Data Analyst, Office of Institutional Research

Wake Forest University
United States, North Carolina, Winston Salem
Feb 04, 2025
Application Instructions: External Applicants: Please upload your resume on the Apply screen. Your application will automatically populate your resume details, and you may verify and update data on the My Information page. Please add your cover letter and any other documents required for the position to the Resume/CV document upload section at the bottom of the My Experience application page. Use the Select Files button to add multiple documents including your cover letter and supporting documents. The My Experience page is the only opportunity to add your cover letter and supporting document attachments. You will not be able to modify your application after you submit it. Current Employees: Apply from your existing Workday account. Do not apply from the website. Log in to Workday. Click on the Jobs Hub and select Browse Jobs. Locate the position and click Apply. Update your Education and Job History. Cover letter required for all positions and optional for facilities, campus services, and hospitality positions unless otherwise specified. Job Description Summary The Office of Institutional Research supports institutional planning, evaluation, and data-driven decision-making by providing studies and analyses to university leadership and accurate statistical data to the public and external agencies. The Data Analyst will assist in the discovery of knowledge and insights through quantitative and qualitative research for the success of Wake Forest University. They will be responsible for translating student, faculty, and staff data into clear, usable, actionable information that supports the crafting and execution of university strategies. The primary responsibilities of the Data Analyst generally fall into one of the three areas of effort: 1) extract data from university systems for aggregation and mandated reporting, 2) knowledge discovery through analysis of student data, and 3) visualize and communicate information derived from data primarily to the undergraduate College stakeholders. The position is heavily involved in the querying, interpreting, and reporting of data from Workday, the university's student information system, and HR data system, as well as from other data sources. The position must be able to interpret written policy and translate it to code for production. Although the position works singly, it collaborates with other departments that produce and consume data. Therefore, the position needs to understand the downstream impacts of changes to student information and HR data. Alongside Information Systems, the position troubleshoots issues with Workday. Job Description Essential Functions: General The position requires a high level of accuracy, extraordinary attention to detail, solid proofreading skills, the ability to multi-task and meet deadlines, and the ability to adhere to ethical and legal standards in institutional research. Use data visualization and reporting tools to display and summarize data, trends, and patterns. Collect and integrate external data sets with internal data elements for analysis to understand underlying patterns and trends. Benchmarks analysis comparing WFU data with data from comparable, peer institutions. Clearly communicate and accurately present methodology and results of analyses to various internal audiences using a variety of visual, written, and/or verbal formats. Under the direction of OIR's Senior Associate Director: Extract data from Workday then feed into SAS or R for data troubleshooting, aggregation, and reporting (e.g. U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, Common Data Set, college guides/rankings, and internal analyses). Collaborate with data stewards (e.g. Registrar, Student Financial Aid, HR, etc.) to understand data definitions and resolve data anomalies/questions. Query databases and analyze data using SQL and/or analytic tools like R and/or SAS. Create ad-hoc reports. Under the direction of OIR's Data Scientist: Collaborate with various undergraduate College clients (e.g. dean, assistant deans, etc) to understand their information needs and develop innovative, effective data analysis solutions that minimize bias. Design, develop, train, and test predictive models to identify and prioritize student success outcomes for the College using a variety of data mining and advanced statistical analysis techniques. Maintain proficiency and continuously develop expertise in new developments in the data mining domain including methods, tools, and software. Utilize text mining algorithms to analyze textual data and find patterns in textual datasets like open-ended survey items or focus group transcripts. Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Bachelor's degree in data Analytics, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Informatics, or related field with one to three years of experience extracting, manipulating, analyzing, and synthesizing complex data sets to produce highly readable, informative reports, and presentations. Advanced knowledge of R, SAS, and/or SQL. Proficiency in MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Word, and/or Google equivalents. Experience using visualization software (e.g. MS Power BI). Experience with predictive models and machine learning techniques such as clustering, regression, artificial neural networks, decision trees, etc. Ability to collaborate with a team, work independently, and meet deadlines. Strong orientation for customer service. Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Advanced degree with two to three years of experience in an academic or industry-related setting; analyzing and synthesizing complex data sets to produce highly readable, informative reports, and presentations. Familiarity with Workday Student and/or HCM. Familiarity with building reports in Workday. Familiarity with IPEDS instructions, data collection portal, and process. Familiarity with instructions and content of Common Data Set and North Carolina Higher Education Data (NCHED)/ North Carolina Independent Colleges and University (NCICU) forms. Accountabilities: Responsible for own work. Physical Requirements: Sedentary work primarily involves sitting/standing; communicating with others to exchange information; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers; and assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned. Environmental Conditions: No environmental conditions. Disclaimer:** This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by the employee's supervisor. To help provide a safe learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final candidates being considered for employment. Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply. Wake Forest University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in employment for individuals with disabilities. Additional Job Description Time Type Requirement Full time Note to Applicant: This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor. In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment. WakeForestseeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive work environment committed to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate.In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by University policies, the University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on thebasis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran statusandencourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.