Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Data Analyst

  • Title: Data Analyst
  • Class: Academic Professional
  • Exempt Status: Exempt
  • Level: 5

Job Summary

Under the direction of management, the data analyst performs a wide range of data management responsibilities related to student enrollment, demographics, academic performance, etc. The analyst works with data from a variety of sources, manages and analyzes data, and uses applications software to create detailed reports and other research documents. The data analyst interacts with a diverse set of individuals including administrators, staff, and representatives from external organizations.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Acquires data from primary or secondary data sources and creates and maintains databases/data systems; serves as primary point of contact with external agency data centers.
  2. Determines data to be analyzed, explores relation of data to population under study, and ensures data quality and validity of findings.
  3. Identifies, analyzes, and interprets trends or patterns in data sets; creates models and employs predictive analytics to help guide future actions.
  4. Works closely with management to prioritize business and information needs; makes recommendations for new and ongoing initiatives.
  5. Gathers, extracts, summarizes, compiles, and prepares data for required and ad hoc reporting, marketing, grant development, and other purposes.
  6. Serves as primary point of contact with database developers and end-user personnel to determine data access requirements, maintain databases, and develop reports.
  7. Serves as primary point of contact for external vendors; participates in identifying, implementing, testing, improving and maintaining new and existing databases and systems.
  8. Conducts research and provides presentations.
  9. Assures the confidentiality of all data as appropriate, including sensitive information related to students.
  10. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Work is performed in an office environment. Position involves sitting for extended periods of time while working at a computer terminal

Minimum Qualifications

BS in Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Information Management, Statistics, or other research-oriented discipline. Experience performing the duties of the job may substitute for the degree requirement on a year for year basis. Three years of professional experience as a data analyst or similar position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:
  • Database design development;
  • Data mining;
  • Quantitative analysis;
  • Predictive analytics;
  • Statistics and statistical packages for analyzing large datasets (Excel, SPSS, SAS, etc);
  • Microsoft Office reporting tools.
Skills in:
  • Applying analytical methods and techniques;
  • Report writing;
  • Public speaking and presentation;
  • Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing;
  • Building good working relationships.
Ability to:
  • Collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy;
  • Think critically and strategically;
  • Work collaboratively with diverse academic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and staff;
  • Work independently and as a member of a team.

Reviewed: 12/2018

  • New: 6/2016