Data Analytics Specialist

Working Title: Data Analytics Specialist

State Role Title: Administrative and Professional Faculty

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Strategic Planning and Engagement

Department: 100379 - Planning, Analytics, Institutional Research

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 05/08/2025

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Office of Planning, Analytics & Institutional Research (PAIR) at James Madison University is accepting applications for an on-site Data Analytics Specialist (DAS). The DAS plans, develops, implements, and maintains procedures related to the production, processing, storage, and delivery of university data, consisting of data warehousing, compliance and analytic reports, studies, and ad hoc data requests for internal and external constituents. The DAS will also assist in the design, development, and maintenance of dashboards for commonly requested and widely used data in the JMU Factbook– a web-based series of visualizations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Mandated Reporting: Plan, develop, test, and implement ETL processes for extracting and preparing data files for the accurate and timely submission of all federal, state, and other mandated reports.

Continuous Improvement: Assist with identifying, diagnosing and implementing improvements to IR data and report production processes. Includes data management, data integrity, validation, and appropriate documentation for assigned reports.

Data Analysis & Visualization: Analyze and document IR data requests to recommend reporting solutions, develop appropriate data tables, and assist in the creation of dashboards to support effective data distribution and decision making within the university.

Service to the University: Consult and collaborate with JMU constituents about data needs and requests, including the appropriate display of data through Tableau tables, visualizations, and dashboards.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Relevant experience in data management and data analysis.
• Experience using SQL for developing procedures and managing data.
• Understanding of relational databases and data warehousing.
• Demonstrated experience in data analytics dashboard design, development, and maintenance.

Preferred:

• Educational background in a quantitative discipline such as computer science, information technology, information systems, business administration, or a related area.
• Relevant experience working in a higher education setting with knowledge of student and human resources related data and reporting processes.
• Experience using SQL Server Management Studio, MS Visual Studio, and SQL Server Integration Services.
• Working knowledge of data literacy and data governance.
• Experience building dashboards and visualizations using Tableau.
• Experience with database management and the automation of ETL processes.
• Experience building tables in a data warehouse environment.
• Experience supporting institutional research efforts in higher education.
• Ability to communicate, verbally and in writing, complex, technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for visualizing data using best practices.
• Ability to embrace and demonstrate the PAIR values of continuous improvement, collaboration, and excellence.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and see projects through from inception to completion on schedule.
• Awareness of and commitment to the values of data privacy, security, and ethics.

Additional Posting Information:

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.