Director of Data Science, Research and Analytics - Remote Opportunity Based in the US

ABOUT US

*This is an internal position that will only accept applications from current employees and temporary workers*

Are you passionate about higher education? Do you want to positively impact the college admissions process? Our team helps to eliminate obstacles and inspires students to pave their way to a brighter future. Common App is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting access, equality, and honesty in the college admission process. Each year, we support over 1 million students, a third of whom are first-generation applicants, as they apply to our more than 900 diverse member colleges & universities using the Common App's free online application.

If you're an experienced Data Science leader seeking to be part of a mission-driven non-profit that employs innovative technology to enhance the college admission process, Common App may be a perfect fit for you. Common App is currently seeking a Director of Data Science, Research, and Analytics.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Data Science, Research, and Analytics leads a team of data scientists and manages the research agenda and products that underpin Common App’s commitment to access and equality. The Director establishes goals for Common App’s research agenda, identifies and carries out innovative research in support of the organization’s strategic initiatives, and bolsters Common App’s reputation as a pioneering thinker by representing the organization externally.

Reporting to the Vice President of Data Research and Analytics, the Director of Data Science, Research will execute, evaluate, and consistently enhance the assembly of research briefs and research output from research collaborations. The Director will develop and constantly improve the protocols and processes for engagement with internal stakeholders to seize opportunities and control the risks associated with external research partnerships. The Director is accountable for making recommendations to the VP of Data Analytics and Research and CEO on endorsing and concluding external research partnerships. The Director will also be responsible for collaboratively setting strategic direction and annual planning for the research function within the Data Analytics and Research Division.

The Director will collaborate with other staff and stakeholders, in executing innovative, rigorous, timely, impactful research products that serve the organization’s functional areas. This will necessitate leadership in study design, methodology, and evaluation, as well as expertise in contextualizing findings within the broader literature base.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Requirements for this role include:

• Candidates must reside in the United States.
• A Master’s degree in economics, statistics, public policy, or another quantitative field is required.
• 8-10 years of experience in data science, research, and analytics, especially in education.
• Specific coursework in causal inference, research design and methodology, and program evaluation is necessary.
• Specific coursework or background in issues surrounding federal, state, and local education policy.
• Ability to conduct high-quality research that supports the organization's mission of increasing access and equity in college admissions.
• Ability to set, manage, and achieve ambitious, measurable departmental objectives.
• Ability to create a culture that elevates engagement levels and enables team members to generate drastically improved outcomes.
• Ability to mentor team members / direct reports.
• Ability to powerfully advocate for the organization’s mission and values.
• Ability to prioritize among various competing priorities, both strategic and operational, in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to utilize servant-leadership, amongst other leadership styles, for the welfare of team members.
• Ability to identify areas for improvement and constantly upgrade one’s skills.
• Competency in building and executing strategic plans (research agenda, publication plans, etc).
• Proficiency in summarizing significant higher education research topics related to admissions and access.
• Proficiency in presenting, writing about, and discussing complex analytical topics and findings in accessible terms for diverse stakeholder groups.
• Advanced training in data querying, management, wrangling, analysis, and visualization.
• Advanced training in statistics, econometrics, causal inference, and program evaluation.
• Proficiency in supervised machine learning methods (classification, regression for predictive analytics).
• Proficiency in languages used for database querying of big data (SQL, mySQL, PostGreSQL).
• Proficiency in R or Python.
• Proficiency in collaboration and version control software (GitHub, Git).
• Proficiency in Tableau for developing dashboards for internal colleagues.
• Proficiency in AWS RedShift and Athena.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A PhD or progress towards a doctoral degree is a plus.
• Proficiency in S3 and Sagemaker.
• A passion for higher education is a plus.

Benefits

Common App primarily operates virtually. We value our employees’ time and efforts. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by our competitive salary and an extensive benefits package including:

• Paid time off
  • Vacation Leave (starting at 10 days per year)
  • Sick Leave (15 days per year)
  • Paid Holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day)
  • Floating Holidays (9 days to be used at employee’s discretion)
• Healthcare
  • Medical (2 plan options with Cigna including an option for 100% employee coverage)
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) with annual employer contribution starting at $1,500 or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), depending on plan election
  • Dental (plan with MetLife offering 100% employee coverage)
  • Vision benefits (plan with Cigna offering 100% employee coverage)
  • Short + Long Term Disability (100% employer paid)
  • Life + AD&D (100% employer paid)
  • Additional Voluntary Life + AD&D insurance available
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Added compensation
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with 5% employer contribution + additional 5% employer match
  • Stipends (virtual office set up and monthly remote work support)
• Future growth opportunities.