficiency
- Workflow Automation: Identify, design, and implement
automated workflows, scripts, and scheduled data feeds to reduce
manual data manipulation across divisional initiatives.
- Process Optimization: Audit recurring data collection
and reporting tasks across the division to standardize metrics and
establish automated, repeatable processes.
Assessment & Institutional Effectiveness Support
(Dotted-Line: Director of IE)
- Assessment & Plan Tracking: Support the Director
of Institutional Effectiveness in gathering, structuring, and
analyzing data related to assessing institutional programs,
priorities, strategies, and strategic plan KPIs.
- Automated Unit Reviews: Assist in developing automated
data templates and digital survey tools that support administrative
unit planning and review.
- Continuous Improvement: Process and evaluate
qualitative and quantitative data and metrics to support
mission-driven continuous institutional improvement.
Data Integrity & Governance
- Data & Process Governance: Maintain rigorous
standards for data accuracy, consistency, documentation,
confidentiality, and compliance with FERPA and institutional
data-governance policies across assigned projects and
initiatives.
- Institutional Research Alignment: Collaborate with the
Institutional Research team to cross-verify metrics and data to
ensure alignment and accuracy in reporting.
Additional Responsibilities
- Stay current on developing trends in higher education
analytics, IR, and emerging technologies.
- Serve on institutional committees as requested.
- Attend University meetings and events as required.
- Embody Eastern University’s vision, mission, and core values of
excellence, authenticity, stewardship, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm,
relationships, and innovation.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education : Bachelor’s degree in data science,
statistics, mathematics, business analytics or a closely related
quantitative field required (Master’s degree preferred).
Experience : Minimum 2-3 years of hands-on
experience in data analysis, institutional research, business
intelligence, or decision support (experience in higher education
preferred).
Analytical & Technical Skills :
- Strong experience with Tableau, SQL, Python, and advanced
Excel/Power Query for data extraction, transformation, validation,
analysis, and visualization.
- Proven ability to ethically and responsibly use AI in coding,
designing workflows, etc.
- Familiarity with Higher Education Student Information Systems
(e.g., Banner, Colleague, Workday), Learning Management Systems
(e.g., Canvas, Brightspace), and national datasets (e.g.,
IPEDS).
- Experience with the Google suite and successful implementation
of automations using Google Apps Script.
Domain Knowledge : Understanding of higher
education data governance, institutional assessment methodologies,
and survey research design.
Communication & Collaboration : Excellent
verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to
explain complex statistical analysis to non-technical audiences and
leadership.
Project Management : Strong organizational and
time-management skills, with the ability to balance dual reporting
priorities, manage competing deadlines, and work collaboratively in
a team environment.
