Analyst, Electronic Research Administration Data

The Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development is hiring for an Electronic Research Administration (ERA) Data Analyst.  This position supports the extraction, transformation, analysis, and validation of data from the ERA system and related platforms to advance research administration, compliance, and operational effectiveness. Depending on the level, this role may assist with routine reporting and dashboard maintenance, independently develop and automate reports and data visualizations, or lead complex data analysis initiatives that provide strategic insights for research operations. The position collaborates with stakeholders to identify reporting needs, improve data quality, streamline business processes, support compliance monitoring, and enhance decision-making through accurate and actionable data. As analysts progress through the career ladder, responsibilities expand from supporting established reporting processes to leading data analytics strategies, developing advanced dashboards, and driving continuous improvement efforts across the research administration enterprise.

LEVEL I

Responsibilities

• Collects and organizes research data from the Electronic Research Administration (ERA) system or other institutional systems to support analysis and reporting.
• Performs basic data cleaning and validation to ensure accuracy and integrity under established protocols.
• Assists in preparing standard reports and summaries to support process improvement and compliance activities.
• Supports dashboard maintenance by updating existing visualizations and assisting with routine data refreshes.
• Follows established scripts and queries to extract data; escalate issues to higher-level staff as needed.
• Collaborate with team members to learn reporting processes, data tools, and visualization techniques.
• Engages in training and professional development to build knowledge in data analysis, visualization tools, and ERA systems.

LEVEL II

Responsibilities

• Extracts, cleans, transforms, validates, and analyzes data from the Electronic Research Administration (ERA) system and related institutional systems to support reporting, compliance monitoring, operational effectiveness, and process improvement initiatives.
• Develops and maintains reports, dashboards, and visualizations that communicate key metrics, trends, and findings to stakeholders. Ensure data products are accurate, user-friendly, and aligned with business and research administration needs.
• Creates and modifies queries, scripts, and automated reporting processes to improve data accessibility, efficiency, and reporting accuracy. Troubleshoots data issues and works to resolve discrepancies through established data governance practices.
• Partners with research administration staff and other stakeholders gather reporting requirements, identify analytical needs, and develop customized reports and dashboards that support informed decision-making.
• Monitors data quality and integrity across multiple systems by conducting audits, validating results, and recommending corrective actions to improve reliability and consistency.
• Identifies trends, patterns, and opportunities for operational improvement through data analysis and presents findings and recommendations to management and stakeholders.
• Documents reporting processes, data definitions, and analytical methodologies to support consistency, knowledge sharing, and business continuity.
• Remains current on reporting tools, data visualization techniques, and ERA system enhancements and recommends process improvements that increase reporting effectiveness and operational efficiency.

LEVEL III

Responsibilities

• Extracts, cleans, transforms, and analyzes data from the Electronic Research Administration (ERA) system or other institutional systems, ensuring its accuracy and relevance, to provide meaningful and actionable reports, and to enhance the process improvement and reporting capabilities of the ERA unit by identifying key performance indicators, uncovering trends, and facilitating data-driven decision-making. Develop SQLqueries and data pipelines to automate reporting.
• Develops and maintains dashboards and visualizations to effectively present findings, ensuring clear communication of insights to stakeholders. This includes designing user-friendly interfaces, integrating real-time data updates, and utilizing visualization tools to highlight key metrics and trends.
• Leads collaborations with cross-functional teams to define analytical priorities and design custom data solutions. Gathers requirements, customizes dashboards to meet specific needs, and provides training to stakeholders on how to interpret and utilize the visualizations for informed decision-making.
• Develop data strategies that directly support compliance, planning, and institutional decision-making.
• May mentor and train analyst staff, providing technical guidance and professional development opportunities to build analytical capacity across the team.
• May assist in evaluating emerging technologies and recommend innovative solutions that enhance reporting capabilities, compliance monitoring, and strategic decision-making.

LEVEL I
Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree - No specific discipline
• 2 years of experience in data analysis and reporting, data management tools or systems.

OR 

• Master's degree - No specific discipline

LEVEL II

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree - No specific discipline
• 4 years of experience in data analysis and reporting, data management tools or systems.

OR

• Master's degree - No specific discipline. 
• 2 years of experience in data analysis and reporting, data management tools or systems.

LEVEL III

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree - No specific discipline
• 6 years years of experience in data analysis and reporting, data management tools or systems.

OR

• Master's degree - No specific discipline. 
• 4 years of experience in data analysis and reporting, data management tools or systems. 

Expectations:

• Strong knowledge of SQL, Excel, and Dashboard Tools (Power BI, Tableau, Visio, etc.)
• Familiarity with data governance and Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) tools
• Familiarity with Huron Research Suite (HRS) integrations and data workflows within enterprise environments
• Analytical mindset with strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• Ability to navigate HRS’s nested data structures for reporting and analytics purposes
• Ability to build and optimize SQL queries and automated data pipelines to streamline reporting

Desired Qualifications:

• Degree in Data Analytics, Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or another relevant field 
• Experience in research administration systems

Must be a U.S. citizen

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Strong knowledge of SQL, Excel, and dashboard tools (Power BI, Tableau, Visio, etc.)
• Familiarity with data governance and Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) tools
• Familiarity with Huron Research Suite (HRS) integrations and data workflows within enterprise environments
• Analytical mindset with strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• Ability to navigate HRS’s nested data structures for reporting and analytics purposes
• Ability to build and optimize SQL queries and automated data pipelines to streamline reporting

Desired Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Demonstrated SQL pipeline building/maintenance with experience that includes, but not limited to, Joins, CTEs, window functions, stored procedures, MERGE/upsert, database design, Visual Query Tool, automated ETL (Windows Task Scheduler + PowerShell, etc.) and staging vs historical schema buildouts.
• Ability to construct and articulate quality Dashboards with advanced proficiency and attention to detail that communicates key information to stakeholders.

• Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
• Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!