JOB OPPORTUNITY
Job title: Senior Data Officer (Kauffman Foundation)
Hiring institution: Kauffman Foundation
Location: Kansas City, Missouri | United States
Application deadline: 01/17/2025
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that provides access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography. The Foundation uses its grantmaking, research, programs, affiliates, and initiatives to support the start and growth of new businesses, a more prepared workforce, and stronger communities. Our work is grounded in the principles of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion and is consistent with the aspirations of our founder, Ewing Marion Kauffman.
Based in Kansas City, Missouri, the Kauffman Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the United States with an asset base of approximately $3 billion. While striving to have national impact and global reach, the Foundation is deeply committed to Kansas City, as evidenced by work on initiatives that reach into neighborhoods and enrich the community and quality of life in the region. For more information about the Foundation, please visit the website at www.kauffman.org.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting directly to the Director of Research, the Senior Data Officer (SDO), implements data strategy as developed in partnership with the Research, Learning, and Evaluation (RLE) team, and operationalizes data analysis to inform policy and local activities. This role works closely and collaborates with other RLE team members and Foundation associates, in alignment with the Foundation’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
Specific Responsibilities Include:
- Analyze existing datasets held or licensed by the Foundation and recommend data deliverables while considering: 1) fit with the Foundation’s strategic priorities and research agenda, 2) sustainability, 3) data quality, 4) rigor, and 5) data justice.
- In partnership with RLE leadership, build strong relationships with local professionals who do “best-practice” work in institutional research, school accountability, assessment, school attendance and engagement, community data, business licensing, or others who are aligned with our strategic priorities.
- Recommend data management approaches that inform citywide learning and measure impact.
- Regularly gather community feedback related to the Foundation’s research and data agenda to identify emerging and ongoing data needs and make adjustments based on this input.
- Track ad-hoc data requests from external stakeholders, identifying themes, and recommending new data products and deliverables that address consistent needs.
- Consult about artificial intelligence and automation tools that improve internal and external reporting, and efficiency. This may include vendor landscape analyses to identify vendors who can advance the Foundation’s research and data practices.
- Support the Foundation’s data strategy and operations while complying with GDPR, FERPA, PII, and CPA standards.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Education: Bachelors or master’s degree in applied data science, computer information systems, or computer science with data science knowledge, required or equivalent years of experience. Data science, or computer science training or certification, preferred.
Work Experience: At least five years of progressive experience in data-driven, applied social science activities, including data science, analytics, visualization and consulting across complex organizations.
Travel: This position may require some business travel.
QUALIFICATIONS
Incumbents for this position must be highly motivated, capable of self-direction, and able to work collaboratively in a team. Incumbents must exhibit a keen sense of responsibility and enjoy working with multiple demands, shifting priorities, and constant change.
- Has a passion for advancing equitable and transformative solutions for communities served by the Foundation.
- Possesses collaboration skills that demonstrate an ability to work effectively within and across diverse teams, with people of all levels from various industries and backgrounds.
- Has excellent communication skills, including well-developed interpersonal, written, and listening skills.
- Learns quickly, can synthesize multiple sources of information, gains insights, and communicates clearly and coherently, distilling complex ideas into clear, concise, and actionable forms.
- Has a strong familiarity with and utilization of spatial analysis.
- Can independently produce statistical analyses, reports, and presentations, particularly using descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis, predictive analysis and modeling, spatial data analysis and data collection, organization, and presentation.
- Has a demonstrated ability to identify and evaluate data visualizations and tools.
- Can coordinate and manage data from diverse sources while demonstrating technical aptitude with database structures or data dictionaries.
- Has proficiency in working with disparate data sets.
- Possesses strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Has a good understanding of project management concepts, tools, and related technology in support of operational excellence.
- Prioritizes and multi-tasks effectively using excellent organizational skills with keen attention to detail.
- Possesses a passion for “doing what is right,” with unquestioned integrity, positive ethics, and values reflective of the Kauffman Foundation.
- Is committed to the Foundation’s credo, standards, and values in alignment with our racial equity, diversity, and inclusion statement.
- Has strong experience with software statistical packages and business intelligence programs, e.g., APIs, R, Python, SQL, or AWS in addition to other computer literacy skills, including proficiency with Microsoft tools, Box, and Slack with demonstrated advanced Excel skills, including statistical analysis and PivotTables. Tableau or PowerBI, preferred, Salesforce preferred.
All of the statements in this position description are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. This document describes the position currently available. The organization reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time.
NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Kauffman Foundation firmly supports the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, creed, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state or local law.
TO APPLY
Interested applicants can apply for this position by submitting a cover letter and resume. Job posting will be removed at 12pm CT on Friday, January 17, 2025.
Please note that this role is Kansas City, MO based and associates must reside in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
https://kauffman.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Headquarters/Senior-Data-Officer_R125
