Senior Data Analyst, Office of Institutional Research and Analysis - UT System Administration

University of Tennessee•Knoxville, IA

10d•$85,000 - $90,000

About The Position

This position serves as a senior data analyst in the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis, providing analytical, research, and reporting support for decision-makers and strategic initiatives. Under the general direction of the Director of Institutional Research, the role leads complex data requests and analytical projects, develops and applies appropriate research methodologies, and delivers accurate, timely, actionable information to university stakeholders. It also produces polished, audience-appropriate reports and analytical briefs that translate complex data into clear findings for leadership, conducts benchmarking and environmental scanning, maintains documentation and data standards, and advances efficient and reliable institutional research and reporting practices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in higher education, research, business analytics, statistics, computer science, or a related field.
Five years of experience creating and analyzing large, complex datasets and interpreting research findings.
Advanced knowledge of institutional research principles, analytical methods, and the use of data to support decision-making in higher education.
Advanced SQL skills, including script writing, joins, queries, data validation, and query optimization.
Ability to manage data requests from intake through delivery, including requirements gathering, analysis design, validation, interpretation, and communication of results.
Strong knowledge of data quality practices, documentation standards, and process standardization.
Ability to conduct research and benchmarking on higher education trends, peer institutions, and best practices.
Strong project management and organizational skills, including prioritizing work, managing multiple deadlines, and estimating realistic timelines.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex data into clear, concise, audience-appropriate information.
Strong data literacy and analytical reasoning, including the ability to identify patterns, discrepancies, and implications in complex datasets.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage ambiguity in a dynamic environment.
High degree of accuracy, attention to detail, and commitment to data integrity and confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Seven to ten years of experience in an Institutional Research office.
Experience conducting research or data analysis, preferably in an institutional research or similar higher education setting.
Ability to deal effectively with ambiguity and changing project requirements.
Ability to participate and collaborate successfully with others and be responsive in working relationships.

Responsibilities

Lead ad hoc and recurring data requests and analytical projects, clarifying scope, data needs, methodologies, definitions, timelines, and deliverables with requesters.
Synthesize analytical findings and identify meaningful trends to support decision-making.
Extract, validate, and analyze data from the student information system using complex SQL queries and scripts; integrate data from multiple sources and validate results against official data sources.
Develop efficient, repeatable approaches for data extraction, transformation, and reporting.
Research higher education trends and best practices, including peer and aspirational benchmarking using internal and external data sources.
Summarize research and comparative analysis into clear narratives and recommendations for leadership.
Develop accurate, audience-appropriate reports and analytical briefs that communicate findings, trends, and implications.
Document data definitions, methodologies, query logic, reporting processes, and workflows; promote standardization and identify process improvements.