JOB TITLE: DATA ANALYTICS SPECIALIST 1

JOB CODE: 10601

SERIES NATURE OF WORK: The Data Analytics Specialist job series describes professional work that combines the disciplines of statistics, business analysis, and computer programming to design, develop, deliver, and maintain analytic applications and solutions.

DEFINITION: This is analytical and professional work applying varied quantitative analysis and computer programming methods to manage, prepare, analyze, and visualize data for the purpose of identifying trends, solving analytical problems, optimizing performance, or furthering business intelligence.

An employee in this job identifies, evaluates, and applies quantitative analysis and programming methodologies to business problems, and proposes and develops data-driven solutions. Work includes completing assignments in all phases of a data science project from its inception as a business analysis problem to its completion and deployment as an operational analytic application or solution. Work involves evaluating and advising clients on a collection methodology, survey design, or collection software tool to optimize collection results; using data mining software to prepare and build data pipelines for structured and unstructured data; developing local databases necessary to organize and analyze data; applying, modifying, and monitoring statistical and mathematical algorithms and models; preparing dynamic and interactive visualizations and reports; and developing code to automate or efficiently process and report data. Work also involves researching, evaluating, and recommending policies, procedures, and standards to deploy analytic applications; ensuring analytic solutions comply with commonwealth policy and laws; and engaging regularly with stakeholders on the interpretation of analytic results for their impact to program operations and policy. Work may involve assisting other Data Analytics Specialists on projects of higher complexity or functionality. Work is performed independently and is reviewed by an administrative supervisor for effectiveness of results.

   DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

• Work is differentiated from related job series by the responsibility for developing analytic applications or solutions across the data lifecycle that require the utilization of both quantitative analysis and computer programming to execute solutions.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Translates business requirements into analytic project specifications to include data set acquisition, data preparation, quantitative methodology, computer programming, or technology requirements.

• Researches, evaluates, and applies data management, quantitative analysis frameworks, and programming and visualization tools to address specific data problems or build application functionality.

• Develops logic and code to clean, merge, and prepare structured and unstructured data in order to manage its size and variability, and to identify omissions.

• Monitors predictive algorithms and models for reliability, investigates issues, and makes recommendations for modification.

• Develops simulations to test computational models for results that are reproducible; identifies issues and makes recommendations for modifications.

• Designs scripts and algorithms to automate computational processes within a data analytic application to increase efficiency and accuracy.

• Develops data visualizations that illustrate insights and findings from data analysis.

• Participates in the development of policies, procedures, and standards for deploying analytic applications, such as access, security, and disaster recovery protocols.

• Assists in the design and development of complex data visualizations that are interactive and dynamic and provide end users with self-service functionality.

• Evaluates and presents assessments of data collection methodologies, survey designs, and collection tools used in the development of analytic solutions.

• Interprets analysis and presents implications for operations and policy to program leadership.

• Prepares documentation including computational logic, data formats, metadata, and methodologies used for creation, validation, analysis, or visualization of data.

• Participates in the testing of data warehouse or database upgrades and transformations to ensure ability to retrieve and report necessary data.

• Partners with Information Technology (IT) and program staff to publish and deploy analytic applications, ensuring information is released according to agency and commonwealth policy and law.

• Develops and implements training plans for users of analytical applications.

• Provides technical and analytic support to end users.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• An employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of statistical, mathematical, and quantitative analysis.

• Knowledge of data management fourth generation languages (4GL) for preparing, analyzing, and visualizing data.

• Knowledge of database management and design, including data entry, formatting, storage, and security protocols.

• Knowledge of database querying languages such as SQL.

• Knowledge of data management, transfer, and integration protocols.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Microsoft Office Suite software.

• Ability to think critically and solve business problems.

• Ability to analyze, evaluate, and validate quantitative models.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):

• Successful completion of the Data Analytics Trainee program (commonwealth title);

or

• Two years of professional quantitative analytical experience utilizing data preparation, statistical analysis, or data visualization software programs and a bachelor’s degree in statistics, applied mathematics, computer science, data science, economics, actuarial science, geographic information systems (GIS), or a related STEM field (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics);

Thirty (30) graduate credits in data analytics or a closely related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training.