UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. During its 80-year existence, UNCF has raised more than $6 billion and helped more than 500,000 students not just attend college, but thrive, graduate and become leaders. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 15% of bachelor’s degrees, 5% of master’s degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 50,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”®

The UNCF Fidelity Scholars Program (FSP) seeks a data analyst to engage in data collection, analysis and reporting to inform on program success and challenge areas. The data analyst will utilize a multitude of methodological approaches to manage and execute a range of research activities in line with FSP’s goals and objectives. The position requires a highly motivated and collaborative individual, who has a significant research background and possesses strong organizational, analytic, and writing abilities.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Capturing, mining, analyzing and reporting on both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative research on FSP related issues. Review and synthesize current literature when necessary.
• Complete FSP related research and evaluation projects using a range of data analysis methods, including conducting qualitative interviews and focus groups, transcribing, synthesizing, and coding qualitative data.
• Capture data from national databases (e.g. IPEDS) to contextualize FSP related data.
• Use appropriate statistical tools (e.g. Excel, R,SPSS, or other analysis programs) to create data visuals to illustrate data patterns.
• Serve as a writer and project manager for FSP related research projects.
• Serve as a thought partner to leadership in study design and analytical support.
• Create and manage databases to support FSP research activities.
• Develop expertise on the UNCF internal Salesforce database.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• This position may periodically supervise interns.

COMPETENCIES:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Analytical – Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data analyses.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem-solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Sets goals and objectives; Develops realistic action plans.

Professionalism - Reacts well under pressure; Follows through on commitments.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree required; MS/MA or related degree or higher preferred in statistics, data science, higher education, or other fields with work that includes research methodologies.
• 2+ years data analysis experience preferred.
• Advanced proficiency with MS Excel and PowerPoint required.
• Experience with modeling and analysis utilizing statistical programs.
• Ability to synthesize data and information from multiple sources including large data sets, develop insights and recommendations and convey complex information through the use of supporting tables, graphs and other visual representations required.
• Experience with large-scale higher education databases including IPEDS preferred.
• Experience employing both qualitative and quantitative research methods preferred.
• Experience taking the lead to independently initiate, plan and drive multiple projects preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex concepts in writing, visualizations, and verbal presentations tailored for diverse groups of stakeholders preferred.

SOFTWARE SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of O365 with intermediate to advanced knowledge in Word and Excel. Must be proficient in mail merges and correcting source or cell errors. Must be proficient in the manipulation of Excel formulas.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.