Strategic Data & Decision Analyst

Eastern University's College of Education; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Eastern University in the United States seeks a Data and Decision Analyst to transform data into strategic insight. The role combines hands-on data collection, statistical modeling, dashboard development, and analytic reporting to inform institutional decisions.

You will automate workflows, optimize processes, and support assessment and accreditation efforts, with dotted-line reporting to the Director of Institutional Effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2-3 years of hands-on data analysis, institutional research, BI, or decision support (higher education preferred).
• Experience with higher education data sources and IR concepts is a plus.
• Strong communication skills and ability to translate complex analytics for leaders.

Responsibilities

• Partner with stakeholders to clarify questions, define metrics, data requirements, and data sources.
• Develop, deploy, and maintain interactive BI dashboards for leadership.
• Conduct trend, cohort, longitudinal, and predictive analyses using IPEDS and other datasets.
• Assist in staffing analytical briefs and executive summaries for strategic initiatives.
• Ensure data accuracy, governance, and documentation across projects.

Skills

Tableau

SQL

Python

Excel

Power Query

AI in workflows

Education

Bachelor's degree in data science / statistics / mathematics / business analytics

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Google Apps Script

Job description

The Data and Decision Analyst serves as a quantitative and technical analyst within the Division of Strategy and Effectiveness. Reporting directly to the Associate Director of Strategic and Data Analysis, this role performs hands-on data collection, statistical modeling, dashboard development, and analytical reporting to inform institutional decision-making and strategic initiatives.

In addition to core analytics, this position plays a pivotal operational function in divisional process automation and optimization, identifying manual workflows across systems and leveraging data pipelines, scripts, and automation tools to streamline division-wide initiatives.
Through a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Director of Institutional Effectiveness, the analyst also directly supports key assessment, accreditation, and institutional performance monitoring processes.

Eastern University is not enrolled in E-Verify and cannot support employment under the STEM OPT extension.Strategic Analytics & Decision Support (Primary Report: Associate Director)

• Stakeholder Consultation: Partner with academic and administrative stakeholders to clarify decision questions, define metrics and data requirements, identify appropriate data sources, and translate analytical findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Data Extraction & Integration: Extract, clean, integrate, and analyze complex datasets across enterprise systems to support strategic decision-making.
• Visualization & Dashboard Development:Build, deploy, and maintain interactive business intelligence dashboards and data visualization tools for divisional and institutional leadership.
• Predictive Analytics & Tracking: Conduct trend, cohort, longitudinal-outcomes, comparative, and predictive analyses of institutional, IPEDS, and other external higher-education data to identify patterns, benchmark performance, and inform decisions related to student enrollment, retention, academic performance, post-graduation outcomes, and institutional efficiency.
• Briefings & Reporting:Assist the Associate Director in preparing analytical briefs, data presentations, and executive summaries for strategic initiative teams.

Process Automation & Operational Efficiency

• Workflow Automation: Identify, design, and implement automated workflows, scripts, and scheduled data feeds to reduce manual data manipulation across divisional initiatives.
• Process Optimization:Audit recurring data collection and reporting tasks across the division to standardize metrics and establish automated, repeatable processes.

Assessment & Institutional Effectiveness Support (Dotted-Line: Director of IE)

• Assessment & Plan Tracking:Support the Director of Institutional Effectiveness in gathering, structuring, and analyzing data related to assessing institutional programs, priorities, strategies, and strategic plan KPIs.
• Automated Unit Reviews:Assist in developing automated data templates and digital survey tools that support administrative unit planning and review.
• Continuous Improvement:Process and evaluate qualitative and quantitative data and metrics to support mission-driven continuous institutional improvement.

Data Integrity & Governance

• Data & Process Governance:Maintain rigorous standards for data accuracy, consistency, documentation, confidentiality, and compliance with FERPA and institutional data-governance policies across assigned projects and initiatives.
• Institutional Research Alignment:Collaborate with the Institutional Research team to cross-verify metrics and data to ensure alignment and accuracy in reporting.

Additional Responsibilities

• Stay current on developing trends in higher education analytics, IR, and emerging technologies.
• Serve on institutional committees as requested.
• Attend University meetings and events as required.
• Embody Eastern University’s vision, mission, and core values of excellence, authenticity, stewardship, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, relationships, and innovation.

Other duties as assigned.Education:Bachelor’s degree in data science, statistics, mathematics, business analytics or a closely related quantitative field required (Master’s degree preferred).
Experience:Minimum 2-3 years of hands-on experience in data analysis, institutional research, business intelligence, or decision support (experience in higher education preferred).
Analytical & Technical Skills:

• Strong experience with Tableau, SQL, Python, and advanced Excel/Power Query for data extraction, transformation, validation, analysis, and visualization.
• Proven ability to ethically and responsibly use AI in coding, designing workflows, etc.
• Familiarity with Higher Education Student Information Systems (e.g., Banner, Colleague, Workday), Learning Management Systems (e.g., Canvas, Brightspace), and national datasets (e.g., IPEDS).
• Experience with the Google suite and successful implementation of automations using Google Apps Script.

Domain Knowledge:Understanding of higher education data governance, institutional assessment methodologies, and survey research design.
Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to explain complex statistical analysis to non-technical audiences and leadership.
Project Management: Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to balance dual reporting priorities, manage competing deadlines, and work collaboratively in a team environment.