Description

Job Summary

The Data Solutions Analyst plays a key role in advancing the college’s mission of supporting student success through data-informed decision-making to support the College’s data collection, analysis, and reporting needs. This position is responsible for regulatory/compliance reporting and supports institutional planning, effectiveness, marketability, and strategic initiatives of Cecil College. The analyst gathers, audits, analyzes, and reports moderate-to-high complexity data under moderate supervision. Ensures data integrity. May build dashboards or reporting systems for end users, perform ad-hoc analyses and reporting to inform decision-making, or design predictive modeling or other data mining capabilities. This role also has a cross functional duty of assisting in supporting the ERP applications.

The ideal candidate will have strong skills in data analysis, team collaboration, cross-team communication, and time management within a demanding workload; as well as strong technical skills in SQL, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, student information systems (SIS), visualization software, and survey creation.

JOB DESCRIPTION
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Data Services Responsibilities:

• Support mandatory external reporting (IPEDS, state agencies, and accrediting bodies).
• Ensure timely and accurate submissions for compliance reporting, requests, and projects including and not limited to IPEDS, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Martland Higher Education Commission, etc.
• Develop and maintain the processes and scripts that collect, validate, and report data required for internal stakeholders and external entities, including federal, state, and accreditation compliance requirements for a higher education institution.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of technical documentation for reports, projects, and change management.
• Assist with data governance efforts, events, and analysis projects that make complex data accessible and actionable for stakeholders.
• Ensure personal and positional compliance with Cecil College’s data security standards, policies, and procedures by consistently applying best practices for data protection, classification, access, and management including consistent effort to increase awareness about security threats and reporting of potential risks/breaches.
• Participate in the Maryland Community College Research Group monthly meetings and the professional development day(s), as well as regional and national higher education, technology, and institutional research associations
• Maintain and expand technical knowledge by attending ERP/SIS training and other technical training as assigned.
• Supports data integration efforts, including extracting, transforming, and loading (ETL) processes for specialized projects.
• Ensures data quality, consistency, and integrity across data systems.
• Responds to requests for information by preparing ad hoc reports, recurring reports, dashboards, and query analyses in various formats.
• Interprets data to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies that inform strategy, operations, and organizational planning.
• Develops and maintains historical, comparative, and longitudinal datasets.
• Presents analytical findings, trends, and technical information to a variety of audiences at meetings, trainings, or public forums.
• Designs, implements, and maintains robust data solutions that ensure accuracy, accessibility, and usability across the institution.
• Works extensively with systems such as Colleague ERP, Ellucian Recruit, Ellucian Ethos, integrating data from multiple sources to provide actionable insights through reports and dashboards.
• Translates complex requirements into practical solutions that align with institutional priorities.

ERP Responsibilities:

• Assist with administration of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and other applications. Duties include system configuration, installation of software upgrades, data refresh clones of supported environments, debugging/testing all implementations/upgrades.
• Develop an understanding in business processes and ERP content areas utilized by campus functional areas and provide users with liaison and technical support for related applications.
• Develop, manage and support integrations between ERP systems and third-party applications (e.g., room scheduling, bookstore applications).

Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate with faculty, deans, department leaders, IT, and student success teams.
• Collaborate with departments to move operational and strategic initiatives of Cecil College forward, including opportunities that support validation, auditing, and improvements in strategic reporting and data management practices.
• Provide training and support on dashboards, reports, and data tools.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of technical documentation for reports, projects, and change management.
• Translates complex requirements into practical solutions that align with institutional priorities.
• Serve on workgroups as assigned by supervisor.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Typical Tools & Systems Used 

• ERP/SIS: Colleague
• Data Visualization: Ellucian Insights, Excel
• Databases: SQL Server, Snowflake
• Surveys: Qualtrics

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
KNOWLEDGE:

• Various application types (web, mobile, desktop, cloud-based) is essential.
• Database structure (SQL Server and MySQL)
• Relational database concepts, tools, and techniques, including the use of Structured Query Language (SQL)
• ETL processes such as SQL Server Integration Services
• SQL Server Management Studio and related data tools such as SQL Server Analysis Services, MS Reporting Services, and Excel Services
• Principals and techniques of computer programming, basic online programming and programming documentation
• Various computer programming languages, including JAVAscript/JSON.
• Operating procedures of computer systems and related equipment
• Principles and practices of database management systems
• Reporting design and delivering reporting solutions
• End-user reporting tools
• ERP/SIS experience (Colleague ERP, Ellucian Ethos, Ellucian Recruit, Ellucian Insights)

SKILLS & ABILITY TO: 

• Read, interpret, and apply complex technical publications, manuals, and other documents
• Prepare clear and concise computerized reports
• Ability to write complex SQL queries against a range of relational databases.
• Report writing skills using a variety of technologies and software programs.
• Strong desktop automation skills, including effective use of e-mail, word processors, spreadsheets, and the ability to use tools in conjunction with databases.
• Time management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, communicate project status, and provide leadership and direction for assigned initiatives.
• The ability to perform in a dynamic and team-oriented environment is essential.
• Problem-solving and analytical skills are critical to be successful in this job.
• Excellent documentation, organizational, and communication skills. Attention to detail is critical.
• Ability to deal with conflicting deadlines regularly
• Ability to troubleshoot, research, and resolve root cause issues.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent Microsoft Office 365 skills (Outlook, Excel, Word) and the ability to become proficient with Teams/Zoom.
• Ability to work cross-functionally, lead projects, and facilitate training.
• Ability to work with staff of different technical aptitudes and communicate technical information to a non-technical audience.
• Ability to work independently.
• Requires problem-solving and analytical skills
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Meet project schedule and timelines
• Plan and organize work schedule
• Learn new skills and adapt to changes in technology, continuously update personal knowledge of industry-leading technology
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others
• Provides basic procedural and technical guidance to functional areas regarding technology usage and management.
• Performs complex data analyses and reporting.
• Attend conferences and report back key findings and initiatives seen amongst other vendors and industries.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:
Required Education

Bachelor’s degree in data analytics, statistics, social sciences, business, education, or related field.

Required Experience

• Demonstrated experience working with large datasets and relational databases.
• Proficiency with:SQL
• Excel (advanced functions)
• Data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau)
• Ability to interpret and present data clearly to diverse audiences.
• Strong attention to detail and data quality.

Preferred Experience

• Strong understanding of business process analysis and system integration concepts.
• Experience working with Colleague or related ERP systems in higher education.
• Familiarity with frameworks and regulations such as ITIL, FERPA, and GLBA
• Experience in a highered environment,
• Experience web development tools such as JavaScript, jQuery, CSS, and HTML.
• Knowledge of:IPEDS reporting
• Accreditation requirements (regional and programmatic)
• Student success analytics (predictive modeling, early alerts)

SCHEDULING REQUIREMENTS:

Monday – Friday; 8am to 4:30pm. This position is not overtime eligible. Varied work schedule during critical periods sometimes requiring evening, Saturday, and Sunday work hours. Due to the need of interaction with students, employees, and the college community this position requires in-person presence. This position is eligible for telework per the Telework Policy.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
This position classifies the physical exertion requirements as sedentary work involving lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally, and other sedentary criteria are met.