Policy Data Manager

Job Description Summary:

The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center aims to be the go-to resource for actionable evidence for state policy leaders as they develop and implement the most effective policies that ensure children get off to a strong start and thrive. The Data and Analysis Team at the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center conducts robust and rigorous data analysis to support the Center’s goals to build the evidence base for effective and equitable policymaking, track state progress in building a more effective and equitable system of care, and shape policy development in states through targeted assistance and support.

We seek a Policy Data Manager with expertise in data analysis and project management to oversee a diverse portfolio of data projects and contribute to a team of experts. The Policy Data Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing key data processes for the Center’s annual State Policy Roadmap; the Policy Impact Calculator, a simulation of policy impact; and a range of robust data products to inform policy action for state leaders and policymakers.

General Notes:

This position reports to the Director of Data and Analytics. Applicants from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse environment to continue to build a strong and equitable prenatal-to-3 system of care. This position can be performed remotely, and hybrid remote-work opportunities are available.

The primary responsibilities of the position include:

Project and data management and leadership:

• Serve as a project manager and provide leadership overseeing the Center’s work related to policy data, including the following:
  • Overseeing all processes for data collection and analysis for the annual Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap, Policy Impact Calculator (PIC), and other key data resources for the field (e.g., policy data simulations, benefit-cost analyses).
  • Overseeing the annual migration of data from the Roadmap and PIC into the Center’s Policy Evaluation Tracking System.
  • Contributing strategic thought partnership to the development of the range of policy and data products produced by the policy and data teams, especially those drawing on policy data sources (e.g., American Community Survey, National Survey of Children’s Health, etc.), ensuring work is high-quality, completed through an equity lens, and on time.
  • Leading efforts to improve internal workflows for benefit-cost analyses, including assumption tracking, QC protocols, and alignment with external tools and calculators where appropriate.
  • Ensure quality of data analysis by reviewing staff’s work and providing guidance and feedback
  • Overseeing coordination with clients and stakeholders, as necessary to obtain and manage administrative datasets.
  • Taking a leadership role and monitoring compliance with data security and data retention policies.
• Demonstrate ownership of project timelines, analysis, and all work products.
• Communicate and work collaboratively with other staff, including other team managers and members, to ensure organizational goals are met; take a leadership role in sharing information and new ideas across teams for shared learning and coordination across projects.
• Take a leadership role in hiring and onboarding staff and graduate research assistants, training and supporting new staff in learning team processes.
• If providing direct supervision, provide on-going mentoring and feedback to staff and students and support the professional growth and career development of staff and students. 
• Contribute to developing and improving processes and procedures within the data team.

 

Data analysis, research, writing, and client/stakeholder engagement: 

• Develop and manage the process of obtaining administrative data (e.g., Census, Vital Statistics, and state-level longitudinal data sets), administrative database architecture, data cleaning processes, and conducting rigorous data analysis 
• Ensure data acquisition, cleaning, and workflows are fully documented and reproducible.
• Identify, analyze, and interpret trends or patterns in complex data sets, including to measure state variation and generosity in policy adoption and implementation, state-level indicators of child and family wellbeing, state-level demographic characteristics of the PN-3 population, and the impact of state policies on outcomes for families

• Implement systematic quality control checks to identify data inconsistences, coding errors, or anomalies

• Demonstrate an understanding of the “shape” of data and how the data may fit with other data sets or answer dynamic research questions 

• Identify opportunities to integrate datasets or improve analytic approaches to better address research and policy questions

• Contribute to and/or lead the production of written products and academic publications summarizing results of policy research and analysis, including producing tables, charts, and graphs
• Collaborate with research and policy teams to troubleshoot analytic challenges, and improve data infrastructure

Supervisory Relationships:

• This position supervises students and does not have staff supervisory responsibility. 

 

Required/Essential qualifications:

• Strong Stata and/or R skills or strong skills in an alternative statistical package with intermediate skills in Stata and/or R; Strong Excel skills

• Excellent project management and organizational skills, strong problem-solving abilities, tenacity about details and organization

• Able to adapt to changing timelines and circumstances when needed

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with others in a team environment

• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex concepts clearly and concisely

• Able to come up to speed on new topics quickly, multi-task effectively, and produce high-quality work under time constraints

• Expertise with data systems architecture and engineering as well as data management and analysis, specifically with large, multi-year national datasets

• Exceptional analytic and critical thinking skills

• Experience providing supervision and guidance to other staff

• Demonstrated understanding and support for key concepts in diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment
• Master's degree with major coursework in the field of assignment, plus at least five years of related experience; Additional related experience may substitute for required education

 

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.