Associate, Analytics – Early Career Development Program

Sallie Mae • Newark, DE

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Analytics Early Career Development Program is a selective 24-month development program designed to build the next generation of analytics talent at Sallie Mae. Through rotational experiences across Business, Credit, Marketing and Data Analytics, you'll develop the unique combination of business acumen, analytical thinking, and technical expertise needed to solve complex challenges and influence key business decisions. As a member of the program, you'll work on meaningful projects that directly impact our customers, business performance, and strategic priorities. You'll gain exposure to multiple areas of the organization, participate in structured development opportunities, and build relationships with leaders and mentors who are invested in your success. This program is designed for individuals who are curious, analytical, and eager to learn. By the end of the experience, you'll have a strong foundation in both business and data analytics, a deep understanding of the business, and the skills needed to accelerate your career within Sallie Mae. This opportunity is intended for students who will complete their Bachelor's or Master's degree between December 2026 and June 2027 and are available to begin full-time employment in June 2027 as part of our Early Career Development Program.

Requirements

• Expected graduation in May 2027 with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a quantitative discipline such as Data Analytics, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with SQL, Python, SAS, or similar programming languages through coursework, internships, research, or work experience.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and solve complex problems.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas and analytical insights to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and a willingness to learn.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and build strong working relationships.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a desire to contribute in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Commitment to accuracy, quality, and delivering high-value work.
• Curiosity, resilience, and enthusiasm for continuous learning.
• Interest in building a career in analytics, business intelligence, data, strategy, marketing, risk management, or related fields.

Nice To Haves

• Exposure to Power BI or other data visualization tools is a plus.
• Internship, co-op, research, leadership, or work experience involving analytics, data analysis, business intelligence, reporting, financial analysis, or related disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Complete three 8-month rotational assignments across our key Analytics groups. Each rotation is designed to strengthen your business knowledge, technical capabilities, and ability to translate data into meaningful business outcomes.
• Analyze business performance, customer behavior, and portfolio trends to identify opportunities and inform decision-making.
• Evaluate credit and risk performance to support lending and portfolio management strategies.
• Generate insights and recommendations that influence business strategy, customer outcomes, and operational performance.
• Partner with business leaders to solve complex challenges and deliver measurable results.
• Utilize tools such as SQL, Python, and Power BI to analyze, visualize, and interpret data.
• Develop dashboards, reporting solutions, and analytical products that support decision-making.
• Apply forecasting, statistical analysis, and modeling techniques to solve business challenges.
• Identify opportunities to automate processes, improve data quality, and enhance analytics capabilities.
• Gain exposure to modern analytics tools, technologies, and emerging data practices.
• Solve meaningful business problems using data and analytics.
• Develop technical, analytical, and consulting skills through hands-on experience.
• Communicate insights and recommendations through presentations, dashboards, and data storytelling.
• Partner with stakeholders across multiple functions and business areas.
• Participate in mentorship, networking, and leadership development opportunities.
• Gain exposure to senior leaders and strategic business initiatives.
• Join a cohort of high-performing early-career professionals committed to learning, growth, and collaboration.

Benefits

• Competitive base salaries
• Bonus incentives
• Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed
• Support for financial-well-being and retirement 401k with employer match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more
• Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
• Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs
• Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware)
• Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives
• Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs
• Career development and training opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree