Research and Enrolment Analyst

Competition 1741

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: Faculty & Staff Benefits.

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that it is located on Treaty 6 territory and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers, and world shapers who lead with purpose every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students, and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will meaningfully influence a fascinating cross-section of people—from our students and community members to our renowned researchers and innovators—making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just. Learn more.

Working for the Registrar's Office Enrolment Research, Analytics and Insights (ERAI) unit 

The Enrolment Research, Analytics and Insights (ERAI) unit in the Office of the Registrar is responsible for operational data reporting and forward-looking research on various topics related to university enrolment. The unit collaborates with stakeholder groups to deliver high-quality data products and strategic insights to support senior leadership in evidence-informed decision-making.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Registrar, Enrolment Research, Analytics and Insights, the Research & Enrolment Analyst plays an integral role by providing critical analysis and interpretation of enrolment data for strategic and tactical planning within the Office of the Registrar (RO) at the University of Alberta. 

• Generate, collect, analyze and report data for enrolment projection/forecasting.
• Conduct research to provide insight for strategic and tactical planning. This will often involve data sources both within and external to the university involving Advancement Services, Dean of Students, government agencies such as Apply Alberta or other educational institutions. 
• Monitor the effect of initiatives and statistical results on enrollment services and enrollment management and provide analysis of the initiatives' success on our student population.
• Take the lead in identifying issues and providing direction regarding the building and sharing of complex operational data reporting, provision of answers, and methods to obtain answers about the University of Alberta student population to the RO executive team. Also, information should be made available to faculty, departments and administrative units.
• Respond to inquiries with evidence-based analyses to provide answers to questions from the faculties, departments, and administrative units. Negotiations are undertaken with the RO executive team when initiating new reports or agreements with university executives or external parties.
• Relevant analyses should be kept up-to-date for immediate reference.
• Ensure that regular and ad hoc reports meet the needs of the RO and the campus partners it serves.

Duties 

• Conduct research for the relevant data from existing sources or through new surveys, often in consultation with other internal offices, such as the Dean of Students, Advancement Services, Alumni Office and external agencies, such as Apply Alberta and other universities.
• Carry out the necessary analyses, mainly statistical but qualitative, where appropriate, to explore and highlight nuances in critical issues, answer questions, or develop positions.
• Refine the analysis and information as determined in consultation with the requesting office or department.
• Develop and maintain predictive models to ensure business leads within the RO and the campus community have relevant input for planning
• Prepare effective presentations to be delivered either in person or electronically.
• Contribute to, assess and make recommendations to achieve consistency for data analysis conducted by faculties and departments of the University.
• In response to requests that emerge from senior executives or management, consult as necessary to identify the particular questions that require analysis
• Work with communications and marketing to develop the annual enrolment report for internal and external audiences
• Identify and advise on what data is needed related to enrolment analysis and reporting
• Find the university sources of strategically relevant data and coordinate its compilation, often in collaboration with other offices
• Conduct research and retain comparators from other institutions to compare our business processes and performance metrics to best practices from other institutions.
• Review resulting data compilations and reports to identify insights of significance to the university and any questions of validity and reliability.
• Take lead responsibility for analyzing trends in the following broad fields: enrollment services and enrollment management, including local, national, and international students and specific student populations such as Indigenous students.
• Take a lead role in the RO's production of business intelligence. Conducts working groups to gather insight on the needs of the RO and university community and ensures that the studies and reports published meet those needs.
• Engage RO staff in understanding the value contained within the university’s data.
• Develop, revise, monitor, and evaluate the RO's enrolment reporting needs in collaboration with the Assistant Registrar - Enrolment Research, Analytics and Insights.
• Keep current on the methods and tools available within and external to our enrolment management and reporting systems and recommend appropriate approaches and tools.

 Minimum Qualifications

• Related undergraduate degree in social sciences, economics, statistics, or related disciplines with excellent knowledge of statistical research and analytical methods and related software/technology. 
• Three years of experience conducting research and analysis (from information searches and selection through statistical compilation and analysis) that provides answers to critical questions within strategic time limits. 
• Expertise in both qualitative and quantitative aspects, preferably in a post-secondary environment. 
• Continuous upgrading of computer software (e.g., SAS, R, Python, Tableau, Excel), statistical and social scientific analytical skills as techniques and technology evolve.
• Superior ability to work cooperatively with colleagues and data specialists in other units and provide leadership in information gathering, trend analysis and predictive analysis.
• Strong ability to analyze data suggest recommendations, and present results to senior management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for consultations and reports.
• Excellent time management in balancing demands will ensure access to critical data, reports, or analysis within strategic time limits, including accurate preliminary estimates of project time expectations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher.
• Experience in machine learning.
• Experience in Tableau dashboard building and Arc GIS.