Principal Analyst, Graduate Education Reporting and Research (Analyst, Data IV)

The Principal Analyst, Graduate Education Reporting and Research will play a pivotal role in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of graduate education through strategic data analysis and interpretation of key performance indicators in graduate student outcomes, enrollment trends, and program effectiveness. Given the continuously changing higher education landscape, this position will require high level multi-tasking abilities and guide decision making under shifting priorities. Reporting to the Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate College, this position is an integral part of the executive leadership team and works closely to support the decision-making and continuous improvement of graduate education at UA. This position will also be embedded in UAIR and will have a dotted line reporting to the university’s Chief Data Officer.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Strategic Analysis

• Analyze graduate student experiences, including retention, funding, and career outcomes, to inform strategic initiatives and enhance institutional support services.
• Refine predictive models and conduct statistical analyses to forecast future trends, performance, and outcomes based on historical data.
• Serve on relevant university and divisional systems working groups; and as lead on testing new business solutions, documenting processes, and providing recommendations.
• Serve as Business Owner and central point of contact for all graduate student data captured across enterprise systems.
• Collaborate with other team members, including UAIR Management and external partners to discuss business needs, propose enhancements, and manage workload and implementation of projects and requests, and enhance user experience.

Data Synthesis and Visualization

• Document and build out subject matter expertise on graduate education data available in the Enterprise Data Warehouse. Validate the accuracy of internal and external reports and analyses.
• Utilize advanced quantitative analysis techniques to monitor and assess the performance and outcomes of graduate programs.
• Collect, analyze, and submit all data for national surveys (e.g. NSF, CGS, etc.) and accreditor requests regarding graduate education outcomes.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret graduate education data, including enrollment trends, student success metrics, and program performance indicators for inclusion in grant applications.
• Develop standardized processes to collect and analyze data on student utilization of Graduate Center services and the impact of these activities.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret academic operations data.
• Develop standardized processes to collect and analyze graduate student exit survey data.
• Develop reports, dashboards, and data visualizations to communicate findings to institutional leadership and stakeholders.
• Assess data needs related to understanding the graduate education lifecycle. Develop and maintain associated reports and dashboards to support consistent reporting across all graduate programs.
• As data needs arise, work with Business Analysts and System Owners of Grad Path and UAccess Student (PeopleSoft Campus Solutions) to make necessary changes to allow for improved reporting.
• Conduct ad hoc analyses and special projects as requested by leadership and stakeholders to address specific questions or challenges.

Data Consultation and Support for Graduate Programs

• Propose, develop, and implement data-informed strategies to enhance the quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of graduate programs.
• Assist faculty, staff and administrators with dashboard utilization and support their implementation of data-informed strategies.
• Collaborate with academic units to identify opportunities for program improvement and innovation.
• Communicate technical and quantitative concepts to a broad, non-technical audience, as well as provide training and technical support to enhance quality of data captured cross the graduate education lifecycle.
• Cultivate campus partnerships to support data collection and analysis efforts in support of informing strategy and ability to better serve the student population.
• Provide guidance and support related to the Academic Program Review data collection and analysis process.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of higher education policies and best practices in graduate education.
• Excellent critical thinking, analytical, logical problem solving, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Ability to present complex data in a succinct, meaningful way to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both technical and non-technical language to a variety of individuals, including senior leaders.
• Strong work ethic, self-driven, and independent execution of tasks.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills; ability to manage multiple projects and priorities and meet negotiated timelines, in an environment filled with competing priorities.
• Resourceful, flexible, responsive, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Extensive knowledge of higher education. Strong interest and aptitude in data science and statistics.
• Familiarity with predictive modeling, machine learning and/or advanced analytical techniques.
• Ability to perform statistical analysis; determine appropriate statistics for data types including frequencies, chi-square, correlation, multiple regression and others.
• Proficiency in descriptive and inferential statistics and research methodologies.
• Project management skills, with the ability to adeptly communicate project needs, limitations, timelines and realistic project expectations time management and prioritization.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Eight or more years of relevant experience.

• Masters’ degree in related discipline or equivalent experience.
• Ten or more years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to collaborating with faculty members, staff, students, and external partners.
• Extensive experience with Business Intelligence (conception, design, implementation, and support).
• Experience working with Business Intelligence Tools (Oracle Analytics Server, Tableau, Power BI, etc.).
• Experience with data warehouse (conception, design, implementation, and support).
• Demonstrated capability with respect to data modeling (mapping out data connecting points and planning for appropriate query execution).
• Experience working with data in a higher education environment.
• Extensive experience utilizing Microsoft Excel, and data querying tools and SQL.
• Experience with university processes and multiple administrative systems, such as UAccess Student (Peoplesoft Campus Solutions) and Grad Path.