Job Description – Research Associate/Data Analyst
Page 2 of 2
JOB DESCRIPTION
The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.
POSITION TITLE: Research Associate/Data Analyst CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
REPORTS TO: Research and Evaluation Director PAY GRADE: E-08
APPROVED: ______/___/______/___/___
Research and Evaluation Director Date Human Resources Director Date
______
POSITION SUMMARY
The Research Associate/Data Analyst will work collaboratively with staff on data needs to support a culture of data driven decision making and continuous quality improvement. This position will have responsibility for analyzing programmatic level data to produce data reports and respond to data requests. The Research Associate will help develop documentation and training regarding data collection and data reporting to ensure consistency and quality of data across the local partnerships. This position will become knowledgeable about and serve as the staff specialist on outcome measurement tools related to early care and education, family support, and children’s health. In addition to working with program level data, the Research Associate will work collaboratively with state agencies to request data and produce annual population level data reports to inform the work of Smart Start local partnerships.
Positions Supervised: None
Primary Responsibilities:
1. Analyze and Report Program Data Clean, review, and summarize programmatic level outputs and outcome data submitted by the Smart Start local partnerships. Work with NCPC staff and local partnerships to address issues with data quality, including providing training and technical assistance. Collapse data across partnerships and programs to produce descriptive summary statistics. Work closely with NCPC staff to proactively identify and produce data analysis to inform program management and continuous quality improvement. Use Excel and statistical software such as SPSS or Stata to manage and analyze data. Work closely with IT and Communications staff to develop methods to communicate data to broad audiences including briefs, tables, graphs, dashboards, and infographics.
2. Manage Outcome Measures Regularly review the recommended measures for early care and education, family support, and health attached to each of the Smart Start common outcomes selected by the local partnerships. Explore potential new measures. Update the measurement information shared with local partnerships and revise the format for local partnerships to analyze and report their programmatic outcome measures to NCPC as needed. Advise and consult with NCPC staff and local partnerships on outcome measures for a variety of programs.
3. Develop Population Level Data Reports Request data from state agencies to develop annual Smart Start Performance Based Indicator System (PBIS) reports for the state and each county. In particular, work closely with the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) data warehouse to access and analyze early care and education data to share with the Smart Start network. Analyze data using Excel and SPSS or Stata to produce the indicators. Answer questions from and follow up with NCPC staff and local partnerships regarding data and results.
4. Respond to Data Requests Collect and summarize data as requested by the legislature, state and local agencies, and other departments within NCPC. This will include using Smart Start programmatic data, state and community level data collected by other sources, and/or developing online surveys and summarizing results.
Secondary Responsibilities: occasionally perform other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
§ Database management, intermediate level data analysis (descriptive statistics and regression), and graphing skills
§ Excellent oral and written skills; ability to communicate effectively with local partnerships and NCPC co-workers
§ Ability to collaborate; capacity to work cooperatively across organizational boundaries.
§ Strong planning and organizational skills.
§ Ability to solve problems and complete assignments in fast-paced environment.
§ Experience working in and measuring the success of programs that address complex social problems, preferably in the areas of early childhood education, health, or family support preferred.
§ Knowledge of early childhood education field, including research on children’s health and family support initiatives a plus.
Required Education, Training, Experience:
§ Master’s degree in a social science, education, or related field
§ At least 2 graduate level statistics courses covering descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis including regression techniques.
§ AND a minimum of three years professional data analysis experience;
§ OR equivalent combination of training and experience.
Estimated on-the-job training time of:
Six months