JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
The Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research (OPAIR) seeks an Associate Director of Data Science and Analytics to help lead the Data Science team in the exploration of research questions that are fundamental to informing decisions regarding higher education policy, including, but not limited to, analyses involving student enrollment, persistence to graduation, student and faculty retention, and other critical initiatives. The Associate Director will work with other Data Science team members to make meaning of University data and contextualize the models for various audiences to use in institutional decision-making. Additionally, this position will support institutional research studies, Power BI dashboards, and ad hoc requests in support of the broader institutional research function of the office.
The Associate Director will be responsible for the following:
Serve as the primary backup to the Director, assuming leadership responsibilities in their absence to ensure continuity of leadership and oversee the team and projects
Present insightful analysis findings and actionable recommendations to executive leadership, facilitating informed decision-making
Collaborate with various internal clients (e.g., department heads, deans, directors, analysts) to understand their data and information needs
Apply predictive and prescriptive analytics to institutional research questions
Write SQL queries to clean and transform data into datasets ready for analysis
Develop summaries, reports, dashboards, and recommendations to inform university-wide decision-making
Develop and maintain detailed and accurate documentation of all projects
The location of this position is flexible and can operate fully remote within the United States, fully in-person at our University Park Campus, or in a hybrid model of both in-person and remote. Standard working hours are in the Eastern time zone.
Application instructions: Please submit both a cover letter and a resume.
Education and Experience:
Typically requires a Master's Degree or higher and six years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
The successful candidate should have the following:
4+ years of experience in data analysis and data visualization
Experience mentoring and leading a team
Experience in summarizing and presenting analytic findings in ways that are accessible to non-technical audiences
Analytical thinking with the ability to translate data into insights for an executive-level audience
Experience working in Microsoft SQL server
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Knowledge of Power BI or other data visualization tool
Prior experience with Higher Education data a plus, but not required
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society and nature, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:
$86,300.00 - $129,500.00Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
University Park, PAYearly based
Penn State University Park
