Nonprofit Data Specialist

Think Small, Minnesota’s leader in early learning, is dedicated to advancing early childhood care and education. For over 50 years, we have supported the full potential of every child and championed equity-focused policies and practices to empower a just, inclusive, and equitable care and education system for children during their crucial early years. Recognizing the profound influence of early experiences on a child’s future success, we are committed to improving the quality of early childhood settings to optimize development.

This is a hybrid position with required Wednesday and Thursday in-office days in Little Canada, MN. Remote applicants will not be considered. This position produces and maintains analytics dashboards and performs other reporting and data analyses for Think Small and its various departments and programs. Collaborates with various internal teams to understand and document requirements for analytics, manages, merges, and maintains data from various sources, helps to standardize definitions for reported metrics, and produces narratives on major insights from data. Activities include, but are not limited to, managing databases and dashboards, designing analytical approaches, developing new measures, performing data collection and analysis, report writing and production, tracking project activities and tasks, and helping to ensure the overall success of initiatives and programs in and across multiple departments.

Common Interactions:

Think Small operation, IT, and program departments; management team; finance team

Essential Job Functions:

Data Analysis, Reporting, and Dashboarding

• Update existing Power BI dashboards and produce accurate and user-friendly reports, charts, and graphs that conform to agency and contract holder guidelines and standards as well as best practices

• Work with data team to clean, format, transform, load, and analyze large data sets according to reporting/request guidelines

• Create visual representations of data for various audiences

• Prepare, submit, and communicate reports and summaries to internal and external audiences

• Translate complex data findings into clear, actionable recommendations

• Respond to internal and external requests for data, reports, and dashboards, which may include unplanned requests requiring quick turn-around time

• Extract data by creating complex query definitions and/or modify and run existing queries.
• Collaborate with teams to ensure alignment of data reporting and insights with Think Small strategic goals and outcomes.

Data Management

• Coordinate with the data team to design, maintain, enhance, code, and administer internal databases

• Continuously improve the reliability and validity of data reported across all platforms and dashboards

• Set up and test new software, databases, and data handling systems in partnership with IT
• Strong understanding of data privacy regulations and ethical considerations related to data handling and reporting.

User Assistance

• Create, maintain, and update user documentation on database use, reporting, and hygiene for system users

• Troubleshoot user concerns / problems

• Participate in continuous improvement efforts throughout the organization in enhancing performance and providing increased functionality

• Provide training to agency staff related to data collection, analysis, and interpretation/application of findings

• Work with system users to identify needs or new functionality

Documentation

• Create, maintain, and update user documentation on data definitions, dashboard use, reports, etc.

• Create, provide documentation and follow processes to ensure the highest level of accuracy

Technology

• Develop dynamic Power BI dashboards to present insights for decision-making and progress towards strategic goals.

• Design and implement new PowerApps to support project-specific workflows and analyses

• Stay current with the latest features, updates, and best practices for Power Apps and Power BI

• Strong experience with Power Apps development preferred, including canvas apps, model-driven apps, and Power Automate (Microsoft Flow)

• Ability to learn and use new technologies, techniques, software, data types, tools, etc. as needed

Employee Expectations

• Perform all job duties to department expectations and standards

• Perform other duties as assigned

• Maintain regular, reliable attendance

• Collaboration with customers, coworkers, and external partners

• Timely, engaged participation in meetings

• Safe job performance

• Competency in required computer programs
• Current, valid certifications as required

Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor's degree with significant Power BI Dashboard experience, both in building dashboards and in updating/maintaining existing dashboards

Experience

• Significant experience in developing, using, and maintaining data dashboards with Power BI is required

• Experience extracting, transforming, loading, and analyzing large data sets, including large, publicly available data sets such as the American Community Survey

• Sensitivity to and understanding of diverse populations and the ability to analyze data in a way that considers equity and inclusivity

• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to analyze complex problems and develop solutions based on data

• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy; and ability to deliver on schedule and meet deadlines

• Demonstrated ability to work in mixed settings (independently, collaboratively, in groups) and to take detailed instruction from supervisor and team members

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously

• Good writing and oral communication skills

• Nonprofit experience preferred

Computer knowledge

• Significant knowledge of Power BI is a must; experience with Salesforce preferred; excellent proficiency utilizing data tools, particularly MS Excel and MS Power Suite, especially Power Apps is preferred.

• Strong functional knowledge of computer applications for data acquisition and analysis is required

Physical Demands

• This position is mostly sedentary with occasional demands to walk and stand

• There is frequent keyboarding and computer use and communicating via email, video/phone, and in-person

Travel demands

• Must be physically present in Little Canada, MN for Wednesday and Thursday in-office days

• Occasional local travel

Benefits:

• Salary: The salary range for this position is $55,000-$60,000, based on experience and educational background.
• Hybrid Work Schedule: A mix of on-site and remote days for work-life balance.
• Comprehensive Insurance Options: Medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, life, pet, critical illness, and long-term care insurance.
• Flexible Spending and Savings Accounts: Medical and dependent care FSA, Health Savings Account (HSA), and legal/ID protection plans.
• Retirement Savings: Pre-tax and ROTH 401(k) plans with employer match.
• Generous Paid Time Off:
  • 23 days of sick/vacation time earned in the first year.
  • Eight scheduled holidays and five floating holidays.
  • Six weeks of paid parental leave.

Application Process: If you are a mission-driven Nonprofit Data Specialist professional ready to make an impact in the early childhood education sector, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity. Think Small is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

Join us in our mission to make a difference in the community and the lives of young children. If you have a passion and desire to drive organizational success, we encourage you to apply.

Think Small is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.