Data Analyst – Research / NGO experience required

SmartStart; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A national NGO network is seeking a Data Analyst to drive insights through data analysis and enhance decision-making across various programs. The ideal candidate will support teams by translating complex data into actionable insights, ensuring alignment with strategic goals related to early childhood learning. They will require a bachelor's degree and 2+ years in data analysis, with skills in statistical software and data visualization tools. Commitment to social impact and teamwork is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience in data analysis or related fields.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills required.
• Ability to manage and work with large datasets.

Responsibilities

• Analyse data to generate actionable insights for strategic decisions.
• Support teams to leverage insights for program improvements.
• Ensure data analysis aligns with strategic goals.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Statistical software proficiency (Stata, R, SPSS)

Data visualization (Power BI, Tableau)

Strong communication skills

Team collaboration

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field (master's preferred)

Tools

Stata

R

SPSS

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Overview

Johannesburg, South Africa | Posted on 10/07/2025

SmartStart is a successful national network of NGOs and partners that is realising quality, affordable early learning for all children aged three to five. We are achieving this by scaling a network of and building a platform for providers, achieving specific ecosystem transformations with governments and partners, and promoting early learning as a priority societal cause.

Job Description

Data Analysis and Insights Generation

• Analyse data to generate actionable insights that inform strategic decisions and programme improvements.
• Create, enhance and support the use of interactive dashboards and analytics tools to improve data-driven decision-making across the organisation and network.
• Provide statistical methodology to design and execute experiments, including evaluations and research projects.
• Ensure that data analysis and insights are aligned with SmartStart’s broader strategic goals related to child outcomes and early learning.
• Support real-time monitoring and feedback loops to enable rapid adjustments and responsive decision-making.
• Identify patterns, trends, and correlations in data to inform programme adaptation and innovation.
• Write up findings in accessible and understandable formats for audiences of varying technical ability.
• Create insights briefs and reports to communicate key findings and recommendations.

Supporting Organisational Learning and Adaptive Strategy

• Support teams to leverage insights for learning, programme improvements, and innovation, including rapid experimentation.
• Support the creation of conditions for network-wide rapid learning, iterative experimentation, and collective intelligence.
• Translate complex data into actionable insights tailored to different audiences (e.g., programme teams, leadership, network partners).
• Provide training and capacity-building to strengthen data literacy and improve the organisation’s ability to engage with data for strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with the Senior Data Analyst and Senior MEL Manager and programme teams and external partners to integrate data insights into programme design and delivery.

Co-Developing Research and Evaluation Agenda

• Collaborate with the Research team to design and implement research and evaluation strategies.
• Support the conceptualisation of research and/or evaluation questions, studies, and terms of reference.
• Provide input into research design, data analysis, and interpretation.

Data Governance and Quality Assurance

• Together with the SDI team, enable and coordinate data governance, including data availability, accessibility, integrity, quality (including accuracy, consistency, and reliability), usability, security, and regulatory compliance (in collaboration with IT and legal teams).
• Ensure data handling and analysis are conducted with high ethical standards, safeguarding privacy and equity considerations in line with SmartStart’s values.
• Conduct assessments of key data assets and identify potential risks or gaps, including data process mapping.
• Support the development and maintenance of metadata to ensure data consistency and reliability.
• Support the establishment of systems to monitor data hygiene, conduct regular quality checks, and address discrepancies, in collaboration with the IT department.

External Engagement and Knowledge Sharing

• Support the preparation of data and insights for funder reports, impact statements, and advocacy purposes.
• Respond to queries from local and international researchers and analysts.
• Engage with external partners to manage data sharing agreements and restructure data according to their needs.
• Supervise and evaluate the work of external consultants where necessary.

Represent SmartStart at relevant national and international events to share insights and learnings.

Requirements

Essential Skills and Experience

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in education, Psychology, Economics, Social Sciences, Statistics, Public Health or a related field, with a masters preferred.
• At least 2 years of experience in data analysis, data science, or related fields, provided the candidate can conceptualise and execute research/statistical analysis independently.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including proficiency with statistical software (e.g., Stata, R, or SPSS)
• A strong working and theoretical knowledge of statistical principles, ideally relating to designing and running randomised control trials.
• Experience with data visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Proven ability to drive continuous improvement in data systems and insights generation.
• Strong communication and report-writing skills, with the ability to explain complex data to non-technical audiences.
• Experience in managing and working with large datasets and relational databases.
• Familiarity with data governance, including privacy, compliance, and security requirements.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement rapid experiments.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working in a social impact or nonprofit context.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Familiarity with survey software (e.g. SurveyCTO) and CRMs (Microsoft Dynamics) as well as Azure.
• Experience in building capacity for data use and improving data literacy across teams.
• Experience and/or curiosity to work with AI tools, automation tools, machine learning and algorithms.