SENIOR DATA ANALYTICS DEVELOPER, Institutional Research

Boston University • Boston, MA

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About The Position

Boston University seeks a Senior Data Analytics Developer to join our growing Analytical Services & Institutional Research team. This is a high-impact role at a leading R1 university, where advanced analytics directly shape institutional strategy, resource planning, and student success. The Senior Developer will design and deliver sophisticated data solutions including dashboards, visualizations, and analytic models that transform complex datasets into actionable insights for senior leadership and academic/administrative stakeholders. This position offers the opportunity to apply advanced technical skills in Python, R, SQL, and modern BI platforms while working in a collaborative, mission-driven environment. If you thrive at the intersection of technical innovation, data storytelling, and strategic decision support, this is an outstanding opportunity to make a measurable difference at a world-class research institution. Key Responsibilities Successful candidates will bring a strong technical foundation combined with the ability to communicate insights that drive institutional priorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in data science, statistics, computer science, applied mathematics, or related field.
• 8+ years of applicable experience with 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in data analytics, data science, or institutional research, preferably in higher education
• Proficiency in Python, R, and SQL for data cleaning, modeling, and analysis.
• Strong experience with data visualization platforms (Tableau, Power BI, or similar).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical analyses into leadership-ready insights.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in an R1 university or similarly complex academic institution.
• Familiarity with higher education data systems (SIS, HRIS, LMS) and national datasets (IPEDS, NSF HERD, CDS).
• Knowledge of higher education policy, enrollment management, or institutional effectiveness.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and modern data stack tools (dbt, Airflow).
• Understanding of data governance, metadata management, or semantic modeling.

Responsibilities

• Analytics Development: Build advanced dashboards, reports, and visualizations (Power BI, Tableau, etc.) to deliver clear insights to senior leaders and decision-makers. Design and implement reproducible data models and statistical analyses (e.g., regression, clustering, predictive modeling). Contribute to scenario planning, enrollment forecasting, and operational optimization projects.
• Data Engineering & Infrastructure: Develop and optimize queries and pipelines using SQL and/or cloud-based tools. Support the integration of data across institutional systems (SIS, HRIS, LMS) and external sources (IPEDS, NSF HERD, CDS). Contribute to a scalable and modern data environment, leveraging cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and data stack tools (dbt, Airflow).
• Collaboration & Communication Partner with administrators and technical staff to clarify questions, design solutions, and translate complex data into actionable insights. Create executive-ready reports and presentations tailored to non-technical stakeholders. Support a culture of data literacy and evidence-based decision-making across the institution.
• Continuous Improvement: Document workflows, models, and reporting resources for transparency and reproducibility. Mentor junior staff and contribute to knowledge-sharing within the team. Stay current on emerging analytics technologies and best practices.

Benefits

• Boston University offers an excellent benefits package including Time Off: In addition to PTO and leave policy, BU employees have a paid intersession break and 13 paid holidays.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 2 years of eligible service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive tuition assistance program for yourself and family members.
• Check out https://www.bu.edu/wellness/ and https://www.bu.edu/hr/part-time-employee-perks/ for more information!
• Boston University IS&T invests in our staff and their personal and professional growth. We promote staff learning including lunch and learn sessions, an extensive library of online courses, Fun Advisory Board (FAB) arranges a number of events throughout the year and opportunities to engage with peers at NERCOMP and EDUCAUSE events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees