Data Analyst, OSD

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides the tools and resources to ensure that all diverse learners receive a high-quality public education that prepares students for success. OSD is responsible for student evaluations, creating and monitoring Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and working with schools, staff, and families to fulfill these plans toward greater student development and achievement. A critical area within the Office is to provide financial and operational support to schools, networks, and central office departments, including but not limited to the allocation of special education resources to CPS schools so that every child is provided with the services outlined by a student's IEP .

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Data Manager, the Data Analyst will use data to drive progress toward District priorities and goals. The Data Analyst will support OSD units in the collection, analysis, reporting, and interpretation of data to facilitate informed decision-making, identify trends, ensure that Diverse Learner outcomes are monitored, and to support the continuous improvement of OSD programs and services. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Data Analyst will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

Proficiently analyze, manipulate and transform complex datasets from multiple sources using analysis tools such as SAS, SQL, Python, or R to extract meaningful insights

Apply statistical techniques to analyze data distributions, correlations, and trends, contributing to the development of robust analytical models

Create and customize reports tailored to departmental needs, ensuring clarity and relevance in communicating key performance indicators; summarize metrics and produce visualizations for key stakeholders

Utilize data visualization techniques to present findings in an easily digestible and visually compelling manner, aiding departmental stakeholders in understanding complex datasets

Identify trends and patterns in data, offering valuable insights to support strategic decision-making within the portfolio of departments

Conduct root cause analysis to uncover the underlying factors contributing to observed trends, providing valuable context for decision-makers

Follow established department and district-wide processes to ensure the quality, integrity and reliability of data used for analysis

Evaluate data for structural integrity and consistency

Compile, manipulate, and analyze data using appropriate statistical techniques

Ensure data quality and integrity across Offices

Collaborate with business and subject matter experts to identify additional data needs

Participate in the District’s Data Analyst User Group

Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the OSD Data Analyst must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required; focus in statistics, business, economics, or a related field requiring quantitative coursework, preferred

Master’s degree in a quantitative field of study (e.g., data science), preferred

Experience Required:

Minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in a relevant field and a role requiring data analysis skills, including experience writing code with data analytic tools (SAS, R, SPSS, STATA, etc) is required. Up to 1 year of full-time, data-related internship experience may be considered against this requirement.

Minimum of one (1) year of the above professional experience may be considered in combination with a master’s degree in a quantitative field of study (E.g., data science, economics).

One (1) or more years of experience as a business analyst or systems analyst, preferred

Other Requirements:

Must work with approved enterprise analytic toolsets (SAS or SQL)

Adhere to a set of guiding principles for analytic practice as established by the Data Governance Council

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Ability to use or learn SAS or SQL required

Advanced knowledge of Excel and gSuite applications

Exceptional verbal and written communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills

Strong attention to detail and data quality assurance

Ability to deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced environment, respond promptly to multiple constituencies, and meet established deadlines

Capable of success both working independently with general guidance and as a collaborative member of a team

Capable of coordinating efforts and facilitating collaboration with a variety of individuals whose priorities may differ

Ability to establish priorities and effectively manage time to complete multiple activities or projects concurrently

Ability to work in a cross-functional team with technical and non-technical personnel from a variety of departments

Ability to probe and derive the correct technical requirements from a non-technical customer for a particular data-related question

Flexibility to meet changing departmental needs and priorities

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