Research Analyst

**Job Code**:
3453666

**Closing Date**:
Mar 27, 2023 4:00 PM EDT

**Employer**:
**Durham District School Board**

**Posted on**:
Mar 20, 2023

**Job Type**:
Full Time

**Job Category**:
Management & Professionals

**Open To**:

Management & Professionals

ECE, EA and Support Staff

**Openings**:
1
- **Mandatory Document**:

- Resume

Cover Letter
- **School**:
**EDUCATION CENTRE (Whitby)**

**Start Date**:
Immediately

**End Date**:
**Salary**:
$79,215-$92,683/yr.

**Job Purpose**

The Research Analyst provides delivery of services to enhance, promote and support research and lead continuous improvement in analytic and modelling capacities for planning, decision-making and monitoring strategic goals/priorities. This position consults, designs and conducts research and evaluation, builds capacity of staff at all levels of the organization to use a broad range of quantitative and qualitative data, and communicates/reports findings for use of stakeholders across the DDSB. This position is responsible for:
**Accountabilities**
- CONSULTATION AND DESIGN: Consult with stakeholders at all levels of the organization to identify data requirements. Frame questions/area of focus for research, design a methodology for each question/focus, develop data collection tools with stakeholders where appropriate. Provide advice and guidance to stakeholders regarding ethics, privacy and the impact of methodological considerations.
- DATA PROCESSING: Use appropriate techniques to translate qualitative and quantitative data into an understandable/usable format. Ensures data integrity throughout the identification and acquisition of relevant data, cleaning and aligning of data sets, coding qualitative data based on emergent themes and recurring topics/issues, surfacing representative narratives. Uses a reproducible research approach that is accountable for methods used through the authoring and revision of scripts (e.g. R, Python, SPSS etc.).
- ANALYTICS: Conducts qualitative and quantitative data analysis to help stakeholders determine actionable insights and support decisions by using the appropriate techniques and software to develop descriptive and inferential statistics, complete thematic content analysis and case studies, conduct data mining, modeling and analyze spatial trends related to student outcomes, community demographics or program implementation as appropriate. **Accountabilities, continued**
- Knowledge of education policy and practice in Ontario to represent the DDSB on provincial networks (e.g. AERO, DUG) and committees (e.g. ad hoc Ministry research working groups).
- Experience with designing qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, practices (e.g. interviews, focus groups, consultations etc.) and analysis.
- Experience with data cleaning (e.g., dealing with missing values, outliers and resolve inconsistencies), analysis, and data visualization.
- Experience with Office 365 and the following specialized tools:

- Power BI (or alternative tools such as Tableau etc.)
- R (or alternative scripting contexts such as Python, SPSS etc.)
- SurveyMonkey and Thoughtexchange (or alternative tools such as Qualtrics)
- Information Seeking/Intellectual Curiosity and Determination:Ability to ask insightful and reflective questions, explore new territories, uncover hidden information in the data and find new and innovative solutions to help the organization achieve its objectives. A willingness to learn new practices and processes.
- Conceptual Thinking: Ability to synthesizes facts, theories, trends, inferences, and key issues and/or themes.
- Problem-Solving: Ability to approach challenges with a clear eye on what is important and employing the right approach.
- Communication: Ability to present complex information in a clear and precise manner and in a way that can be understood by both technical and non-technical audiences both verbally and in writing.
- Interpersonal Skills: Ability to collaborate with others and work with key stakeholders to identify requirements and needs, and address inquiries and concerns.
- Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, anti-oppression and to dismantling racism.

**Education and Experience**

Education

Completion of Master’s Degree in a related field (e.g., Social Science, Data Science) or a combination of education, training and experience deemed to be equivalent. Doctorate in Social Science or Education is considered an asset.

Participation in professional networks such as AERO, AERA, CES, DUG.

**Experience**:
Board Research - 5-10 years required.

Data Analysis/Science - 3-5 years required.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a 35 hour per week, permanent position.