The Stanford Center on Early Childhood, an initiative of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, seeks a full time Data Scientist to join the RAPID Survey Project team. The Data Scientist will oversee the work of a team of analysts, establishing and maintaining quality standards, reviewing outputs, and ensuring that research processes are executed with precision, consistency, and scientific rigor.
Note: This position is a 1-year fixed term appointment that may be renewed based on performance and funding. This position is eligible for a remote work agreement and travel is required for convenings and events. Interested applicants should submit a resume and a cover letter describing why they are interested in this position at this stage of their career. Candidates must be eligible to work in the US. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
ABOUT US
Housed at Stanford Graduate School of Education, the Stanford Accelerator for Learning is the first university-wide initiative connecting scholars across disciplines and with external partners to bridge research, innovation, practice, and policy, and bring quality scalable and equitable learning experiences to all learners, throughout the lifespan. The Stanford Accelerator for Learning focuses on learning challenges most in need of new discoveries, evidence, and solutions and where we believe Stanford can make the most difference. Those include: adult & workforce learning, digital learning, early childhood education and development, equity in learning, learning differences, and policy & systems change.
The Stanford Center on Early Childhood (SCEC) is an initiative of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning. The SCEC leverages the current moment of revolutionary science and fosters deep omnidirectional collaboration across sectors, seeking to change the way that research in early childhood is conducted, communicated, and utilized, with the overarching goal that each and every child thrives from the start.
POSITION SUMMARY
RAPID began as a program of two national surveys of households with children under age 6 and the child care workforce. Led by Philip Fisher, Stanford Center on Early Childhood Director, the RAPID National Survey administers monthly surveys on a rapid-cycle schedule, and has collected data from more than 20,000 households and 12,000 child care providers in all 50 states. The survey and data inform policy, advocacy, academic, parent and practitioner audiences on the experiences, challenges, and strengths of parents of young children and child care providers. The goal is to support parent- and provider-driven policies and programs that equitably and effectively serve families, providers, and young children.
RAPID is now implemented in community, state, and national contexts, working in partnership with local and state organizations. The RAPID datasets are extensive and quickly growing, and include both quantitative and qualitative data.
The Data Scientist will oversee analyses of all data collected by the RAPID Survey Project. The person in this role will provide oversight and guidance to the RAPID Data Analysts, help strengthen the research process, and review and ensure accuracy and quality of data products. They will guide analysts through review, reflection, and constructive feedback on analytic approaches and outputs and provide final sign-off to ensure the team’s work is rigorous, reliable, and high quality.
The Data Scientist will be a resource in the production of data dissemination products, such as visualizations, fact sheets, and data briefs. The Data Scientist will maintain rigorous methodological standards, review work, support analysts, and strengthen both the quality of individual products and the skills of the research team.
The successful candidate will bring extensive methodological experience, technical skill with analysis tools and software, and content knowledge in early childhood development, education, policy, and/or advocacy. While this role will provide oversight and mentorship, it will not include direct supervision. The Data Scientist will work independently and with minimal supervision under the direction of the Director of the RAPID Survey Project and in collaboration with RAPID Program Managers.
Your primary responsibilities will include:
Lead and own organization-wide data initiatives (e.g. models, frameworks, platforms, dashboards).
Guide, coach and mentor a high performing team of analysts.
Identify, leverage and partner with external stakeholders.
Prioritize and extract data from a variety of sources such as notes, survey results, medical reports, and laboratory data, and maintain its accuracy and completeness.
Determine additional data collection and reporting requirements. Design and customize reports based upon data in the database. Oversee and monitor compliance with processes that ensure high-quality data.
Use system reports and analyses to identify potentially problematic data, make corrections, and eliminate root cause for data problems or justify solutions to be implemented by others.
Create complex charts and databases, perform statistical analyses, and develop graphs and tables for publication and presentation.
Serve as a resource for non-routine inquiries such as requests for statistics or surveys.
Provide documentation based on audit and reporting criteria to investigators and research staff.
To be successful in this position, you will bring:
Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
Experience in a quantitative discipline such as economics, finance, statistics or engineering.
Ability to direct the work of others, for jobs requiring supervision.
Relevant subject matter knowledge.
Substantial experience with MS Office and analytical programs.
Excellent writing and analytical skills.
Ability to prioritize workload.
Preferred Education & Experience:
Doctoral degree or equivalent in relevant field
Content expertise in early childhood, education, policy, and/or advocacy
Advanced methodological, statistical, and analytic skills
Experience with survey research
Ability to coach and mentor analysts
Ability to work in a matrixed team environment, collaborating with peers with leadership responsibilities, senior leadership and junior team members
Flexible and creative thinking about data analysis
Experience working with large data sets
Experience working with a geographically distributed team
Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
Physical Requirements*:
Sitting in place at computer for long periods of time with extensive keyboarding/dexterity.
Occasionally use a telephone.
Rarely writing by hand.
The expected pay range for this position is $91,699 to $138,688 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.
WORK STANDARDS:
Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.
Why Stanford is for You:
Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with:
Freedom to grow. We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
A caring culture. We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
A healthier you. Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
Discovery and fun. Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
Enviable resources. Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more!
We pride ourselves in being a culture that encourages and empowers you.
The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources at stanfordelr@stanford.edu. For all other inquiries, please submit a contact form.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
How to Apply:
We invite you to apply for this position by clicking on the “Apply for Job” button. To be considered, you must submit a cover letter and résumé along with your online application.
Finalist must successfully complete a background check prior to working at Stanford University.
This is a fixed-term position with an end date of one year and is renewable based on performance and funding
Candidates must be eligible to work in the US. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
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