Full-Time Data Scientist

THE ROLE

TRAILS is seeking a Data Scientist to support reporting efforts on TRAILS’ multi-tiered mental health interventions in K-12 schools. The Data Scientist will help build TRAILS’ evaluation reporting capacity by developing scalable processing and reporting pipelines for implementation and expansion partners (e.g. legislators, philanthropic funders, district partners). The Data Scientist will be responsible for developing and maintaining parameterized reports using the R programming language. 

TRAILS evaluation data includes survey data from students and staff, mental health data from students, administrative data, and publicly available data. TRAILS analysis and reporting ranges from descriptive work for stakeholders to advanced evaluation and statistical methods (e.g., RCTs, measurement analysis) published in peer-reviewed journals, all of which must be performed at a high level of data reproducibility and rigor across reporting formats. The Data Scientist will also support maintaining data integrity and good data stewardship through their data collection, processing, and analysis, while ensuring that methods are culturally responsible, equitable, replicable, and rigorous.  

The Data Scientist role will be a Limited Term Employment opportunity. Currently, these roles are backed by specific time limited legislative funding. As such, the role is considered to be limited term employment that will not go beyond December 2026. The position is considered a TRAILS team member and will receive full benefits during employment. If a regular, long-term role of interest to the team member becomes available at any point, the team member will be encouraged to apply.  

 THE RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Reporting (65%)

• Lead the development of automated data processing and reporting
• Develop scalable processing and reporting pipelines to generate parameterized reports
• Clean and analyze TRAILS program evaluation data using R
   
  • Data includes survey data from students and staff, mental health data from students, administrative data, and publicly available data
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  • Create and maintain datasets, including merging files, restructuring, recoding variables, and checking for errors.
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  • High level of data reproducibility, rigor, and efficiency is required that can be easily updated and reused for future reporting work
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• Design data visualizations and graphics to communicate data with a range of audiences
• Prepare technical documentation in support of reporting efforts

Data Interpretation and Dissemination (25%)

• Collaborate with TRAILS staff, including the Evaluation team, Implementation Team, and National Expansion team to identify and prioritize reporting opportunities
• Provide technical assistance and trainings to TRAILS staff regarding the interpretation of reports
• Prepare written (e.g., reports, manuscripts) and oral (presentations to internal and external decision maker) communications on TRAILS implementation and outcomes
• Support report dissemination, including preparation of materials and attending meetings with key decision makers as needed

Team Responsibilities (10%)

• Attend all staff meetings and retreats, workgroups, and other relevant TRAILS meetings as necessary
• Support TRAILS team with all hands-on deck events and other initiatives as needed 

THE PERSON 

Our experience suggests that the following types of professional experiences lend themselves to this work:

• At least 4 years of full-time professional work experience including:
   
  • 4+ years experience preparing data reports
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  • 4+ years experience using a programming language to conduct data analysis in R
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  • 2+ years experience automating reporting
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  • 2+ years experience with data visualization and graphics
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  • 2+ years experience leading the design and development of data reports for a variety of audiences
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• Strong programming skills, including experience crafting parameterized reporting
• Demonstrated track record of independently analyzing, interpreting, and communicating diverse data sets 
• Experience working with survey data, especially Qualtrics data
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly as it relates to data practices
• Strong commitment to TRAILS mission
• Experience working at a human services program or agency, school district, child welfare agency, state or federal government, or foundations is desirable