Data Impact and Engagement Specialist

Organizational Overview

The barriers to college completion are complex and intertwined. No one educator, department, institution, or state can solve them. Without a simultaneous and intersectional approach, those barriers will continue to rob all of us—educators, advocates, and students alike—of the life-changing benefits of a complete college journey.

Complete College America (CCA) builds movements for scaled change and transforms institutions. Since its founding in 2009, CCA has paired bold, innovative thinking with practical actions that colleges and policymakers can implement across every level of higher education. CCA’s work centers on researching and testing education reforms, providing coaching and support, and advocating for change. Across these areas, CCA uses data to identify barriers and design successful strategies; aligns policy, perspective, and practice so complex systems operate effectively; connects experts to amplify their insights; and builds shared accountability. The organization is at the center of the broad CCA Alliance, which is driving change that works for every leader, every campus, and every system.  

Location: Complete College America’s headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana. This position is a remote position requiring approximately 20% travel. The successful candidate must be able and willing to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends. Travel time may vary depending on assigned projects and organizational needs. Although a remote position, relocation requires approval from the Vice President for Organizational Development and Operations due to implications associated with benefits and compensation. 

Position Summary

The Data Impact and Engagement Specialist plays a vital role in transforming how colleges and universities leverage data to drive student success. Reporting to the Director of Data Analysis, this position combines analytical expertise with communication skills to help institutions build robust data infrastructures and foster data-driven decision-making cultures. The specialist partners with college leaders to develop and implement key performance indicators (KPIs), predictive metrics, and real-time measurement systems that capture student experiences and outcomes.

This role requires someone who can translate complex data concepts into actionable insights, working directly with institutional stakeholders to design and populate data frameworks that support student success initiatives. The specialist will promote and support the implementation of national benchmarking tools like the Postsecondary Data Partnership, while helping institutions develop their own customized performance management systems. They will facilitate data-focused discussions among academic leaders, student success professionals, and equity advocates to ensure data insights drive meaningful institutional change.

Success in this role requires both technical expertise and strategic thinking. The ideal candidate will be adept at creating data visualization tools, developing measurement frameworks, and presenting complex analyses to diverse audiences. They must be able to build relationships with institutional partners, understand their unique contexts and challenges, and guide them toward creating sustainable cultures of evidence-based decision-making. This position offers an opportunity to directly impact student success by helping institutions harness the power of data to identify and address equity gaps, improve completion rates, and transform educational outcomes.

Responsibilities

·        Design and implement KPI frameworks and predictive metrics in partnership with colleges and universities to track student success and completion outcomes

·        Lead workshops and training sessions on data infrastructure development, focusing on real-time data collection and analysis methods

·        Guide institutions in implementing and maximizing the Postsecondary Data Partnership and other national benchmarking frameworks

·        Facilitate data strategy sessions with institutional stakeholders to develop performance management cultures and data-informed decision-making processes

·        Analyze complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for improving student success outcomes

·        Develop documentation and training materials to support institutions in building sustainable data practices

·        Present findings and recommendations to diverse audiences, from technical staff to executive leadership

·        Collaborate with institutional research teams to integrate various data sources and create comprehensive reporting systems

·        Support colleges in establishing real-time data collection methods to enable timely interventions

·        Design and implement data quality assurance processes to ensure accuracy and reliability of student success metrics

Job Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and experience:

·        Bachelor's degree in data analytics, statistics, higher education, or related field

·        Three-plus years’ experience analyzing education data and creating data visualization tools

·        Proven track record developing or using higher education KPIs and performance metrics

·        Proficiency in data visualization tools

·        Experience with SQL, Excel, or statistical analysis software

·        Outstanding presentation and facilitation skills

·        Strong project management capabilities

 Application Process

• Submit resume and cover letter via Bamboo Link: 

• Applications will be reviewed, as they are received, until an ideal candidate is identified. For questions, please contact jobs@completecollege.org  

• Application Deadline: February 28, 2025  

Salary

The salary range is $60-70k and is commensurate with relevant educational background and professional expertise.

Physical Demands

The position requires little physical effort. However, during an event, the employee may have to lift boxes with meeting supplies and documents for distribution.

Complete College America is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for employees, students, visitors, and stakeholders. As part of this effort, background check clearance is a condition of employment at Complete College America.

Complete College America is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Salary : $60,000 - $70,000