Crown Network For College Success
As one of the first schools of social work in the United States, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has shaped the field for more than 100 years. As part of the University of Chicago, the Crown Family School shares the University's core values and distinctive intellectual culture. Crown Family School faculty, staff and students focus on identifying solutions to complex problems affecting society’s most marginalized individuals and communities through the integration of research, training, and direct community engagement. Guided by an interdisciplinary tradition, Crown Family School scholars conduct innovative research to address interconnected social challenges such as educational inequality, health disparities, crime and violence, poverty, and child and family welfare—working at multiple scales, from individual to policy-level interventions. The Crown Family School is the home of several academic centers. These include the Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development, the Urban Education Institute (UEI), the Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention, the Center for Health Administration Studies, the Smart Decarceration Project, the Employment Instability, Family Well-being, and Social Policy Network (EINet), and the Network for College Success.

Today, our work has never been more important. More than 8,000 Crown Family School graduates in the US and globally hold leadership positions in academia, at nonprofits, and at governmental agencies – committed to create a more just and more humane society through principles of inclusion, equity, and diversity.
The Data Strategist will understand, collect, transform and socialize data related to research-based indicators of students' academic and social development in order to support improvements in practice for adults and outcomes for students. The Strategist will co-design and coordinate performance management sessions, presenting the necessary data in a way that facilitates productive problem solving around pre-identified topics. The Strategist will coach school teams and team leaders to build their competence in using data to inform their practice and to improve student outcomes.

• Responsible for the co-implementation of data community of practice.
• Provides one-on-one coaching for data leads/technicians to guide them towards greater data literacy and improved visual communication.
• Supports partners in the development of system-wide data collection, analysis and dissemination of policies and practices to ensure ongoing, embedded use of data.
• Engages in self-reflection and examination of identity and role in systems of oppression and boldly challenge inequities.

• Facilitates discussions, presents findings in a clear and intuitive way, and gains alignment on follow-up implications.
• Creates graphs and visualizations to support analysis within teams and meetings.
• Acts as a data champion for the organization through a combination of strategic initiatives, ad-hoc analysis, and routine reporting.
• Works with teams across the organization, utilizing data for impactful storytelling and effective decision making.

• Develops and/or refines systems and processes for data aggregation, analysis, and presentation.
• Monitors and increases dashboard usage.
• Ensures NCS is operating within the guidelines of ethical data use.
• Builds and analyzes statistical models and reproducible data processing pipelines using knowledge of best practices in machine learning and statistical inference. Serves as a single point of contact for all requests and engages other IT resources to assist as needed. May partner with other campus teams to assist faculty with data science related needs.
• Analyzes moderately complex data sets for the purpose of extracting and purposefully using applicable information.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

• Master’s degree.

• Experience in a high school environment.
• Experience planning and facilitating professional development for educators.
• Minimum of 3 years experience in a related field (i.e. school support, coaching, data analysis).

• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, particularly proficiency creating and using pivot tables, writing logic formulas, and using vlookup to combine datasets.
• Experience and knowledge of Tableau environment.

• Ability to build capacity to allow for gradual release of data strategy to school staff.
• Experience conducting data analysis and developing visual displays of quantitative information and creating systematic calendars and routines for analysis and presentation.
• Demonstrated commitment to data for improvement and continuous adult learning as drivers of improved student outcomes.
• Excellent data-gathering, problem-solving, and consensus-building skills.
• Understanding of data as an ethical tool.
• Planning, attention to detail, reading, independent motivation, negotiation, confidentiality, problem solving, flexibility, creativity, communication skills, organizational skills, ability to work on multiple projects at any given time, and ability to deal effectively and professionally with people.
• Capable of exercising sound judgment, tact, courteousness, reliability and employing sound decision-making skills.
• Ability to respond with flexibility to demands and requirements of the project and to effectively prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Strong service and support orientation toward schools and school communities.
• A relentless commitment to racial and social justice and public school improvement.
• Ability to adjust to ambiguous circumstances and change.
• Ability to effectively collaborate and communicate with colleagues, school participants and partners.
• Commitment to ongoing self-reflection, professional learning and growth.
• Ability to integrate technology and effectively utilize technology for personal/professional productivity.

• Drivers License and daily access to a reliable car.
• Daily access to reliable internet.
• National travel may be required.
• Attendance at meetings around the city requires ability to ambulate to various sites in and around the city; frequent use of computer, telephone, and other office equipment.

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

Research
Individual Contributor
Exempt
Monthly
40
Yes
No
No
No