The North Carolina Partnership for Children,Inc.

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE/DATA ANALYST (continued)

Research associate

DATE: / January 5, 2018 / FLSA: / EXEMPT
REPORTS TO: / QA and evaluation director / GRADE: / E-08
DEPARTMENT: / qa and evaluation / HIRING RANGE: / 48,162 – 60,202

JOB SUMMARY

The Research Associate 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 Smart Start 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.

ESSENTIAL ACCOUNTABILITIES & 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.
  1. 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.
  1. Develop Population Level Data Reports-Request data from state agencies to develop annual Community Early Childhood Profile 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.
  2. Contribute to Evaluation Studies and Data-Related Contracts- Participate in meetings with NCPC staff and contractors regarding special projects. Provide data-related resources, feedback, and support to the projects as needed.
  1. 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.
  2. Other Duties -Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

DIRECT REPORTS: NONE

TRAVEL: Minimal

QUALIFICATION AND COMPETENCIES

  • Minimum of master’s degree in public administration, public policy, education, or other social science or human services degree, AND four years of data analysis experience preferably related social services, education or health, OR equivalent combination of training and experience.
  • Advanced experience with Excel and statistical software such as SPSS or Stata. Ability to clean data, develop summary statistics, multivariate analysis, tables and graphs.
  • Ability to handle confidential data including personally identifiable information in an appropriate manner.
  • Strong project management skills with the ability to drive projects from inception to completion.
  • Aptitude for paying attention to detail.
  • Ability to learn about and explain a variety of measurement tools for a general audience. Experience with properties of measurement tools including validity and reliability a plus.
  • Excellent written communication skills with ability to develop data reports for a general audience.
  • Exceptional verbal communications and interpersonal skills preferred.
  • Successful experience working with productive, cohesive teams, using active improvement cycles preferred.
  • Preferred experience in Non-Profit organizations with a focus in early childhood education, family support, and health in the human services industry.

ESTIMATED ON-THE-JOB TRAINING TIME:Up to one year. A work plan will be co-developed for each stage of success. A professional development plan will be developed for the 3 and 6 month periods.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities.

EEO STATEMENT: NCPC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

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