Data Architect - JR26999-3800

University of Chicago - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Chicago, IL

Educational Services

About the position

The University of Chicago Consortium on School Research is seeking a Data Architect to lead the revamping of their data architecture, enhancing efficiency and ensuring reliable access to educational data for researchers. This role involves transitioning from flat data files to a relational database system, collaborating with internal teams and possibly third-party developers. The position requires strong analytical skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a collaborative environment, with an initial in-person requirement for six months before transitioning to a hybrid model.

Responsibilities

• Lead the process of analyzing, planning, and defining data architecture framework, including security, reference data, metadata, and master data.
• Collaborate closely with Consortium management, research staff, and IT team to develop and implement a data strategy, data management processes, and data requirements.
• Translate business requirements into databases, data warehouses, and data streams.
• Create procedures to ensure data accuracy and accessibility.
• Convene and work closely with Consortium staff to determine data definitions and best practices to structure variables, data, and documentation.
• Develop application programming interfaces (APIs) to retrieve data.
• Supervise research analysts in tasks related to building new data architecture.
• Perform periodical data checks to ensure data accuracy, integrity, and accessibility.
• Maintain a repository of all data cleaning and architecture procedures and artifacts.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of data documentation, including decision rules on variables and new data sources.
• Meet regularly with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) research and data staff and Consortium researchers to discuss data requests and ensure data received meet the Consortium's analytical needs.
• Communicate regularly with Consortium research staff on data needs and updates and answer ad hoc data questions and requests.
• Develop and maintain a system to collaborate with Consortium staff to support data needs such as creating new variables and datasets.
• Review the Scope of Work of each research project at the Consortium jointly with the Managing Director of Statistics and Analysis to ensure data needed is available.
• Provide ongoing professional development opportunities to Consortium staff regarding data use.
• Lead the development of Business Intelligence (BI) and other analytical applications.

Requirements

• A college or university degree in a related field.
• 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice-to-haves

• A master's degree in computer science, information technology, data management, software development, business intelligence, or other related fields.
• Seven years of experience analyzing data, working and understanding data processes or working with large scale student or business systems.
• Experience with coding languages like Python and Java for data analysis applications.
• Experience with machine learning to build scalable systems for handling big data.
• Proficiency in Structured Query Language (SQL) for data manipulation.
• Familiarity with data modeling tools like ERWin or Visio.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Flexible scheduling