Senior Data Analyst

California Policy Lab; United States; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

UC benefits

Job summary

California Policy Lab is seeking a Senior Data Analyst to inform policy development and improvement through advanced programming and data science methods.

The role requires fluency in Python, R, Stata and/or SAS, strong SQL expertise (MS SQL Server), and experience handling large administrative datasets. You will build ETL pipelines, create analysis datasets, and communicate complex results to researchers and policymakers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in CS, data science, statistics, economics, or related field.
• Extensive programming experience including Python, R, Stata, and SAS, with Git for version control.
• Experience analyzing large datasets (>10TB).
• Experience building and maintaining SQL databases.
• Knowledge of data management systems, practices, and standards.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Write and troubleshoot code to prepare analysis datasets and accomplish research tasks.
• Implement linkages of large administrative datasets, maintain and improve CPL’s base hashing and linkage code, and work with researchers to use the code.
• Prepare graphs, tables, maps, or other visual displays of research results.
• Build and maintain ETL pipelines for CPL’s data sources.
• Maintain and implement a data management plan for CPL’s principal datasets, including version control procedures.
• Design, maintain, and optimize relational databases (MS SQL Server) for sensitive administrative datasets.
• Identify opportunities to use automation and AI-enabled tools to improve data workflows, documentation, metadata management, code review, and internal knowledge management.

Skills

Python

R

Stata

SAS

SQL

Git

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, statistics, economics, or related field

Tools

MS SQL Server

ETL pipelines

Git

Job description

The Senior Data Analyst is an exciting opportunity for a skilled programmer who wants to directly inform policy development and improvement in California. The ideal Senior Data Analyst is an expert programmer who is fluent in multiple programming languages, has experience with SQL databases and large administrative datasets, and believes in CPL’s mission. The Senior Data Analyst will be responsible for: helping research affiliates and other staff write and troubleshoot code to accomplish research tasks; using data science, econometric, and machine learning methods to extract meaning from data; building, managing, and optimizing ETL pipelines and SQL databases for research purposes; implementing linkages of large administrative datasets and preparing analysis datasets; and preparing graphs, tables, maps, or other visual displays of research results. The Senior Data Analyst will contribute to applied research projects that aim to improve programs and policies in California. The Senior Data Analyst will report to CPL’s UC Berkeley Research Director, Dr. Johanna Lacoe.

The Senior Data Analyst should have strong working knowledge of multiple languages, including Python, R, Stata, and/or SAS. In addition, the Senior Data Analyst should have experience building and managing SQL databases, preferably in Microsoft SQL Server. The position works directly with leading social policy researchers at UC and beyond, staff from state and local government agencies, as well as the leadership team at CPL, and it is important that the candidate be able to explain highly technical concepts to different audiences.

The position will be based at our UC Berkeley office, with the option of working remotely up to two days per week.

Responsibilities

• Write and troubleshoot code to prepare analysis datasets and accomplish research tasks.
• Implement linkages of large administrative datasets, maintain and improve CPL’s base hashing and linkage code, and work with researchers to use the code.
• Prepare graphs, tables, maps, or other visual displays of research results.
• Build and maintain ETL pipelines for CPL’s data sources.
• Maintain and implement a data management plan for CPL’s principal datasets, including version control procedures.
• Design, maintain, and optimize relational databases (MS SQL Server) for sensitive administrative datasets.
• Identify responsible opportunities to use automation and AI-enabled tools to improve data workflows, documentation, metadata management, code review, and internal knowledge management.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum requirement of a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, statistics, economics, or equivalent related experience.
• Extensive experience in computer programming required, including fluency in data-analysis packages from commonly used programming languages like Python, R, Stata, and/or SAS, as well as version control systems such as Git.
• Experience with efficiently analyzing large datasets (>10TB).
• Experience building and maintaining databases in SQL.
• Knowledge of data management systems, practices, and standards.
• Strong interpersonal skills and communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
• Ability to work discreetly with sensitive and confidential data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in record linkage, also known as data matching or probabilistic entity resolution.
• Experience in machine learning, natural language processing, data visualization, and GIS.
• Experience with virtualized environments (VMware), computing resource allocation, and strategies for speeding up analysis of large datasets.
• Proficiency in multiple statistical programming languages.
• Knowledge of other programming and scripting languages, such as C, Java, and JavaScript.
• Experience using AI or automation tools to streamline workflows, improve knowledge and data management, or support decision-making and analysis.
• Proficiency in MS SQL Server.
• Proficiency optimizing large databases of several terabytes.
• Knowledge of social science research methods.
• Experience translating data into compelling data visualization, including maps, interactive figures, and dashboards.

Salary & Benefits

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California’s Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, educ