Senior Data and Policy Analyst

Virginia's Community College System; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 102,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia’s Community College System is seeking a Senior Data and Policy Analyst to provide advanced institutional research, SAS programming, and analytical support for systemwide regulatory reporting across 23 community colleges and the System Office.

The role translates federal, state, and VCCS requirements into reproducible data definitions, SAS programs, validation, and reporting processes while advising leadership on data availability and methodological implications.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of institutional research principles and regulated reporting.
• Advanced SAS programming including data-step, SQL, macros, validation, and production processes.
• Ability to translate regulatory requirements into data definitions and reporting outputs.
• Experience with large administrative datasets and data integration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain complex SAS programs and core data files.
• Evaluate accuracy and consistency of college submissions and data quality.
• Provide advanced consultation, training, and technical leadership to staff.
• Translate policy requirements into reproducible reporting processes and technical methodologies.

Skills

Institutional research

Regulatory reporting

SAS programming

Data quality assurance

Analytical communication

Training & documentation

Data integration

Project management

Education

Graduate degree in IR / policy / statistics

Tools

SAS

SQL

Job description

Working Title Senior Data and Policy Analyst Role Title Policy Planning Spcialst III Role Code 19133-SW FLSA Exempt Pay Band 06 Position Number 26100102 Agency VCCS-System Office Division System Office (Div) Work Location Chesterfield - 041 Hiring Range $102,000 to $112,000 annually Emergency/Essential Personnel No EEO Category 3-Technicians Full Time or Part Time Full Time Does this position have telework options? -Telework options are subject to change based on business needs- Yes Does this position have a bilingual or multilingual skill requirement or preference? No Work Schedule M-F 8-5 and after hours as needed. Sensitive Position No Job Description

Virginia’s community colleges have a 50-year track record of educational excellence and innovation to serve the needs of our citizens and strengthen the Commonwealth’s economy. When Virginia’s General Assembly established the Virginia Community College System in 1966, the need for a comprehensive system was well known. Over the two decades after the end of World War II, leaders in government, business, professional sectors, and academia had called for a new approach to providing educational opportunity. A key concern was Virginia’s ability to develop a skilled and knowledgeable workforce to expand the state’s economy. Today our community colleges give every Virginian the opportunity to gain a quality education. With 23 colleges on 40 campuses located throughout the state, Virginia’s Community Colleges are committed to serving Virginia families, helping them acquire the knowledge and skills to seize the opportunities of today and tomorrow.

This Senior Data and Policy Analyst provides advanced institutional research, SAS programming, and analytical expertise supporting systemwide regulatory reporting for Virginia’s 23 community colleges and the VCCS System Office. The position serves as the senior technical subject-matter expert responsible for translating approved federal, state, and VCCS reporting requirements into reproducible data definitions, analytical methodologies, SAS programs, validation procedures, and reporting processes.

Working under the direction of the Director of Institutional Research, the individual in this position develops and maintains complex SAS programs and core data files; evaluates the accuracy and consistency of college submissions; integrates VCCS data with external education and workforce datasets; and resolves complex reporting, programming, and data-quality issues. This position also provides advanced consultation, training, documentation, and technical leadership to college and System Office institutional research staff. This position advises the Director regarding data availability, reporting feasibility, methodological implications, implementation risks, and available technical approaches and is responsible for implementing approved decisions.

May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

KSA's/Required Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Required:

• Advanced knowledge of institutional research principles, regulatory reporting, quantitative analysis, and data-quality assurance.
• Advanced proficiency in SAS programming, including data-step programming, SQL, macros, file processing, data transformation, validation, and statistical or analytical procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, test, document, and maintain complex, reproducible SAS programs and production processes.
• Knowledge of relational and longitudinal data structures and methods for integrating data from multiple sources.
• Ability to translate approved regulatory and policy requirements into data definitions, business rules, analytical methodologies, validation procedures, and reporting outputs.
• Ability to analyze large and complex student-level datasets and identify data-quality, methodological, and reporting concerns.
• Knowledge of federal and state postsecondary reporting requirements, including SCHEV, IPEDS, and Perkins reporting, or the ability to acquire this knowledge.
• Knowledge of student information data and postsecondary measures involving enrollment, progression, completion, transfer, and workforce outcomes.
• Ability to explain complex data, SAS processes, reporting methodologies, and validation findings to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Ability to develop and deliver effective training and technical documentation.
• Ability to manage multiple recurring reporting cycles, deadlines, dependencies, and competing priorities.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment while recognizing matters requiring policy clarification or management direction.
• Ability to protect confidential information and apply applicable privacy, security, disclosure, and data-use requirements.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with college institutional research staff, System Office personnel, state agency staff, and approved research partners.

Experience Required

• Considerable experience conducting advanced institutional research, regulatory reporting, quantitative analysis, or related work in a complex organization.
• Considerable experience developing and maintaining complex SAS programs used for recurring reporting, data integration, validation, or analysis.
• Experience working with large administrative datasets and integrating information from multiple data sources.
• Experience developing reporting methodologies, business rules, validation procedures, and technical documentation.
• Experience independently investigating and resolving complex programming and data-quality problems.
• Experience communicating analytical or reporting requirements and providing consultation or training to data users.

Additional Considerations

• Experience with higher education institutional research or regulatory reporting.
• Experience with SCHEV, IPEDS, Perkins, National Student Clearinghouse, workforce, or comparable state and federal data.
• Experience supporting reporting across multiple institutions or organizational units.
• Experience developing SAS macros, automated validation tools, longitudinal datasets, and reproducible production processes.
• Experience training or mentoring institutional research, reporting, or analytical staff.
• Graduate-level education in institutional research, education, public policy, statistics, data analytics, social science, or a related field.

Operation of a State Vehicle No Supervises Employees No Required Travel

Travel as required to System Office and conference locations.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth’s Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly called a Certificate of Disability) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans may also apply via the AHP if they also provide an AHP Letter. To request an AHP Letter, use this link: https://www.dars.virginia.gov/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155

This position is a state classified position. All classified employees new to the Commonwealth of Virginia will serve a 12-month probationary period. The VCCS offers competitive compensation along with excellent benefits and opportunity for career development.

Background Check Statement Disclaimer

The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/

EEO Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.

ADA Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.

E-Verify Statement

VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.