Associate Director of Accountability and Data Analytics

Drives the design and development of the higher education accountability system; defines and documents the metrics business rules and data logic that underpin it and independently advances its capabilities to meet emerging agency and policy needs; performs complex data integration analysis reporting and visualization in support of A Thriving Illinois
Performs sophisticated data integration analysis and interpretation across the research lifecycle; Extracts and transforms data from multiple sources using ETL processes while ensuring accuracy completeness and integrity; Safeguards data privacy and compliance standards; Identifies meaningful trends patterns and anomalies using statistical techniques and predictive modeling; Conducts ad hoc analyses to address emerging questions; Translates complex analytical findings into clear actionable insights for both technical and non-technical stakeholders through reports visualizations and presentations
Partners with cross-functional teams to establish and maintain data quality standards ensure data integrity implement best practices and uphold compliance requirements across the organization; works with institution partners to design and develop metrics
Develops compelling dashboards interactive data tools and executive presentations that track key performance indicators and business metrics; Delivers actionable insights to leadership and stakeholders through clear visually engaging reports that drive informed decision-making
Designs implements and maintains robust processes and procedures to safeguard data security and protect sensitive information across all systems and workflows
Identifies inefficiencies in current data processes and suggests improvements or automation to streamline workflows and enhance data accuracy and usability
Other duties as assigned within scope of position

Education:
Required:
A minimum of a Masters degree* from an accredited institution in Data Science Data Analytics Social Science Education or a related field
*In lieu of a Masters degree a Bachelors degree from an accredited institution in a related field and five (5) or more years of professional experience in an institutional research capacity may be substituted.
Preferred:
- Additional relevant graduate-level (or higher) certifications

Experience:
Required:
5 years of relevant professional experience
Experience in the design development and implementation of streamlined or automated reporting solutions
Demonstrated proficiency with SQL including experience writing moderately complex queries against a data warehouse or relational database
Experience with one or more common statistical or analytical software packages (e.g. R SAS SPSS Stata)
Experience with data warehousing data migration and/or data integration techniques
Preferred:
Experience in Higher Education
Experience developing reports and dashboards in a data visualization tool with proficiency in Power BI

• Advanced knowledge in the manipulation of data to providecharts graphs and reports
• Advanced knowledge of data integrity methods and techniques

Ability to align data strategy with business objectives
Strong project management and organizational skills; Ability to meet deadlines and follow through on the completion of projects and initiatives
Technical aptitude with strong logical problem solving and decision-making skills strong analytical skills and attention to detail; ability to process large datasets and extract meaningful insights.
Commitment to public service and passion for education and equity
Excellent interpersonal skills with a strong focus on collaboration and teamwork; ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with all stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to work with a variety of constituents and stakeholders such as other state agency staff institutional faculty and staff employers and community-based partners
Excellent problem-solving and written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work independently managing projects while ensuring alignment to and coordination with a larger vision and initiative

• Position reports to the Director of Research Analytics & Data.
• There are no direct reports to this position.