Senior Data Analyst

Alberta Innovates; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Health, dental, and pension benefits

Professional development

Flexible work arrangements

Inclusive workplace

Job summary

Alberta Innovates in Edmonton is seeking a Senior Data Analyst to join a collaborative team focused on data-driven decision making. You will analyze complex datasets, build and optimize data pipelines in Microsoft Fabric, and develop Power BI dashboards to support program reporting and executive decisions.

The role requires deep SQL and Python expertise, experience with Azure Fabric tools, and the ability to communicate insights to non-technical stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 5 years of progressive experience in data analysis, BI, or data engineering roles, with senior-level contribution.
• Experience building and maintaining production data pipelines and BI reports in a Microsoft environment.
• Experience in public sector, quasi-government, or multi-stakeholder settings is an asset.
• Strong SQL (T-SQL) skills including complex joins, CTEs, window functions, and stored procedures.
• Proficiency in Python for data analysis and automation (pandas, NumPy, matplotlib/seaborn, scikit-learn).
• Ability to communicate findings to non-technical stakeholders in plain language.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute analytical studies using data from enterprise data platform.
• Write optimized T-SQL queries for data extraction, transformation, and analysis across Fabric environments.
• Use Python for advanced analytics and data wrangling at scale.
• Build forecasting models and scenario analyses to support planning.
• Translate findings into actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders.
• Document methodologies, data sources, assumptions, and findings for reproducibility.

Skills

T-SQL

Python

Power BI

Data Modeling

Azure

Fabric

Communication

Stakeholder Engagement

Data Visualization

Education

Post-secondary diploma in Computer Science / IT / Data Science

Bachelor's or Master's in a related field (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Fabric

Azure Data Factory

PySpark

Job description

Employment Status: Full-time – Permanent
Location: Edmonton, Edmonton Research Park Facility
Work Model: Hybrid

About the Opportunity

The Senior Data Analyst is an opportunity to be part of a professional, purpose-driven team that values collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. Most importantly, your work will contribute to meaningful outcomes that make a difference for Albertans and help shape the future of our province.

Key responsibilities in the role of Senior Data Analyst include:

Data Analysis & Advanced Analytics

• Design and execute analytical studies to answer complex business questions, drawing on data from across the enterprise data platform.
• Write optimized T-SQL queries for data extraction, transformation, and analysis across lakehouse, warehouse, and source system environments in Microsoft Fabric.
• Use Python (pandas, NumPy, matplotlib/seaborn, scikit-learn) for advanced analytics, statistical modelling, automation of repetitive analytical tasks, and data wrangling at scale.
• Build forecasting models, trend analyses, and scenario-based projections to support organizational planning and decision-making.
• Translate analytical findings into clear, actionable insights and recommendations presented in language accessible to non-technical stakeholders.
• Document all analytical methodologies, data sources, assumptions, and findings to ensure reproducibility, peer review readiness, and audit compliance.

Data Pipeline & Integration Development

• Design, build, and maintain data pipelines using Microsoft Fabric (Data Factory, Dataflows Gen2, Fabric notebooks) following the approved medallion architecture (Bronze / Silver / Gold).
• Ingest data from enterprise source systems (business applications, APIs, flat files, databases) into Fabric lakehouses using approved ingestion patterns and onboarding criteria.
• Write Python and PySpark scripts for data transformation, cleansing, enrichment, and validation within Fabric and Azure environments.
• Ensure pipelines are reliable, monitored, and aligned to established error handling, alerting, lineage documentation, and data quality standards.
• Collaborate with source system owners and IT teams to clarify integration requirements, resolve upstream data issues, and document data contracts.
• Support and maintain existing data integration frameworks; proactively identify opportunities to improve reliability, performance, or maintainability.

Reporting, Dashboards & Data Products

• Develop and maintain Power BI dashboards, paginated reports, and semantic models aligned with organizational KPIs, program reporting, and executive decision-making needs.
• Apply dimensional data modeling best practices (star schema, conformed dimensions, DAX measures) to build performant, reusable, and trusted semantic models.
• Partner with business units to gather reporting requirements, validate metric definitions, and ensure outputs directly address real business decisions.
• Ensure all data products leverage certified Gold-tier datasets from the Data Catalogue and comply with data governance and access control standards.
• Publish and maintain certified Power BI datasets to support governed self-service reporting for business users across the organization.
• Implement and maintain row-level security on reports and semantic models to ensure appropriate, role-based data access for reporting consumers.

Data Quality & Governance

• Apply data quality standards throughout the analytics lifecycle from source ingestion to published data products including completeness, accuracy, consistency, and timeliness checks.
• Proactively identify, document, and escape data quality issues; implement remediation in coordination with source system owners and the Data Governance Manager.
• Maintain clear data lineage documentation for all analytics pipelines and data products to support traceability and impact analysis.
• Contribute to the organizational Data Catalogue by documenting datasets, metric definitions, business glossary terms, and data dictionaries.
• Ensure all analytical processes and data products adhere to organizational data governance policies, privacy requirements, and security standards.

Stakeholder Engagement & Data Enablement

• Serve as a trusted data advisor to assigned business units translating complex data into plain-language insights and guiding stakeholders toward evidence-based decisions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (program areas, Finance, HR, IT) to understand evolving data needs and translate them into analytical project briefs.
• Provide informal guidance and mentorship to intermediate analysts and business developers on SQL, Python, Power BI, and data modeling best practices.
• Participate in data working groups, cross-functional projects, and platform planning discussions as a data subject matter expert.
• Develop and deliver data literacy resources, how-to documentation, and workshop content to build self-service analytical capability across the organization.

What You Need to Thrive in This Role

• Post-secondary diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related discipline.
• 5 years of progressive experience in data analysis, business intelligence, or data engineering roles, with demonstrated Senior-level contribution.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining production data pipelines and BI reports in a professional Microsoft environment.
• Experience working in a public sector, quasi-government, non-profit, or complex multi-stakeholder environment is an asset.
• Experience with agile delivery practices and cross-functional collaboration in a technical team setting. [Relevant experience or demonstrated knowledge and capability]
• In-depth knowledge of SQL (T-SQL) including complex joins, CTEs, window functions, query optimization, and stored procedures.
• Solid working knowledge of Python for data analysis and automation: pandas, NumPy, matplotlib/seaborn, and scikit-learn (or equivalent ML libraries).
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Fabric: lakehouses, OneLake, Data Factory pipelines, Dataflows Gen2, Fabric notebooks, and deployment pipelines.
• Strong knowledge of Power BI: report authoring, semantic model design, DAX measures, Power Query (M), and row-level security.
• Understanding of medallion architecture (Bronze / Silver / Gold), dimensional data modeling, and data warehouse design patterns.
• Knowledge of data governance principles: data lineage, data cataloging, metadata management, and data quality frameworks.
• Familiarity with Azure data services (Azure SQL, Azure Data Factory, Azure Blob / ADLS Gen2) and cloud data platform concepts.
• Ability to communicate data findings clearly and persuasively to non-technical stakeholders, including senior leadership, in plain language.
• Strong planning and priority management skills manages multiple concurrent analytical projects and business unit relationships without compromise.
• Intellectually curious stays current with evolving data and analytics tools, platforms, and best practices; applies new knowledge proactively.

Who We Are

Alberta Innovates is the province’s most comprehensive research and innovation agency. From funding to commercialization, we are Alberta’s innovation engine. We foster and accelerate research and innovation to support entrepreneurs and drive economic growth for the benefit of Albertans.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation aligned with our internal career framework and pay structures
• Comprehensive health, dental, and pension benefits to support you and your family
• Professional development and learning opportunities to help you grow and advance your career
• A collaborative and inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued and every contribution matters
• Flexible work arrangements, where operationally appropriate, along with vacation and earned time off to rest, recharge and help you bring your best self to work.

The minimum starting salary for this position is $88,600 annually. Placement within the salary range will be based on the successful candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, and internal equity.

Privacy Statement

The personal information collected in the application process is for recruitment and hiring purposes only. This collection is authorized under section 4(c) of the Protection of Privacy Act.

Employment Equity

Alberta Innovates is committed to the principle of equity in employment and encourages applications from all qualified individuals. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Additional Information

This recruitment process does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select candidates. All hiring decisions are made by human reviewers. If you are selected for an interview, please note that recording the interview or using AI tools or assistance during the interview is not permitted.