"Lead Institutional Research Analyst and Developer"

Job Description

Lead Institutional Research Analyst and Developer
University of Puget Sound
Job ID: 8455
Location:
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

Staff Posting Details

Appointment: Regular, full-time (1.0 FTE) position.

Work Location:
This position is based in Tacoma, WA, and is an on-campus role only.

Position Summary: Reporting to the Director of Institutional Research, the Lead Institutional Research Analyst and Developer supports the collection and reporting of information about the University, and ensures accurate and timely reporting of data. In addition, they build applications to provide ready access to information about students, faculty and staff.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

Under the general supervision of the Director, Institutional Research the responsibilities of the position include:

• Audit, clean, and maintain institutional data in PeopleSoft, and its storage in the Snowflake Data Warehouse, including writing query code (SQL), for the extract-load-transform (ETL) processes, testing results and identifying and correcting errors.
• Extract student census data at specific times throughout the year, clean, ensure accuracy of that data, and maintain it in the data warehouse.
• Evaluate utility, availability, accuracy and timelines of scheduled reports
• Lead the development of institutional analytics tools to meet campus needs, such as R Shiny applications, Tableau dashboards, etc.
• Provide analysis of enrollment trends and forecasting for use in institutional budget development.
• Create and implement testing protocols for critical reports, in systems such as PeopleSoft, to ensure their reliability after software updates.
• Lead the production of Sound Reports, including creation, maintenance and posting.
• Extract, clean, and store data from external organizations such as the IPEDS for institutional reporting.
• Complete and submit external data requests, including IPEDS, as well as other external organizations, such as NCAA, Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW), bond agencies, etc.
• Manage back-end technology for course evaluations
• Update and maintain recurrent predictive analytics, including enrollment trends using statistics and programming.
• Respond to ad hoc internal and external requests for data and reports.
• Serve on the Data Governance Committee.
• Create graphs and tables to visualize data.
• Collect and maintain data from peer institutions for internal indicators and dashboards.
• Query data from University systems.
• Represent the department within the campus community on committees or workgroups related to the role as a steward for institutional data.
• Represent the University within the Institutional Research professional community and pursue professional development opportunities outside of Puget Sound.
• Participate in the success of the Office of Institutional Research in meeting its goals.
• Represents the Office in the absence of the Director.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to manage external reporting on behalf of the University independently with accuracy and attention to reporting implications.
• Ability to clarify and respond to data requests to meet end users' needs.
• Ability to extract data from national and local sources using PS Query, Excel, Qualtrics, and web functions including:
  • Querying data from the Snowflake data warehouse in SQL,
  • Writing and editing existing queries in PS Query,
  • Importing data from national databases into Excel,
  • Retrieving data from Qualtrics or equivalent survey software.
• Ability to manipulate, analyze, summarize, and present quantitative data in multiple ways for a variety of audiences using:
  • Excel (minimum knowledge includes pivot tables, Vlookup, and macros),
  • RStudio or similar statistical software program (minimum knowledge includes importing datasets, cleaning and labeling data, and descriptive statistics),
  • PowerPoint (importing graphs and tables for effective communication of data as information),
  • Microsoft Word (to write reports, including importing graphs, tables, and images).
• Ability to develop and administer surveys, preferably through the use of Qualtrics survey software, including the ability to import contact lists, employ survey logic, craft survey questions collaboratively, manage survey messaging and the use of an API with our student portal.
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues and to work well with faculty, staff, and students across the institution to identify and act on areas for improvement within the purview of Institutional Research.
• Ability to manage projects, both new and recurring, with clear planning, documentation, attention to detail, and accuracy.
• Ability to efficiently manage the production of multiple, time-critical projects.
• Knowledge of the issues of higher education and university administration is preferred.

Qualifications:

• Education level: a bachelor's degree; advanced degree preferred. Equivalent work experience acceptable.
• Years of experience: AT LEAST one year's experience in Institutional Research or equivalent data analysis role.
• Demonstrable skills in the following:
  1. Query building (particularly in R, SQL, Python or similar coding languages)
  2. Data extraction from large enterprise systems
  3. Reporting capabilities to audiences with various technical and non-technical backgrounds
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills, as evidenced through samples of written reports, and performance on a job task.
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community

Compensation and Benefits:
It is anticipated that the successful candidate will be hired between $28.60 - $30.70 per hour. The rate for an experienced employee in this role may go up to $35.60 per hour, and the starting salary will be based on experience level. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package for eligible staff employees, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement plan options and 403(b) contributions
• Paid vacation, sick leave, floating holiday, campus holidays and bonus holidays
• Education benefits, such as full tuition for eligible employees and their families
• Access to university facilities and entertainment (fitness center, pool, library, concerts, lectures and more!)

Please note:

• Positions that work less than .75 FTE (1,560 hours per year) do not qualify for long-term disability or education benefits.
• Positions that work less than .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will accrue paid sick leave but are not eligible for additional benefits.
• Temporary positions that work at least .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will be eligible for benefits.

This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

For more information on Puget Sound's non-exempt staff benefits package, visit: Summary of 2025 Benefits for Staff Members in Non-Exempt Positions.pdf

For the Campus Holiday and Bonus Day Schedule, visit: https://www.pugetsound.edu/human-resources

Application Deadline:
Review of applications will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified.

Required Documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks.

University Diversity Statement

We Acknowledge:

• The richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community.
• The intrinsic worth of all who work and study here.
• The investigation and reflection enhance that education upon multiple perspectives.

We Aspire:

• To create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community.
• To increase the diversity of all parts of our university community through a commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts.
• To foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.

We Act:

• To achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity.
• To ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here.
• To prepare citizen-leaders effectively for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

Please note that we generally do not sponsor applicants for work visas for staff positions. Therefore, we generally require applicants for staff positions to be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

How to Apply
For complete job description and application instructions, visit: www.pugetsound.edu/employment

About Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a selective national liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, drawing 2,600 students from 48 states and 20 countries. Puget Sound graduates include Rhodes and Fulbright scholars, notables in the arts and culture, entrepreneurs and elected officials, and leaders in business and finance locally and throughout the world. A low student-faculty ratio provides Puget Sound students with personal attention from faculty who have a strong commitment to teaching and offer 1,200 courses each year in more than 40 traditional and interdisciplinary fields, including graduate programs in occupational and physical therapy and in education. Puget Sound is the only nationally ranked independent undergraduate liberal arts college in Western Washington, and one of just five independent colleges in the Pacific Northwest granted a charter by Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious academic honorary society. Visit "About Puget Sound" (http://www.pugetsound.edu/about) to learn more about the college.

As a strategic goal and through our core values, University of Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. EOE/AA