Data Specialist

collaborates closely with stakeholders to understand reporting needs, provide analytical support, and ensure data accuracy, consistency, and usability across platforms. Additionally, the role supports ETL processes, data source management, and customer-facing reporting support, helping maintain reliable data solutions while leveraging tools such as Qlik, Microsoft Fabric, and other emerging technologies to meet evolving business needs.

Special Instructions to Applicants

This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years work experience in comparative technology environment
• Minimum 2 years work experience in report writing, data visualization, and data curation 
• Enthusiasm, dedication to quality customer service standards and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Superior interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to handle conflicts calmly and professionally
• Demonstrated experience and proficiency across multiple reporting, data analytics, and visualization toolsets 
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with multiple vendors and external entities
• Demonstrated ability to communicate, interact, and offer support to groups ranging from internal to external entities in both public and private leadership roles
• Experience and knowledge with visualization tools like Qlik or Power BI, scripting languages like Python, and platforms like Microsoft Fabric 
• Experience and knowledge with Workday Reporting

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to produce financial reports (electronic and paper) and visualizations using both industry standard and proprietary toolsets
• Familiarity with financial accounting principles and terminology
• Understanding of data access methodologies and data storage structures
• Demonstrated ability to manage and coordinate multiple projects across a team
• Ability to apply multiple technologies for integrated solutions and foresee the consequences of integration
• Ability to solve problems where cause and effect may not be obvious and understand when and how to apply appropriate technology to solve problems
• Demonstrated effective oral, written, and presentation skills
• Ability to plan and monitor work in context of the unit’s vision and provide strategic management of objectives and assigned activities
• Ability to collaborate with others and enlist buy-in from different groups

Additional Division Expectations

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Physical Demands

• Travel in and out of state and country as necessary
• Work evenings and weekends as necessary
• Work in a standard open office environment
• Sit and work at a computer workstation for an extended amount of time
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task
• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb

Duties/Responsibilities

(35%) Reporting & Analytics Development

• Design, create, implement, document, support, and manage financial system reports, data visualization/analytics, and data curation using vendor provided toolsets, whether legacy or next generation, to meet reporting needs across Workday, Blackbaud CRM, and other reporting systems used across the offices within the UGA Foundation and the division as adopted.
• Produce visualization and analytic models using tools like Qlik, Power BI, and Microsoft Fabric, with openness to additional platforms as adopted.
• Curate data and contribute to data dictionaries.
• Ensure accuracy of data delivered based on requests.
• Analyze data and reporting needs, helping design and implement solutions to address them.

(30%) Data Source Management and ETL Support

• Assist in the development and maintenance of ETL workflows that support reporting and analytics across various systems, including Workday and Blackbaud CRM, ensuring data feeding these platforms’ dashboards and reports is accurate and reconciled with source systems, and assisting with other data requests as capacity allows.
• Monitor existing data workflows to ensure they are functioning correctly.
• Perform data validation to maintain accuracy of data sets.
• Collaborate with other UGA units to meet needs from data sources outside of the UGA Foundation and donor systems (ex: UGA data warehouse)
• Support the UGA Foundation’s financial system’s data import and export processes.

(25%) User Support and Documentation

• Provide reporting user support for UGA Foundation financial management and donor systems.
• Troubleshoot, monitor, and manage reporting services across the division, working with internal resources and vendors as appropriate.
• Develop documentation for both functional and technical teams related to reporting processes in Workday and other adopted platforms, including but not limited to user guides, help scripts, process documentation, and troubleshooting guides.

(10%) Other Duties

• Other duties as assigned to include, but not limited to, attending meetings, serving on committees, developing specifications for software need/upgrades, assisting with end user device support, and identifying emergency technologies.
• Attend UGAF@WORK Change Control Board meetings as a delegate on behalf of the Associate Director of Business Analytics when needed, relaying relevant updates, decisions, and action items back to the team.

About the University of Georgia

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the Division of Development and Alumni Relations

The Division of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Georgia advances the goals, objectives, and priorities of the university by generating private financial support, building, and maintaining relationships with alumni and donors, and assisting students with career development opportunities.

About the Development and Alumni Relations, Information Technology 

The Information Technology department in the Development & Alumni Relations division provides IT and communications support for over 200 division employees across 8 different locations. The department provides for all hardware and software needs for the Division. They support the Divisions Customer Relations Management (CRM), Gift Accounting System, and the General Ledger/Fund Accounting System along with multiple other tools. They also provide selection, purchasing and support of all DAR employees’ mobile and desktop devices (PC’s, iPads, phones, lab tops, printers, monitors, etc.)  They are responsible for the security of all hardware and software systems and all DAR data.

EEO Policy Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.