Senior Data Strategist

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500 schools and employing over 45,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

Planning and Data Management (PDM) enables and supports district and network managers, school principals, city agencies, and community-based organizations by offering a variety of geographically-based school planning services. The office is responsible for the Annual Regional Analysis, Attendance Boundary reviews, District Space Utilization, GIS Mapping, and Demographic analyses.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Demographics & Planning, the Senior Data Strategist will focus on utilizing data to drive progress towards District priorities and goals. The Senior Data Strategist will provide sound strategic, analytic, and project management expertise to Offices within the district and help set district standards for data processes and toolsets for analytics. The Senior data strategist will support the Department of Planning and Data Management by conducting sophisticated analysis of the district's public and confidential data and creating high-quality, Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based map documents and other data visualizations used to guide district planning, This is a full-time, exempt position.

The Senior Data Strategist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Co-manage the district's demographic and enrollment data to ensure effective organizational decision-making and improve CPS's ability to clearly communicate with the public
• Manage the creation of various studies, reports, and materials for the purpose of providing project updates and/or conveying other information required for district-wide planning and decision-making
• Develop annual and multi-year enrollment projections to help guide OPM's planning efforts
• Provide static and dynamic data visualizations using business intelligence software
• Lead the development, management, and expansion of geospatial technology to facilitate student assignment and enrollment analysis
• Deliver professional-quality map documents and data visualizations using business intelligence software to inform district-wide planning and decision-making
• Provide updated geospatial data, live public support, and UX design recommendations for the CPS School Locator app
• Respond to public inquiries regarding attendance area assignments
• Act as a business owner of the School Data Management System
• Other duties as assigned (Do not edit this row)

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Senior Data Strategist must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Master's degree preferred

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience writing code with data analytic tools (ie. Python, SAS, R, SPSS, STATA, etc.) is required

Expertise with Power BI, Microsoft Excel, and/or Google Sheets, inclusive of the ability to combine and report on datasets

Experience using geographic information systems ( ArcGISPro) software and programming preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to use or learn geographic information systems ( ArcGISPro) software and programming and related extensions (Network Analyst, Spatial Analyst, Community Analyst, Model Builder).
• Knowledge of web-based mapping technologies, specifically ArcGIS Online Web AppBuilder and Google Maps is preferred
• Commitment to adhere to a set of guiding principles for analytic practice as established by the Data Governance Council
• Exclusive utilization of approved enterprise analytic tool sets (SAS, SQL, Python, and ArcGIS)
• Exceptional organizational, communication (oral and written), and problem-solving skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, respond to multiple constituencies and meet established deadlines
• Effective strategic planning capabilities and the ability to align/manage activities toward goal fulfillment
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, including external partners, technical and non-technical personnel, and across departmental boundaries
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions; however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.