Position Details
Position Information
Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26340
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Mary Kate Blake
marykate.blake@montana.edu
406-994-4297
Classification Title Data/Research Analyst
Working Title Senior Data Scientist
Brief Position Overview
UDA staff work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators across the University to support the strategic and operational goals of the institution. This position is responsible for developing and maintaining complex databases, conducting independent data analysis, statistical modeling, and social research, leading analytical project teams, and disseminating research results related to student success and more generally as directed.
Position Number 4M0998
Department University Data & Analytics
Division VP for Information Technology
Appointment Type Classified
Contract Term Fiscal Year
Semester
If other, specify From date
If other, specify End date
FLSA Exempt
Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE 1.0
Benefits Eligible Eligible
Salary Salary range of $22.94 to $25.25 per hour, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications
Contract Type Classified Salary
If other, please specify
Recruitment Type Open
Position Details
General Statement
University Data & Analytics partners with stakeholders to transform data into information that advances MSU's mission and impact. This mission is accomplished through five strategies: Consultation & Capacity Building, Institutional Effectiveness, Data Governance & Strategy, Analytics & Data Science, and Compliance & External Reporting.
Duties and Responsibilities
Prepare, manage, and support federal (e.g., IPEDS , FVT /GE), state, and other compliance reporting requirements.
Extract data from Edify (institutional data warehouse), and Montana University System data systems, sources, and databases housed outside of the MUS (e.g. federal and state databases).
Provide ad hoc and ongoing statistical and analytical support in collaboration with requester, UDA staff, and other university offices with minimal supervision.
Develop original analytical projects and products for technical and non-technical end users through Edify .
Identify and propose solutions to potential data, analytical, statistical, or other problems.
Ensure data quality, integrity, and appropriate use across analytical products, reports, and dashboards.
Develop and maintain technical documentation for data pipelines, code, and analytical processes to support continuity and reproducibility.
Build analytical capacity across campus by advising units on effective data use and interpretation.
Lead projects involving other staff in and outside of UDA .
Present research and findings to University leadership and other institutional constituents.
Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Master's degree in the social sciences, data science, mathematics/statistics, higher education, or a related field or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
Three (3) or more years of work experience in an institutional research, analytics, or related functions.
Advanced knowledge of research design and statistics.
Demonstrated successful experience with data analysis tools and software (e.g. R, SPSS , SAS , Stata).
Demonstrated successful experience with database management and querying (e.g. SQL , database management tools).
Demonstrated experience effectively communicating data analysis in a professional setting.
Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Demonstrated successful experience with reporting on IPEDS , FVT /GE, CDS or other higher education compliance reporting.
Experience working in higher education analytics.
The Successful Candidate Will
Continue to build on knowledge with commitment to self-directed learning.
Service and inclusive design orientation - Collaborate with and view the process and product from the lens of constituents/end users.
Detail and accuracy orientation - Anticipate and discover errors and correct them.
Process and outcome orientation - Forecast how outcomes of projects will impact the organization.
Use strong written and oral communication skills to communicate data and analysis to lay audiences.
Think and act independently, critically, and carefully.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties? No
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on April 9, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
