Data Analyst for Strategic Initiatives (Anticipated Vacancy) (SY26-27)

Boston Public Schools•Boston, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Data Analyst for Strategic Initiatives resides in the Office of Data and Accountability (ODA) in the Division of Data, Information and Systems Improvement in Boston Public Schools. The Data Analyst leads complex analytical projects that inform district policy, strategic decision-making, and operational implementation. This role is responsible for designing and executing sophisticated analyses, managing data for high-impact district initiatives, and ensuring the integrity and accessibility of district data. The Data Analyst serves as a technical expert in educational data, statistical analysis, and data visualization, translating complex information into actionable insights for district leadership, schools, and the community. The position requires advanced analytical expertise, exceptional project management skills, and the ability to collaborate across departments to deliver accurate, timely, and meaningful data products. As a member of a highly collaborative team, the Data Analyst contributes to enterprise-wide data initiatives, supports the development of district data analyses and dashboards, and provides mentorship and technical leadership on complex analytical projects.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Statistics, Data Analytics, Education Research, Computer Science, Public Policy, or a related field.
Minimum of three years of experience analyzing complex K–12 education data.
Demonstrated experience managing high-profile analytical projects involving multiple stakeholders.
Advanced proficiency in SQL and at least one statistical programming language (R, Python, or Stata).
Experience developing interactive dashboards using Power BI or comparable business intelligence platforms.
Experience working with relational databases and large-scale datasets.
Strong understanding of statistical methods, data validation, quality assurance, and analytic best practices.
Excellent project management, organizational, and prioritization skills.
Demonstrated ability to explain complex analytical concepts to diverse audiences.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively across technical and non-technical teams.
Commitment to educational equity and using data to improve outcomes for students.
Authorization to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Data Analytics, Statistics, Education Research, Public Policy, Computer Science, or related field.
Experience supporting district-wide policy implementation or accountability systems.
Knowledge of census, geographic, or demographic data analysis.
Experience with data governance, enterprise reporting, or business intelligence strategy.
Familiarity with Boston Public Schools or another large urban school district.
Fluency in one or more of Boston Public Schools' preferred languages.

Responsibilities

Lead complex district analyses that support strategic initiatives, policy implementation, and executive decision-making.
Design and conduct statistical analyses using student-, school-, and district-level data to identify trends, evaluate outcomes, and inform continuous improvement.
Develop recurring and ad hoc analyses and/or dashboards for district leadership, School Committee presentations, and public reporting.
Translate technical findings into clear reports, visualizations, and recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Provide technical consultation to district departments, schools, and external stakeholders regarding data collection, interpretation, and analysis.
Lead the annual analytical processes supporting the district's exam school admissions policy.
Develop and validate socioeconomic tier calculations using census and geographic data in accordance with School Committee policy.
Manage the collection, standardization, validation, and calculation of student GPAs across BPS and non-BPS schools.
Conduct multiple rounds of quality assurance and validation to ensure accuracy and integrity of admissions calculations.
Produce annual reporting and supporting analyses for School Committee presentations and public communications.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure accurate and timely implementation of the admissions process and governance of data elements related to selective admissions.
Manage multiple complex analytical projects simultaneously while meeting competing deadlines.
Coordinate work across departments to ensure successful implementation of district initiatives.
Facilitate meetings with stakeholders to gather requirements, review findings, prioritize work, and resolve issues.
Represent the Office of Data and Accountability on district committees, project teams, and cross-functional initiatives.
Collaborate with district departments and technical teams within ODA to define business requirements, establish shared reporting standards, and maintain consistent data definitions.
Support data governance initiatives by promoting best practices for reporting, data quality, and documentation.
Fulfill data requests from internal and external members of the BPS community by extracting data from internal databases, including ad-hoc and recurring requests.
Support student privacy regulations as mandated by FERPA, HIPAA, IDEA, MA DESE, City of Boston, and BPS; facilitate the execution of data sharing agreements where applicable.
Provide technical assistance to school and central staff regarding data needs, assessments, and analyses.
Perform other relevant duties in the Office of Data and Accountability as needed.