Harvard University - Cambridge, MA
posted 3 months ago
The Office of Institutional Research and Analytics (OIRA) at Harvard University plays a crucial role in supporting the institution's leadership by providing comprehensive data analysis and reporting. This office serves as a trusted resource for implementing best practices in data synthesis and translation, collaborating closely with various partners across the university. The Research Analyst will be a key contributor to the OIRA team, working under the direction of the Associate Director of Institutional Research for Reporting. The Analyst will engage in a variety of projects that range from internal and external reporting needs to university-wide analytic initiatives. The position requires a candidate who is eager to learn about the multiple steps in the data lifecycle, including acquisition, cleaning, processing, analysis, documentation, validation, and visualization. A foundational knowledge of basic statistical methods is desirable, along with comfort in working with both quantitative and qualitative data. An interest in higher education and understanding the organizational structure of universities is essential. The responsibilities of the Research Analyst will include managing and reporting on data from diverse sources, collaborating with university personnel to collect and refine data, writing scripts to automate data and business processes, producing descriptive and inferential analyses under the guidance of a senior analyst, and presenting findings to both internal and external audiences. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, possess high standards for rigorous and detailed work, and be comfortable working both independently and as part of a team. Strong customer service orientation, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines are critical attributes for success in this role. Additionally, the candidate should have strong analytical, written, and oral communication skills, along with a curious and patient demeanor, and the ability to handle highly confidential data.