Data Operations Engineer

SupportFinity™; Washington; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/Remote work

Professional development

Transit benefits

Student loan paydown

Vacation & holidays

401(k) plan

Job summary

Catalist is seeking a Data Operations Engineer to provide data sets and solutions for a wide range of clients and partners. The role involves researching election administration, data trends, and new data sets to support Catalist and its clients.

The position reports to the Director of Data Acquisition and collaborates with Client Services, Analytics, and Tech teams to deliver secure data products for progressive campaigns and organizations.

Qualifications

• One to two years of administrative work experience.
• Background check required.

Responsibilities

• Research, collect, and work with data from various sources in a timely and efficient manner.
• Fulfill administrative tasks and work with legal counsel to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Build relationships with data sources and monitor data changes and data regulations.
• Track internal operations, including acquisition calendars, budgeting documents, and data element listings.
• Execute and help develop the process that ensures data is handled and stored securely.
• Respond to correspondence maintaining confidentiality, maturity, discretion, and diplomacy.
• Utilize programming languages and internal resources to process data sets and answer questions about data processing.
• Plan, manage, and execute special projects as directed by the Director of Data Acquisition.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Learning quickly

Campaign experience

Job description

For over 19 years, Catalist has been a leader in civic data and data science innovation. Our mission is to provide progressive organizations with the data, software, and services needed to better identify, understand, and communicate with the people they need to engage and mobilize. Our clients include the largest, most influential organizations in the U.S. active in civic engagement, advocacy, and political campaigns.

Catalist is home to a dedicated, creative team of technologists, data scientists, and campaign experts committed to using our talents and technology to nurture a vibrant and growing progressive community.

As a Data Operations Engineer, you will have a leading role in providing data sets and solutions in a timely and efficient manner for use by a wide array of Catalist clients and partners. The position will also be responsible for conducting research into election administration, political trends, and new data sets to help meet the needs of Catalist and our clients.

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual with a strong attention to detail, a desire to learn new skills, and an interest in progressive politics. Catalist values creativity and problem-solving. Our work is on the cutting edge of data-driven politics, and your support will help Democratic candidates and progressive organizations conduct successful advocacy and electoral campaigns.

This position reports to the Director of Data Acquisition. While Data Operations Engineers work with the Client Services, Analytics, and Tech teams, they are a part of the growing Data team that supports all underlying work at Catalist.

This position is included in our CWA bargaining unit.

Principle Duties & Responsibilities

• Research, collect, and work with data from various sources, such as voter file, absentee/early vote, geographic, and aggregate level data in a timely and efficient manner
• Fulfill various administrative tasks such as preparing required forms, letters, and check requests, as well as working with Catalist’s legal counsel to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
• Build and foster relationships with points of contact at various data sources to stay informed about data changes as well as monitor information on elections and regulations
• Track ongoing and future internal operations, including but not limited to, acquisition calendars, budgeting documents, and data element listings
• Execute and help develop the process that sees all data acquired by Catalist is both handled and stored in a secure manner, in keeping with best practices
• Respond to all correspondence in alignment with company values and objectives while handling confidential information with the utmost maturity, discretion, and diplomacy
• Utilize programming languages as well as other internal resources to process data sets as well as answer questions internally and externally about data and data processing
• Plan, manage, and execute special projects as directed by the Director of Data Acquisition

Requirements

• One to two years of some previous administrative work
• Background check required

Preferred Skills & Abilities

• Experience with political campaigns or progressive organizations
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, including ability to multitask
• Effective problem solving and troubleshooting abilities in a fast-paced environment
• Able to focus on details and make productive suggestions on ways to improve processes
• Willingness to be creative and personable, work with internal teams, and articulate ideas clearly in both written and oral communication
• Capacity to become an internal subject matter expert on various datasets and support other Catalist departments/teams on usage of those datasets
• Ability and willingness to learn new skills quickly

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug

Catalist offers Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug coverage for eligible staff and their eligible dependents. Catalist’s Medical plan is a comprehensive PPO program including Prescription Drug coverage with 85% of the premium paid by Catalist. We also offer an HDHP plan with HSA eligibility. Dental and Vision coverage is provided at no cost to employees.

Group Term Life Insurance and Long-Term & Short-Term Disability Coverage

Group Term Life Insurance and Long-Term and Short-Term Disability coverage is available for eligible staff. These benefits are provided at no cost to Catalist employees.

401(k) Safe Harbor Plan

A 401(k) Safe Harbor Plan is available to eligible staff with a 3% contribution from Catalist from the date of hire. Employees may contribute pre-tax or post-tax from their salary up to the legal limits set forth by the IRS.

Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Catalist offers an FSA Program that gives eligible staff the ability to pay out-of-pocket medical/dental/vision/child care expenses from pre-tax earnings.

Transit Benefits

Catalist also makes available a Transit benefit FSA program to eligible employees using pre-tax contributions with a company match.

Professional Development and Remote Work Expenses

Eligible employees may be reimbursed up to $750 each year for professional development / education and $500 for remote work expenses.

Student Loan PayDown or SaveUp

Catalist offers a Student Loan PayDown and College SaveUp benefit for eligible staff.

Vacation, Personal Leave, Sick Leave Benefits

Catalist offers generous vacation benefits to all eligible staff. Eligible employees also receive:

• 15 Paid Holidays (16 in Presidential Inauguration years)
• Personal Days
• Sick Leave
• Parental Leave

Hybrid Office/Remote Work

Certain positions at Catalist are eligible for Office/Remote Hybrid or full Remote status.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Catalist