Careers

Research Associate/Data Analyst II

Job description

Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner seeks to hire a research associate/data analyst II (data analyst) who will enhance the analytical capacity of its Rhode Island Longitudinal Data System Center (RILDS). In collaboration with policymakers and researchers, the data analyst explores, cleans, analyzes, and visualizes linked, inter-agency, longitudinal data. This position juggles multiple projects, covering policy areas such as child welfare, education, public health, and workforce development to support RILDS’ purpose of informing policy, facilitating research, and improving the lives of Rhode Islanders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Data analysis & visualization: Use programming and quantitative analysis skills to query, explore, clean, and analyze linked, inter-agency, longitudinal data. Acquire data from multiple sources, including linking datasets and databases. Produce reports and visualizations (e.g., dashboards, data stories, maps, infographics) that extract insights and interpret findings for multiple audiences.
  • Operational leadership: Collaborate with colleagues, consultants, and external partners on project development and execution. Develop familiarity with RILDS datasets and systems. Learn and follow RILDS policies and processes, including for confidentiality, privacy, and security of data. Contribute to RILDS documentation efforts. Collaborate with the RILDS Center engineering team on prioritizing engineering requests.
  • Communications: Cultivate positive relationships with stakeholders, including Rhode Island state agencies, Rhode Island municipal governments, national advocacy organizations, community foundations, and research institutions. Participate in meetings with partners. Contribute to communications materials, including website and social media.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Required

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of four years of professional experience analyzing data and/or public policy, producing data visualizations, and/or conducting evaluation and research projects.
Or
Master’s degree and a minimum of two years of professional experience analyzing data and/or public policy, producing data visualizations, and/or conducting evaluation and research projects.

  • Demonstrated experience using programming/scripting languages, (e.g., R) for data analysis
  • Demonstrated experience using business intelligence/reporting tools, (e.g., PowerBI and/or Tableau) for data visualization
  • Proven track record analyzing and aggregating large datasets
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Demonstrated project management skills
  • Ability to respond to changing priorities and ensure timely, accurate deliverables
  • Ability to collaborate with diverse populations

Preferred

  • Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as public policy, sociology, political science, economics, statistics, etc.
  • Demonstrated experience working with integrated datasets or data systems
  • Demonstrated knowledge and subject matter expertise in education and workforce development policy
  • Demonstrated experience using geographic information systems, (e.g., ArcGIS) for geospatial analysis and mapping

This is a non-union, non-classified, full-time position with a pay grade of 10. To apply, submit a resume, cover letter, and provide three references. The job will remain posted until a candidate is hired. This position is limited to December 31, 2026, and may be extended based upon funding availability. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Application

First Name *
Last Name *
Phone *
Email *
Highest education level
Relevant Certificates or licenses
Resume *
Maximum file size: 5mb
Cover letter
Maximum file size: 5 MB
Additional documents
Maximum file size: 5 MB

All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. 

It is the belief and the policy of the State of Rhode Island that the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap/disability, age (subject to certain limitations established by law) or veteran status of an individual should neither serve as a barrier to his or her equal opportunity for employment nor be the basis of harassment in the workplace. The Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education fully endorses this basic policy of nondiscrimination.

As a state employer, Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner (OPC) must follow government recordkeeping and reporting requirements related to civil rights laws. To meet these obligations, we ask applicants to complete a form and volunteer information about their race, ethnicity, sex, veteran status, and disability status.

Providing this information is completely optional. It is kept strictly confidential and is never shared with the hiring committee or used in hiring decisions. Only the human resources staff who prepare OPC’s non‑discrimination plan will have access to this data. Their sole purpose in reviewing it is to ensure that OPC meets state and federal reporting requirements.

We share this to help applicants feel comfortable knowing why the information is requested, how it is used, and who can access it.

Ethnicity
Definitions are available in the descriptions to the right.
  1. Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino) — A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. 
  2. Hispanic or Latino — A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. 
  3. American Indian/Alaskan Native (not Hispanic or Latino) — A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
  4. Asian (not Hispanic or Latino) — A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asian, or the Indian subcontinent including for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. 
  5. White (not Hispanic or Latino) — A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East. 
  6. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (not Hispanic or Latino) — A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
  7. Two or More Races — A person who primarily identifies with two or more of the above race/ethnicity categories. 
Sex
Disability Status
Definition is available in the description to the right.

An individual with a disability is a person who:

  • Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
    • Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating and working. A major life activity also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including, but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.
  • Has a history of such an impairment; or
  • Is regarded as having such an impairment.
  • The belief on the part of others that a person has such a disability.
Veterans
Disclosure *
You must check the disclosure box before hitting the submit box. It may take a few minutes for your application to complete. When it does, you will receive a message in a green box. Please wait for the “form successfully submitted’ message and do not repeatedly hit the submit button.

All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. 

It is the belief and the policy of the State of Rhode Island that the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap/disability, age (subject to certain limitations established by law) or veteran status of an individual should neither serve as a barrier to his or her equal opportunity for employment nor be the basis of harassment in the workplace. The Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education fully endorses this basic policy of nondiscrimination.

Apply

Apply now
Want more info?
Get in touch about joining a course, a new partnership, etc.
Contact Us

Hours
Monday — Friday
8:30am — 4:30pm

Closed on major holidays

Phone
401-736-1100

Email
media@riopc.edu

Address
80 Washington Street, 2nd Floor Providence, RI 02903

Directions (Google Maps)

Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin Youtube