Data and Decision Analyst

Data and Decision Analyst

Location

St. Davids

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

1176

Department

Office of Strategy and Effectiveness

Opening Date

09/10/2026

• Description
• Benefits

Join our vibrant community of dedicated faculty and staff who work to create a transformative educational experience rooted in faith, reason, and justice.

Eastern University is a nationally-recognized Christian university enrolling approximately 9,000 students in a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, professional, and seminary programs. The university's main campus is located in St. Davids, PA, with many programs also offered online. Eastern's core values of Faith, Reason, and Justice are woven into all of its educational offerings. Through dynamic programs, a vibrant campus community, and meaningful service learning opportunities, Eastern University is committed to providing students with transformative, accessible, and affordable education.

Position Description

The Data and Decision Analyst serves as a quantitative and technical analyst within the Division of Strategy and Effectiveness. Reporting directly to the Associate Director of Strategic and Data Analysis, this role performs hands-on data collection, statistical modeling, dashboard development, and analytical reporting to inform institutional decision-making and strategic initiatives.

In addition to core analytics, this position plays a pivotal operational function in divisional process automation and optimization, identifying manual workflows across systems and leveraging data pipelines, scripts, and automation tools to streamline division-wide initiatives.

Through a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Director of Institutional Effectiveness, the analyst also directly supports key assessment, accreditation, and institutional performance monitoring processes.

Position Responsibilities

Strategic Analytics & Decision Support (Primary Report: Associate Director)

• Stakeholder Consultation: Partner with academic and administrative stakeholders to clarify decision questions, define metrics and data requirements, identify appropriate data sources, and translate analytical findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Data Extraction & Integration: Extract, clean, integrate, and analyze complex datasets across enterprise systems to support strategic decision-making.
• Visualization & Dashboard Development: Build, deploy, and maintain interactive business intelligence dashboards and data visualization tools for divisional and institutional leadership.
• Predictive Analytics & Tracking: Conduct trend, cohort, longitudinal-outcomes, comparative, and predictive analyses of institutional, IPEDS, and other external higher-education data to identify patterns, benchmark performance, and inform decisions related to student enrollment, retention, academic performance, post-graduation outcomes, and institutional efficiency.
• Briefings & Reporting: Assist the Associate Director in preparing analytical briefs, data presentations, and executive summaries for strategic initiative teams.

Process Automation & Operational Efficiency

• Workflow Automation: Identify, design, and implement automated workflows, scripts, and scheduled data feeds to reduce manual data manipulation across divisional initiatives.
• Process Optimization: Audit recurring data collection and reporting tasks across the division to standardize metrics and establish automated, repeatable processes.

Assessment & Institutional Effectiveness Support (Dotted-Line: Director of IE)

• Assessment & Plan Tracking: Support the Director of Institutional Effectiveness in gathering, structuring, and analyzing data related to assessing institutional programs, priorities, strategies, and strategic plan KPIs.
• Automated Unit Reviews: Assist in developing automated data templates and digital survey tools that support administrative unit planning and review.
• Continuous Improvement: Process and evaluate qualitative and quantitative data and metrics to support mission-driven continuous institutional improvement.

Data Integrity & Governance

• Data & Process Governance: Maintain rigorous standards for data accuracy, consistency, documentation, confidentiality, and compliance with FERPA and institutional data-governance policies across assigned projects and initiatives.
• Institutional Research Alignment: Collaborate with the Institutional Research team to cross-verify metrics and data to ensure alignment and accuracy in reporting.

Additional Responsibilities

• Stay current on developing trends in higher education analytics, IR, and emerging technologies.
• Serve on institutional committees as requested.
• Attend University meetings and events as required.
• Embody Eastern University's vision, mission, and core values of excellence, authenticity, stewardship, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, relationships, and innovation.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in data science, statistics, mathematics, business analytics or a closely related quantitative field required (Master's degree preferred).

Experience: Minimum 2-3 years of hands-on experience in data analysis, institutional research, business intelligence, or decision support (experience in higher education preferred).

Analytical & Technical Skills:

• Strong experience with Tableau, SQL, Python, and advanced Excel/Power Query for data extraction, transformation, validation, analysis, and visualization.
• Proven ability to ethically and responsibly use AI in coding, designing workflows, etc.
• Familiarity with Higher Education Student Information Systems (e.g., Banner, Colleague, Workday), Learning Management Systems (e.g., Canvas, Brightspace), and national datasets (e.g., IPEDS).
• Experience with the Google suite and successful implementation of automations using Google Apps Script.

Domain Knowledge: Understanding of higher education data governance, institutional assessment methodologies, and survey research design.

Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to explain complex statistical analysis to non-technical audiences and leadership.

Project Management: Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to balance dual reporting priorities, manage competing deadlines, and work collaboratively in a team environment.

About Eastern University

Eastern University is a Christian university of the arts and sciences that integrates faith, reason and justice for students in its undergraduate, graduate, seminary, urban, professional and international programs. Applicants should have a Christian commitment compatible with its mission and be willing to support the mission and vision of the university. The university complies with federal and state guidelines of nondiscrimination in employment; members of protected classes encouraged to apply.

Background Checks

Standard University employees are required to complete the background clearance process. Employment is contingent upon the successful results of an employment background screening. The employment background screening may include but is not limited to your consumer credit history (for positions that work with the university finances or alumni funds only), verification of education and professional credentials, criminal history, driving history, residency, immigration status, performance, references, and other qualities pertinent to your qualifications for the following position.

Youth Clearances are required for positions with direct contact with children and essential personnel positions. Employees working with or around minor age children are required to complete the youth clearance process which includes the following four child protection clearances:

1) Affidavit;

2) FBI Criminal Record Check;

3) Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance and;

4) Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check.

In accordance with state laws, Act 73 of 2007, Act 153 of 2014, Act 168 (relating to the Child Protective Services Law), school employees of Eastern University who will have "direct contact with children" must complete the background check process prior to employment. Results must be submitted within ten days of receipt.

Description Disclaimer

This description is intended to describe the general level and nature of work performed by the person/people assigned to this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities of the person/people so assigned.

For all positions: Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

Eastern University is committed to the principles of equal opportunity as defined under federal and state law, and does not discriminate unlawfully on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, color, creed, disability, national/ethnic origin, age, disabled veteran/Vietnam-era, Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), or veteran status in its admission policy, program, or activities, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other University-administered programs, or employment practices and programs.

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time faculty and staff including healthcare coverage, retirement plan contributions, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, tuition remission and tuition exchange participation as well as an extensive holiday, summer hours and paid time off leave schedule.

Part-time Regular staff who are scheduled 30-36 hours per week over the course of a year, receive a full benefit package based on their part-time scheduled hours. Healthcare coverage is based on the ACA medical coverage guidelines. Affiliate faculty receive a benefit package as outlined with their covenant. Adjunct faculty may be eligible for medical coverage under the ACA after an annual one year lookback review.

Part-time staff who are scheduled to work less than 30 hours per week schedule are eligible for employer contribution towards the retirement plan after one year of employment. Eligibility rules apply. Adjunct faculty may make employee deferral contributions towards the retirement plan.

Part-Time Graduate Assistant Coaches are eligible for participation in the Tuition Remission Coaches Program.

Temporary, Contractors and Seasonal Employees: Individuals in this status are scheduled on an as-needed-basis and are not eligible for participation in the University's benefits programs.

Detailed information regarding our benefits program and eligibility is provided once hired or you can contact Human Resources with any questions.

Employer Eastern University

Address 1300 Eagle Road

St. Davids, Pennsylvania, 19087

Phone 610-341-5986

Website http://www.eastern.edu