Data Analyst

Job Title: Data Analyst
Reports To: Director of Learning and Evaluation
Location: St. Louis, MO office; currently 3+2 hybrid schedule
Position Type: Full Time, Exempt
Travel Required: None
Compensation: Salary range $80,000-$84,000. Benefits paid in full including generous employer-paid premiums for health, dental, vision, and disability insurance. Additional benefits include professional development assistance, tuition assistance, student loan repayment assistance, paid company holidays, paid time off, paid parental leave, and retirement plan with employer contribution.
About the James S. McDonnel Foundation

The James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) is a St. Louis, Missouri-based private philanthropic institution established in 1950 by aerospace pioneer James S. McDonnell to “improve the quality of life.” The foundation has contributed to this aim by supporting the generation of new knowledge through research and scholarship, and by encouraging knowledge-based solutions to important societal issues, especially in the St. Louis region. The Foundation has supported scholarly pursuits in fields such as human cognition and complex systems in years past.
JSMF is shifting its global focus on behavioral and biomedical sciences research to improve shared prosperity and quality of life in the St. Louis region. The foundation has a legacy of data-driven innovation through rigorous inquiry, collaborative investment, and thoughtful risk-taking. Building upon this history, the foundation and its partners will work together to build a more prosperous and equitable St. Louis and enhance quality of life, especially for those facing the starkest disparities.
JSMF envisions a thriving St. Louis region where inclusive growth elevates shared prosperity and quality of life. Our mission is to invest in organizations and initiatives working to improve economic mobility for St. Louisans facing the starkest disparities. We believe inclusive growth is not only just, but vital for the overall prosperity of the region. Our work is focused in four areas that are deeply interconnected, mutually reinforcing, and offer a chance to collaboratively build great momentum for positive change. Focus areas include workforce –to increase opportunity for the region’s workforce and enhances workforce systems; Small and midsize businesses – to support small to midsize businesses to scale; Wealth building and protection – to support efforts to help individuals and communities build and protect wealth; Civic Infrastructure – to strengthen regional leadership capacity and civic infrastructure.
Position Summary

The data analyst will support the Foundation’s learning initiatives and its measurement and evaluation activities. This role will work collaboratively with the Director of Learning and Evaluation and JSMF team to leverage insights from research, data tracking, stakeholder engagement, and evaluation of Foundation impact to inform funding goals and decisions and the foundation's future work. As part of these efforts, this position will support implementation of a measurement framework aligned to the Foundation’s strategic plan, support the monitoring and evaluation of impact across grants and impact investments, and support reporting to internal and external audiences. The data analyst will be responsible for conducting literature reviews, supporting the development and implementation of quantitative and qualitative data collection tools and processes for teams (e.g., secondary/publicly available data, surveys, grantee reporting/site visits, focus groups/ interviews), and co-leading the development and implementation of analysis plans.
The analyst will also conduct quantitative data cleaning and statistical analyses and triangulation of mixed methods data and integrate data and analysis into formats tailored to the intended audience(s). The analyst will support presentation and translation of results to be included in dissemination and learning products (e.g., data interpretation sessions, emergent learning opportunities, reports, dashboards, briefs, charts and other data visualizations). The data analyst will support the JSMF team’s facilitation of information exchange with organizations, community leaders, and funders to build a deeper, action-oriented understanding of issues within the region through mission-aligned collaboratives and activities to strengthen the region’s data capabilities.
Key Responsibilities

Assists with development, management, and implementation of data collection processes/protocols (both quantitative and qualitative).
Supports the identification, management, and tracking of indicators in alignment with the JSMF measurement framework.
Performs quantitative data collection and data management tasks, including auditing, cleaning, and quality control checks of data.
Leads the development and implementation of data collection instruments, such as surveys and databases.
Supports the development and implementation of qualitative data collection (e.g., recruitment, scheduling, facilitation of focus groups/interviews) and qualitative analysis plans and processes (e.g., codebooks, coding, thematic analysis).
Supports development and implementation of participatory and engaged learning processes with stakeholders (e.g., team members, academic experts, residents, practitioners) such as emergent learning opportunities and data interpretation sessions.
Develops process/protocol for ongoing literature and other reviews to aid the assessment of investment opportunities and identify trends in evidence to aid the development of future investment strategies and assists with ongoing scan and summary of evidence.
Supports creation of dissemination products and the dissemination of learnings and evaluation findings to internal and external stakeholders.
Supports JSMF team’s efforts to foster improved regional data and knowledge generation capacity.
Works collaboratively with the Director of Learning and Evaluation and JSMF team to monitor progress and generate and share insights from data, research, and engagement to improve the impact of the Foundation.
Other duties that help drive impact on the Foundation’s mission.
Qualifications and Skills
4+ years of relevant experience in data analysis, evaluation, literature reviews, organizational learning and/or knowledge management, preferably in a philanthropic setting.
Experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection, management, and analysis.
Knowledge of participatory and/or equitable evaluation principles and practices.
Experience identifying appropriate quantitative analytic procedures and developing and implementing analysis plans.
Skilled at conducting descriptive, prescriptive, and exploratory statistical analyses of quantitative data. Competency and experience navigating and analyzing data utilizing relational databases (e.g. Air Table) and statistical analysis programs (e.g., SPSS, R, Excel), interpreting statistical test results, and summarizing findings. Experience developing narrative descriptions of interpretation of results for findings and creating graphs/charts, tables, and other visuals to depict results and preparing findings for dissemination in various formats (e.g., presentations, papers, reports, briefs, dashboards).
Familiarity with qualitative data collection and analysis processes (e.g., coding, thematic analysis).
Strong critical thinking, analytic (e.g., attention to detail, accuracy in editing, record-keeping), and writing skills.

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