Data Analyst 2 (Performance and Analytics)

Iowa Department of Education’s mission is ensuring all students experience a world-class education. To accomplish our mission, we need talented, passionate people working together to build an excellent education system that empowers all students to achieve their full potential.

About the role

This position will be a member of the Bureau of Performance and Analytics and work as part of the Data and Analytics team. The Data Analyst 2 will primarily analyze education data sets, manipulate data, and produce education metrics and data needed for state and federal reporting. This role involves working closely with assessment data, calculating education metrics, and contributing to publications such as the Annual Condition of Education report and the Iowa School Performance Profiles website. The position will also assist in implementing Iowa’s accountability framework, including creating measures, recommending changes, and analyzing results. Additional duties include running quality assurance checks, completing statistical modeling, evaluating projects, preparing reports, developing technical documentation, and presenting results.

Responsibilities

• Analyze education data sets and produce metrics for state and federal reporting.
• Work with assessment data to calculate education metrics.
• Contribute to publications, including the Annual Condition of Education report and Iowa School Performance Profiles website.
• Assist in implementing Iowa’s accountability framework, including creating measures, recommending changes, and analyzing results.
• Run quality assurance checks to verify data accuracy.
• Complete statistical modeling and evaluate projects.
• Prepare reports, develop technical documentation, and present results.
• Interpret highly technical analyses and disseminate information to stakeholder groups in a non-technical manner.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements:

• Six years of full-time work experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research, or data science.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in business analytics, economics, data science, statistics, mathematics, management information systems, or industrial management, plus two years of full-time work experience (as described above). Note: Computer Science majors do not qualify.
• A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research, or data science, where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in business analytics, economics, data science, statistics, mathematics, management information systems, or industrial management equals one year of full-time experience; and a total of two years of graduate-level education and/or full-time experience (as described above), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate coursework in the same fields equals one year of full-time experience.
• A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research, or data science, where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in business analytics, economics, data science, statistics, mathematics, management information systems, or industrial management. Note: Computer Science majors do not qualify.
• Two years of full-time work experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research, or data science; and a total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described above), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and possession of a professional certificate in data science, business analytics, or data analytics.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Data Analyst 1.

Unofficial transcripts and/or certificate copies are required to verify education. Please attach to your application.

Skills

• Advanced degree in Education, Statistics, Social Sciences (e.g., Political Science, Public Policy), or a similar field, or the ability and desire to learn.
• Highly proficient in statistical software packages such as SAS (preferred), R, SQL, SPSS, or STATA.
• Experience analyzing large data sets and a competent knowledge of statistics.
• Ability to build data files to meet required specifications and complete advanced statistical modeling.
• Proficient in using technology and open to learning new tools.
• Ability to give oral presentations and represent the Iowa Department of Education at meetings, statewide conferences, or national conventions.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral, to produce a range of reports and publications, from technical journal articles to high-level summaries for non-technical audiences, including policymakers, educators, and community leaders.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships with team members, education program consultants, and other governmental agencies.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, both individually and as part of a team, and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Ability to access data from database servers and database tables.

Benefits

• Opportunities to make a widespread difference in the lives of children, their families, and Iowa communities.
• Collaborative, positive work environment with talented and passionate colleagues.
• Opportunities to collaborate with experts from around the country.
• Employee discounts from a variety of vendors.
• Competitive salary and benefits package. View details.

Schedule

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday; some nights and weekends. Occasional in-state and out-of-state travel.

Applicants must reside in the State of Iowa at the time of hire. The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify and complies with federal Right to Work laws. For more information, visit www.e-verify.gov.