Lead IAR Data Analyst

Western Governors University; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition discount

Job summary

Western Governors University seeks a Lead IAR Data Analyst to transform complex data into actionable insights for university leadership. You will work across Institutional Analytics & Research, Data Engineering, Finance, Enrollment, and Faculty teams to answer critical business questions and influence strategy through data storytelling.

The role emphasizes autonomy, advanced analytics, and mentoring peers, with a focus on translating data into executive-ready recommendations and data-driven

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline and at least 7 years of analytics or BI experience.
• Advanced SQL proficiency, including complex queries, window functions, and performance tuning.
• Experience with BI tools (Tableau/Power BI) and data visualization for executives.
• Experience with data modeling and enterprise data architecture concepts.
• Familiarity with forecasting, regression, and classification techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex analytics initiatives by translating business needs into technical requirements.
• Deliver data-driven insights to inform university strategy and decisions.
• Collaborate with Data Engineering to build ETL/ELT processes and data products.
• Create dashboards and presentations for managers to senior executives.
• Mentor peers and promote analytics best practices across teams.
• Support data storytelling and foster stakeholder partnerships.

Skills

Advanced SQL

Tableau / Power BI

Data modeling

Statistics / forecasting

Autonomy / self-direction

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Professional 312 Pay Range: $109,900.00 - $170,400.00

Job Description The Lead IAR Data Analyst is a senior-level individual contributor responsible for transforming complex data into actionable insights that inform strategy, improve outcomes, and support decision-making across the university. Working closely with stakeholders across Institutional Analytics & Research (IAR), Data Engineering, Product Management, Finance, EdTech, Enrollment, and Faculty teams, this role leads high-impact analytics initiatives, answers complex business questions, and delivers compelling data-driven recommendations. The ideal candidate combines advanced technical expertise with exceptional storytelling skills, translating data into meaningful insights tailored to audiences ranging from managers to senior executives. This role requires a highly autonomous analyst who can independently drive projects, influence organizational decisions, and serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders.

In addition to deep expertise in analytics, visualization, and data modeling, the Lead IAR Data Analyst is expected to mentor peers, contribute to analytics best practices, and elevate team capabilities through knowledge sharing and thought leadership. While this is not a people leadership position, it carries elevated expectations for strategic influence, stakeholder partnership, and leadership through expertise. The Lead IAR Data Analyst is a senior-level individual contributor responsible for transforming complex data into rigorous, actionable insights that drive decision-making across the university. This role partners closely with leaders and stakeholders across Institutional Analytics & Research (IAR), Data Engineering, Product Management, Finance, EdTech, Enrollment, and Faculty teams to answer critical business questions, deliver meaningful research, and influence strategic direction through data storytelling. The ideal candidate brings deep analytical expertise, operates with a high degree of autonomy, and serves as a trusted advisor to stakeholders across the organization. Success in this role requires the ability to move beyond reporting data to generating insights, influencing decisions, and helping others elevate their analytical capabilities.

What You'll Do

• Lead complex analytics and research initiatives by documenting business needs, translating user stories into technical requirements, and delivering solutions with a student and equity-centered lens.
• Answer complex business questions through advanced analysis, forecasting, statistical techniques, and extensive knowledge of university data assets across multiple domains.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve complex data quality issues while partnering with Data Engineering to improve the accuracy, consistency, timeliness, and validity of institutional data.
• Collaborate with Data Engineering and other analytics partners to develop complex ETL/ELT processes, data pipelines, data products, and enterprise data standards.
• Transform data into compelling narratives, dashboards, visualizations, and presentations that drive understanding and action among stakeholders ranging from managers to executive leadership.
• Participate in defining and promoting data visualization standards and best practices across the university.
• Serve as a subject matter expert, mentor, and trusted resource for peers by sharing knowledge, providing constructive feedback, and helping elevate team capabilities.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline.
• 7 years of related experience in Data Analysis, Business Intelligence, Data Science, Statistics, Decision Intelligence, Research, Learning Science, or Behavioral/Cognitive Psychology.
• Advanced SQL proficiency, including queries and subqueries, joins, filtering, aggregation, window functions, common table expressions (CTEs), data modification (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE), view creation, and performance tuning.
• Extensive experience using Tableau, Power BI, or similar business intelligence tools to create impactful visualizations and executive-ready reporting.
• Experience with conceptual and logical data modeling, dimensional models, star schemas, snowflake schemas, slowly changing dimensions, and enterprise data architecture concepts.
• Experience with descriptive statistics, causal analysis, inference, forecasting methodologies, regression techniques, and classification algorithms.
• Ability to perform with very high levels of autonomy, reliability, self-direction, and a strong bias for action while managing competing priorities with minimal supervision.

What Makes You Successful

Highest Priority Attributes Ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy and make strategic decisions without heavy reliance on leadership. The ideal candidate understands the appropriate path forward and independently drives work. Demonstrated mastery of analytics capabilities, moving beyond intermediate proficiency to deep expertise in role-related skills, analytical practices, and business problem-solving. Strong ability to translate data into actionable insights rather than simply reporting information. Expertise in building and communicating data-driven narratives tailored to different audiences, including executive stakeholders. Ability to adjust analytical rigor, messaging, recommendations, and storytelling appropriately for SVP-, VP-, manager-, and operational-level audiences.

High Priority Attributes Leadership mindset despite the role being an individual contributor position, with the ability to influence decisions and outcomes through expertise and partnership. Proven mentoring and coaching capability, including helping junior analysts develop skills, competencies, and analytical thinking. Experience serving as a subject matter expert and trusted resource for peers and business partners. Ability to elevate team performance through knowledge sharing, cross-skilling, and upskilling other team members. Demonstrated success partnering effectively with senior stakeholders and navigating complex organizational environments.

Why This Role Stands Out

This is an individual contributor role, not a people leader position. However, the performance bar is intentionally higher because of the seniority level, expected leadership influence, and strategic impact of the position. The successful candidate will support stakeholders across the broader organization rather than a single functional area, collaborating with teams including Enrollment and other key university partners. This role requires strong executive presence, exceptional stakeholder management skills, and the ability to influence decisions through data, insights, and trusted partnerships. Experience in Lieu of Education Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is at the discretion of the hiring manager.

What to Expect

• Introductory call
• Hiring manager interview
• Technical Panel interview
• Leadership Interview

Work Location

This is a full-time, in-office position requiring five days per week in our Salt Lake City office, designed to foster the collaboration and connection that fuel our best work.

Visa Sponsorship

While we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, WGU is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this role.

Travel Requirement

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

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Additional Information Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail].

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.

In 1997, a coalition of 19 U.S. governors founded Western Governors University with a singular vision: to make higher education more accessible by offering full degree programs online. Starting small, we quickly expanded. Today, we’re one of the largest accredited online universities in the U.S.

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