Lead Analyst for Student Operational Reporting - 129836

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 5/16/24 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Special Selection Applicants: Apply by 5/28/24. Eligible Special Selection clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

UC San Diego is ranked the 9th best public university in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and is the largest employer based in San Diego County.

Reporting to the VC-CFO, Information Technology Services (ITS) delivers Enterprise information technology services to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) under the leadership of the campus Chief Information Officer (CIO). Information Technology Services (IT Services) uses world-class services and technologies to empower UC San Diego's mission to transform California and the world as a student-centered, research-focused, service-oriented public university. As a strategic member of the UC San Diego community, IT Services embraces innovation in their delivery of IT services, infrastructure, applications, and support. IT Services is customer-focused and committed to collaboration, continuous improvement, and accountability.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are core values at UC San Diego and within Information Technology Services. Crafting a culture around these values allows us to more deeply connect with and appreciate our employees, students, and campus partners. Information Technology Services is continuously working to build a community where we all feel safe, empowered, and encouraged to bring our authentic selves to work. We do this not only because it is what’s right, but because we know that diversity drives insight and innovation. We are proud to partner closely UC San Diego’s Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, as their dedication to this mission helps us all to drive change.

Workplace Technology Services (WTS) is responsible for adopting, deploying, and maintaining campus-wide workplace services for faculty, staff, and students. This includes email, calendaring, web content management, signature, mobile technologies, collaboration services, and business intelligence.

This role will initially report to the Senior Director of the Business Intelligence and Analytics (BIA) team at UC San Diego and transition to Enrollment Management. The BIA team supports the Activity Hubs, a modernized data warehouse on the SAP Hana platform, and assists with distributed report development by analysts across campus. The hubs consist of four primary data domains (Employee, Financial, Research, and Student), containing Curated Views to ensure a single source of truth for analysis and reporting. Data blending across domains enables rich analysis. Access to the hubs varies by domain and requires data steward approval. Once granted, report developers use Cognos and Tableau for analysis.

The Lead Analyst position is a vital role at the intersection of data analysis and business intelligence, designed to address complex business problems by leveraging data insights to inform decision-makers. With a focus on operational student-centric reporting, the incumbent will play a pivotal role in guiding the institution's data-driven initiatives. The individual will handle an array of reporting responsibilities, from generating insightful enrollment and registration analytics for internal use and compliance with the UC Office of the President's requirements, to managing intricate financial reporting such as accounts receivable. Additionally, the role involves the production of academic reports that provide detailed views into class enrollments, course scheduling, grading trends, and curriculum changes. On the administrative side, the position ensures the availability of comprehensive demographic data, waitlist statistics, and financial aid distribution analyses, all of which are crucial for the university’s administrative planning and operations.

As a technical leader with substantial expertise in business intelligence, the Lead Analyst will collaborate closely with Enrollment Management and the Office of the Registrar to standardize reporting protocols and analytics, ensuring a consistent approach that adheres to FERPA and all pertinent data reporting regulations. This oversight is crucial to maintaining compliance with campus, state, and federal student data reporting requirements.

Using supported reporting tools such as Cognos and Tableau, the Lead Analyst will be instrumental in the development and maintenance of institutional student-centric operational reports housed on the Business Analytics Hub website. As a program manager and closely coordinating with the Registrar, the role functions autonomously requiring a high degree of knowledge and recognized expertise in specific areas of business intelligence. The successful candidate will support complex projects requiring advanced analytics to support operational efficiencies and strategic planning while solving high-level problems through in-depth analysis of variable factors. This role is tailored for an individual poised to support the institution with data-driven insights and a strategic mindset.

They will act as a contact for campus student data focused reporting needs, align efforts with Institutional Research and academic analysts, and drive user engagement through training and support. Additionally, they will contribute to strategic steering committees, guiding the campus's data reporting and analysis priorities in collaboration with the University Registrar, Executive Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, and Director of Enrollment Management Analytics.

Responsibilities:

* Analyzes and troubleshoots highly complex data errors and problems, designing, testing, and applying advanced functional solutions. Within this scope, the role requires a deep dive into the intricacies of student data systems, ensuring accuracy in reporting tools such as Tableau and Cognos reports. The Lead Analyst will be responsible for rectifying discrepancies, refining data processes, and enhancing the functionality of business intelligence tools to support the strategic needs of UC San Diego's diverse academic and administrative functions.

* Evaluates data sources for relevance, integrity, and accuracy. Identifies issues and collaborates on solutions to data management challenges. This involves scrutinizing student information and operational reporting datasets for compliance with FERPA and other regulatory standards, ensuring the data supports the university's wide-ranging reporting needs for accuracy and actionable insights, and working closely with cross-functional teams to address and resolve any data quality or reporting issues that arise.

* Serves on committees and participates on cross-functional teams to solve complex business, process, service and / or systems issues. In this role, the individual will engage with key stakeholders from the University Registrar's office, Enrollment Management, Institutional Research, and IT Services, bringing in-depth knowledge of business intelligence and data analytics to the table. The aim is to foster collaborative problem-solving, drive process improvements, and ensure the seamless integration of student-centric data systems and reporting solutions campus-wide.

* Consults with department leaders and process owners to gather and clarify data and reporting requirements for highly complex business intelligence solutions and analytics. Consults with department leaders and process owners, including those in Enrollment Management, the Registrar's office, and Institutional Research, to gather and clarify data and reporting requirements for highly complex business intelligence solutions and analytics, ensuring alignment with UC San Diego's strategic objectives, compliance with FERPA, and responsiveness to the specific operational reporting needs of the campus community.

* Applies advanced skills to produce in-depth forecasts, advanced statistical quantitative analyses, complex reports, data sets, and recommendations to support and enhance business /clinical processes. Works on large projects with many data streams. This role specifically leverages expertise in university data systems and analytical platforms, managing a vast array of data types from student enrollment and academic performance to financial and employee, to drive informed decision-making and operational excellence at UC San Diego.

* Conducts industry benchmarking analysis to identify best practices and client performance or capability gaps. Develops and presents quantitative business cases to managers and senior leaders. In this capacity, the role entails assessing current trends and technologies in higher education data analytics, aligning them with UC San Diego's institutional goals, and identifying opportunities for improvement in student data reporting and analytics to maintain a competitive edge and uphold the highest standards of data integrity and utility.

* Serves as consultant for advanced analytics and business intelligence best practices for service, performance, and documentation. In this capacity, the role is pivotal in providing expert guidance to UC San Diego's technology teams and departmental units, ensuring that the data warehouse, including Cognos and Tableau reporting, adheres to the highest standards of analytical rigor and documentation clarity, thereby enhancing the quality of service and operational performance across the campus.

* This role will leverage project management principles to ensure the timely delivery of reports in collaboration with the Registrar at UC San Diego. By applying a structured approach to project planning, setting milestones, and adhering to agreed-upon schedules, the Lead Analyst will manage the development and distribution of student data reports. Regular status updates, risk management strategies, and stakeholder management will be key practices to maintain alignment with the Registrar's requirements and deadlines, guaranteeing that each reporting deliverable meets the high standards expected by the university and its constituents.

* Participates in developing and / or delivering curriculum for advanced end user training to ensure competence, data access, data accuracy, and optimal performance of BI tools and processes. Develop and execute comprehensive training plans aimed at enhancing UC San Diego stakeholders' proficiency in using student data focused reports and navigating student data within the data warehouse.

* Through regular office hours initiate outreach efforts utilizing supported collaboration tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams to foster a culture of open communication and continuous learning at UC San Diego. These sessions provide a platform for personalized support, real-time problem-solving, and the sharing of best practices in data utilization.

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

• In-depth knowledge of business intelligence functions, advanced analytics, industry standards and best practices. Proficiency in data analysis and business intelligence tools, such as Tableau and Cognos, with the ability to interpret complex data sets and provide actionable insights.

• Advanced knowledge and skill in internal databases, BI applications, tools, and systems. Solid understanding of project management principles, including planning, scheduling, tracking, and delivering projects in line with strategic objectives.

• Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills to manage highly-complex information, assess problems, and develop effective solutions. Strong analytical abilities to troubleshoot complex data issues, design solutions, and apply critical thinking to address BI challenges.

• Advanced organizational and project management skills. Skilled in creating detailed reports and maintaining thorough documentation that aligns with project needs and supports user understanding.

• Advanced written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex information in a clear, concise manner. Ability to produce and deliver presentations to diverse audiences. Experience in developing and delivering training programs, and providing support for end-users of BI tools, ensuring high adoption and competency rates.

• Advanced interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with managers, professional and technical staff. Strong ability to engage with and manage expectations of various stakeholders, including academic and administrative personnel, ensuring BI solutions meet their needs.

• Ability to serve as an advanced technical leader providing advice, counsel, and analysis on business intelligence issues. Demonstrated success in working with cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration, and driving consensus among diverse groups.

• Demonstrated competency with and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with educational data privacy laws such as FERPA, and an understanding of how to manage student data within these guidelines.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results.

• Employee must be available to work evenings and weekends.

• Employee must be available to travel as required.

Our employees enjoy competitive compensation packages and educational opportunities in a diverse, stimulating workforce.

This position is eligible for full benefits first day of hire:
a) Health/Dental/Vision Insurance.
b) Vacation/holidays (15 vacation days & 13 paid holidays a year).
c) Work/Life Balance.
d) UC Retirement Plan
e) Pet insurance.

For more information about UCSD Benefits and Work/Life .

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Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $91,300 - $170,700 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $43.73 - $81.75

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).