Senior Research and Data Analyst

The Senior Research and Data Analyst position supports and advances United Way of Central Iowa’s mission of improving lives by serving as the subject matter expert for data research and analysis within the organization. This role is responsible for tracking relevant community data and socioeconomic indicators, leading special projects, maintaining and updating data and data tools and translating complex data sets that drive strategic decisions that advance the United to Thrive strategies.

This position works collaboratively with the Community Impact team including the Community Programs Data Manager to support data needs and strategic analysis, provide research support and data-driven recommendations, and customized analyses in response to internal staff requests across the organization and external community. needs. This position incorporates an inclusive perspective that supports UWCI’s commitment to equity in our community impact.

The ideal candidate will have five to seven years’ experience in research, data analysis, and project management with a minimum of three years’ experience with community data and research and analysis in the health and human services field. Technology tools and experience include a mastery of Microsoft Excel; experience gathering, organizing, analyzing, and visualizing data in a visual software platform; a proficiency in geospatial and data visualization tools; and the ability to adapt to and transition between multiple analytical platforms.

The Senior Research and Data Analyst must have the ability to build and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with coworkers and a variety of stakeholders. This person in this role must have strong verbal and written communication skills to translate technical data into a compelling human-centric narrative to reflect community needs and impact. The Senior Research and Data Analyst applies a lens of cultural competence that conveys empathy, support and understanding of the people and communities they work with.

We offer a full benefits package and a hybrid work schedule of 3 days in the office and 2 days remote after 90 calendar days of employment for this full-time position. The starting salary range is $73,000 – $82,000 depending on relevant experience. We’re committed to building an inclusive team; we invite candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

Essential Accountabilities Include (but not limited to):

• Acts as the resource for research, community data collection and analysis, and interpreting and connecting socioeconomic, community, and program data to support organizational strategies and decision making.

• Work collaboratively with community impact leadership and managers to support data needs and strategic analysis, serving as a strategic thought partner to community impact leadership.

• Provide research support, data-driven recommendations and customized analyses in response to internal staff requests across the organization and external community needs.

• Work collaboratively with the Community Programs Data Manager to ensure data collected and used by the organization is properly checked and vetted, build and collaborate on deliverables like charts, graphs, maps, and presentations, and be a thought partner on data utilization and analysis.

• Streamline organizational reporting and data tracking from various sources and systems for analysis by designing and deploying customized tools such as SharePoint sites, dashboards and automated spreadsheets.

• Develop and maintain community indicators, indices, and analytical tools (such as investment evaluation tools) that track progress across key impact areas.

• Oversee current data workflows and mapping software while preparing and executing seamless platform transitions as organizational needs evolve.

• Collaborates with the Strategic Communications team to facilitate the translation of complex data into human-centric narratives and storytelling and ensure organizational communications, reports and presentations utilize accurate and compelling data.

• Create, communicate and deliver presentations and reports with complex research findings, trends, and data insights to diverse internal and external audiences, including board and cabinet members, that can be easily understood.

• Support organization-wide initiatives and cross-functional work that require data, reporting, community investment or project management expertise.
• Lead special data initiatives and projects for the organization (such as ALICE metrics, community surveys, and strategic priorities).

• Provide data and insights to the grants director as needed to enhance the procurement of grants, sponsorships, etc.
• Stay well informed and up to date on community issues, evidence-based best practices, and research to inform and shape current and future investments, initiatives, and programs that support outcomes for individuals and households in Polk, Dallas and Warren Counties.

• Serve as a subject matter expert on local, state, and national data sources, trends, indicators, and best practices.

• Lead the operational support in the documentation of data Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS), to support the historical documentation of data projects for future records.