Data Analyst

State of North Carolina; Salisbury (CT); On-site; USD 82,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

The State Board of Elections in North Carolina is seeking a Database Administrator I (NS) to support data-driven decision making, maintain and optimize election and campaign finance data systems, and collaborate with program staff and county partners to ensure data accuracy and accessibility.

The role focuses on building SQL queries, developing BI dashboards with Power BI and Tableau, assuring data quality, and supporting audits and fiscal analyses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, Excel) and reporting for multiple departments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills applicable to a range of agency functions.
• Ability to translate complex data findings into clear, actionable recommendations for diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with data quality, integrity, and compliance standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the agency’s business intelligence strategy, emphasizing data integrity validation, operational assessment, and the detection of irregularities across election related systems.
• Analyze incoming data for completeness, accuracy, expected behavior, fiscal accuracy, resource utilization patterns, and compliance; investigate inconsistencies and determine root causes.
• Generate complex, dynamic reports for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring outputs reflect verified, reliable, and actionable information.
• Maintain and enhance data visualization platforms (Power BI, Tableau, SSRS, MS Report Builder) to support investigative workflows, operational oversight, fiscal transparency, and public communication.
• Build and refine data models that accurately represent source systems and highlight areas of potential data quality, compliance, fiscal, and operational risk.
• Collaborate with agency units to define meaningful information needs and design dashboards that reveal trends, anomalies, operational bottlenecks, financial variances, and emerging risks.
• Research and develop predictive analytics, operational performance indicators, fiscal analytics, auditing enhancements, and advanced visualizations to strengthen decision making and oversight.
• Analyze operational data (e.g., workflow timing, submission patterns, throughput measures, county processing performance) to detect inefficiencies or noncompliance.
• Review and validate fiscal data associated with election operations, reimbursements, expenditures, county claims, budgetary activity, and other financial records to identify anomalies or inconsistencies.
• Participate in pre - and postelection audits and statistical evaluations, including contest audits, geocode audits, list maintenance audits, risk limiting audits, Bayesian audits, and fiscal audits, applying investigative methodologies to uncover irregularities and support corrective action.
• Serve as an internal consultant, guiding staff in interpreting analytic findings, identifying root causes, improving operational processes, validating fiscal information, and developing solutions that enhance election administration and compliance.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Data visualization

Data storytelling

Communication

Project management

ETL concepts

Database concepts

Internal consulting

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Associate degree in CS/IT with 2+ years experience

HS diploma + 5 years related experience

Tools

SQL

GIS databases

Power BI

Tableau

SSRS

MS Access/Report Builder

Job description

Agency

State Board of Elections

Division

State Board of Elections

Job Classification Title

Database Administrator I (NS)

Position Number

65031281

Grade

DT09

About Us

The N.C. State Board of Elections is the statewide agency that supervises elections administration, enforces campaign finance requirements, and conducts associated investigations. The State Board ensures uniform implementation of state and federal election laws and appoints local officials serving on county boards of elections. The board is composed of 5 individuals appointed by the State Auditor from list of nominees submitted by the chairs of the two political parties having the highest number of registered affiliates. Agency staff are civil servants subject to the State Personnel Act.

Description of Work

*Primary Purpose of the Organizational Unit
Each organizational unit within the State Board of Elections plays a vital role in advancing the agency’s mission to administer and support the lawful, accurate, secure, and transparent administration of elections and campaign finance for the people of North Carolina. Through data-driven insights, operational excellence, and consultative guidance, each division empowers agency leadership, program staff, and stakeholders to make informed decisions, improve performance, and uphold compliance with federal and state law. Principles such as transparency, innovation, and continuous improvement, offer organizational units tools to strengthen public trust and ensure the effective stewardship of North Carolina’s election processes and related functions.
*Primary Purpose of the Position
The Data Analyst serves as a critical resource for the State Board of Elections, supporting a variety of departments in making data-driven decisions. This role works closely with program staff, leadership, and county partners to ensure information is accurate, actionable, and relevant to operational, fiscal, and programmatic needs. The analyst applies strong analytical judgment, communication skills, and the ability to translate complex findings into clear recommendations for diverse audiences. The position is designed to foster agency-wide improvement, performance measurement, and compliance, not limited to IT or technical functions.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills applicable to a range of agency functions (elections, finance, HR, operations, compliance)

Ability to communicate data insights effectively to technical and non-technical stakeholders

Experience with data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, Excel) and reporting for multiple departments

Collaborative mindset; able to work across teams and support agency-wide initiatives

Familiarity with data quality, integrity, and compliance standards

Ability to manage multiple projects and adapt to changing priorities

Understanding of database systems and ETL concepts (preferred, not required)

Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and departments

Capacity to serve as an internal consultant, supporting divisions in their use of modern reporting, evaluation, and data visualization technologies

Ability to occasionally work an irregular schedule to accommodate periodic system updates/upgrades, maintenance, and/or emergency needs

Description of Work

*Recruitment Range $81,504 - $101,881 *

This position is federally funded for a period of up to three (3) years. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of federal funding.

Reporting and Business Intelligence

• Develop and manage the agency’s business intelligence strategy, emphasizing data integrity validation, operational assessment, and the detection of irregularities across election related systems.
• Analyze incoming data for completeness, accuracy, expected behavior, fiscal accuracy, resource utilization patterns, and compliance; investigate inconsistencies and determine root causes.
• Generate complex, dynamic reports for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring outputs reflect verified, reliable, and actionable information.
• Maintain and enhance data visualization platforms (Power BI, Tableau, SSRS, MS Report Builder) to support investigative workflows, operational oversight, fiscal transparency, and public communication.
• Build and refine data models that accurately represent source systems and highlight areas of potential data quality, compliance, fiscal, and operational risk.
• Collaborate with agency units to define meaningful information needs and design dashboards that reveal trends, anomalies, operational bottlenecks, financial variances, and emerging risks.
• Research and develop predictive analytics, operational performance indicators, fiscal analytics, auditing enhancements, and advanced visualizations to strengthen decision making and oversight.
• Analyze operational data (e.g., workflow timing, submission patterns, throughput measures, county processing performance) to detect inefficiencies or noncompliance.
• Review and validate fiscal data associated with election operations, reimbursements, expenditures, county claims, budgetary activity, and other financial records to identify anomalies or inconsistencies.
• Participate in pre - and postelection audits and statistical evaluations, including contest audits, geocode audits, list maintenance audits, risk limiting audits, Bayesian audits, and fiscal audits, applying investigative methodologies to uncover irregularities and support corrective action.
• Serve as an internal consultant, guiding staff in interpreting analytic findings, identifying root causes, improving operational processes, validating fiscal information, and developing solutions that enhance election administration and compliance.

Data Quality and Process Improvement

• Support data quality, integrity, and accessibility for all departments.
• Collaborate with staff to define information needs and design solutions that support operational and programmatic goals.
• Analyze data from multiple sources to support agency-wide performance measurement and improvement.
• Participate in pre- and post-election audits and statistical evaluations, applying investigative methodologies to uncover irregularities and support corrective action.

Technical Support

• Assist with database administration and management of GIS databases and associated applications (as needed).
• Develop SQL solutions and queries to automate administrative tasks, monitor infrastructure health, and generate alerts when data behaviors or system activities deviate from expected norms (preferred, not required).
• Maintain documentation of procedures, investigative findings, and database configurations.
• Communicate database-related issues and problems with relevant agency team members, developers, testers, and managers.
• Recommend and employ third-party database tools to enhance efficiency and support investigative, fiscal, and operational analyses.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or an IT related field or a related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and oney year of experience in programming and applications analysis including the design and maintenance of an integrated database system; or Associate degree in Computer Science or an IT related field or a related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of experience in programming and applications analysis including the design and maintenance of an integrated database system; or High School or General Educational Development (GED) diploma and five years of experience in programming and applications analysis including the design and maintenance of an integrated database system; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.