Data Scientist, Student Success Analytics

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Harrisonburg (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

James Madison University is seeking a Data Scientist for Student Success Analytics in Harrisonburg, VA. This applied analytics role focuses on transforming student-success data into ethical, actionable evidence to inform institutional decisions. You will work with a team including a data engineer and report to the Director.

The position supports data maturity, data governance, and transformations across CRM, LMS, SIS, and other systems. Telework eligibility is noted.

Qualifications

• MS in Statistics, CS, OR, Mathematics, Finance, or other quantitative disciplines.
• Proficiency in SQL and at least one programming language (Python or R).
• Experience with statistical methods and handling large data sets.
• Experience analyzing, summarizing, and communicating information clearly, including data visualization.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative and dynamic environment.
• Awareness of data privacy, security, and ethics.
• Awareness of how data analytics can strengthen student success, retention, and graduation.

Responsibilities

• Analyze data to generate actionable insights for the early student success team and stakeholders.
• Design and evaluate descriptive, predictive, and causal analyses; document assumptions and limitations.
• Communicate insights through visualizations, presentations, reports, publications, and other media.
• Collaborate with SAS partners and campus colleagues on data management, ethics, privacy and governance.
• Advocate for data privacy, ethics, and equity in data decisions for student success systems.
• Explore responsible uses of generative AI for analytical workflows with privacy and oversight.

Skills

SQL

Python

R

Data visualization

Communication

Collaboration

Statistical thinking

Education

MS in Statistics

MS in Computer Science or OR

PhD in quantitative field (preferred)

Tools

Relational databases

Non-relational databases

Generative AI tools

Data visualization libraries

Job description

Working Title: Data Scientist, Student Success Analytics

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Student Academic Success

Department: 100756 - Student Success Analytics

Pay Band: N/A

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date:11/21/2026

About JMU

Mission

We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision

To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are

Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information

Student Success Analytics (SSA) at James Madison University is accepting applications for a Data Scientist as part of its work toward leveraging data and technology for improving student success and retention. The Data Scientist is an applied analytics and research position focused on transforming student-success data into ethical, actionable evidence for institutional decisions. This position reports to the Director, works on a team within another data scientist and data engineer, and supports the strategic vision to achieve the highest level of data maturity that maximizes success outcomes for all students.

The Data Scientist will help shape the design, collection, and use of data and data analytics to ensure student success and retention. JMU is in the middle of an enterprise-wide system modernization program, and this position has unique opportunities to shape the paths forward for data ethics, data analytics, and the use of data for student success and data-informed decision-making. This position will help lead efforts as the university moves forward in establishing a student success culture informed by data from the Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Learning Management Software (LMS), Student Information System (SIS), and other systems.

The Data Scientist will work closely with Student Affairs, Planning, Analytics, & Institutional Research (PAIR), Information Technology, The Graduate School, the Libraries, and other departments. The person in this position would be joining at an exciting time as efforts are underway to build a knowledge community that develops and enhances expertise around how JMU will work toward a data maturity model that integrates data science into leadership decisions.

This position is telework eligible.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Analyze data to generate actionable insights that can empower the early student success team and other stakeholders to act on data
• Design and evaluate descriptive, predictive, and, where appropriate, causal or quasi-experimental analyses; document assumptions, uncertainty, limitations, and differential performance across student populations
• Communicate insights from data analysis through visualizations, presentations, written reports, publications, and other multi-media
• Collaborate with Student Academic Success (SAS) partners and colleagues across campus on data management best practices, data ethics and privacy, data-informed research questions, and the use of data
• Advocate for data privacy, ethics, and equity as central in any design, management, and use of data decisions for the early student success system, including in collaboration with colleagues across the campus community
• Explore and evaluate responsible uses of generative AI for analytical workflows, knowledge retrieval, documentation, and decision-support tools, with appropriate attention to privacy, accuracy, accessibility, and human oversight

Qualifications

• MS in Statistics, Computer Science, Operations Research, Mathematics, Physics, Finance, or other quantitative disciplines
• Proficiency in SQL and at least one statistical or general-purpose programming language, preferably Python or R.
• Experience with statistical methods and programming language to manage data and provide insights from large data sets
• Experience analyzing, summarizing, and communicating information clearly, including knowledge of open source or commercial data visualization libraries/tools
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative and dynamic work environment
• Awareness of and commitment to the value of data privacy, security, and ethics
• Awareness of and commitment to how data analytics can strengthen student success, retention, and graduation across student populations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education
• PhD in Statistics, Computer Science, Operations Research, Mathematics, Physics, Finance, or other quantitative disciplines
• Experience creating and using advanced machine learning algorithms and statistics: regression, simulation, modeling, clustering, decision trees, etc.
• Professional experience in equitable data management, use of data, and data analytics
• Experience working with relational and non-relational database systems
• Experience using, building, and deploying generative A.I. tools

Additional Posting Information

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: [phone].

Reasonable Accommodation

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.