Data Scientist

University of Georgia

University of Georgia

Data Science
Athens, GA, USA
Posted 6+ months ago

Posting Details

Posting Details
Posting Number S12802P
Working Title Data Scientist
Department EITS-Institutional Research
About the University of Georgia
Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,000 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 40,000 students including over 30,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens.
About the College/Unit/Department
College/Unit/Department website https://oir.uga.edu/
Posting Type External
Retirement Plan TRS or ORP
Employment Type Employee
Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible
Full/Part time Full Time
Work Schedule
Additional Schedule Information
Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm
Advertised Salary Commensurate with Experience
Posting Date 10/18/2024
Open until filled Yes
Closing Date
Proposed Starting Date 12/02/2024
Special Instructions to Applicants
Applicants should submit a current CV/Resume, a letter that describes their professional experience and capabilities and how they meet the expectations of the position description, and at least three professional references with contact information. References will not be contacted without further contact with the applicant.

Location of Vacancy Athens Area
EEO Policy Statement
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Position Information
Classification Title Institutional Research Professional
FLSA Exempt
FTE 1.00
Minimum Qualifications
Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.
Preferred Qualifications
Masters or higher in a field related to educational research or statistical modeling.
Experience with one or more data domains common to higher education.

Position Summary
The Office Institutional Research at the University of Georgia is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Data Scientist to join our team. This position will play a critical role in analyzing and interpreting complex data sets to support institutional decision-making. Focusing on strategic enrollment management, the Data Scientist will develop predictive models and data visualizations to provide data-informed insights about the enrollment life cycle, from student recruitment to graduation to post-graduate success. The successful candidate will have an understanding of principles in statistics, mathematics, economics, and computer science and the ability to effectively communicate with key stakeholders.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies
  • Demonstrated Proficiency in statistical modeling in R or Python.
  • Demonstrated Proficiency in SQL.
  • Experience creating data visualizations in Power B.I.
  • Knowledge of common forecasting principles.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Physical Demands
Normal office environment.
Is driving a responsibility of this position? No
Is this a Position of Trust? Yes
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? No
Does this position require a P-Card? No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No
Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) Yes
Credit and P-Card policy
Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.
Duties/Responsibilities
Duties/Responsibilities
Support the University of Georgia’s Data Science efforts in the following ways:
  • Lead Strategic Enrollment Management modeling by examining the current pipeline of students to determine optimal institutional capacities and admissions thresholds.
  • Develop and maintain predictive models for key performance indicators, such as retention, graduation rate, and persistence rates.
  • Develop simulations based on relevant data and findings to support “What-If” Analysis
  • Address more sophisticated or novel requests for analysis, such as causative models, graph analysis, and event processing
  • Extract, cleanse, and verify data utilized in the creation of features for modeling and reporting by multiple constituencies, and monitoring these products after release for drift
  • Respond to ad hoc queries in support of enrollment management needs.
  • Communicate results effectively
Percentage of time 80
Duties/Responsibilities
  • Other duties as appropriate and assigned by the Assistant Director for Data Science or the Associate VP for Institutional Research.
Percentage of time 10
Duties/Responsibilities
  • Understand University strategy and objectives and identify opportunities to deliver decision-aids and data products [visualizations, models and their outputs, alerts, etc.]
  • Support the development of data capabilities throughout the institution, as needed, by assisting in the selection of potential tools, creating best practices for machine learning applications, benchmarking external analytics service providers, and providing validation services to internal conclusions drawn from data.
Percentage of time 10

Contact Information

Recruitment Contact
Contact Details
For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.
Recruitment Contact Name Allan Aycock
Recruitment Contact Email aaycock@uga.edu
Recruitment Contact Phone

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents
  1. Resume/CV
  2. Cover Letter
  3. List of References with Contact Information
Optional Documents