Job Description

The Data Visualization Specialist is responsible for extracting, transforming, loading, visualizing, and analyzing institutional and labor market data to drive institutional effectiveness, planning, accreditation, and student success, primarily using Tableau business intelligence products. This includes managing the Tableau Server, working with other data programmers, research analysts, data coaches, and leadership in NOVA’s Office of Institutional Research to develop, customize, and automate data dashboards, interactive data visualizations, infographics, and other presentations or reports that effectively meet common stakeholder’s data and intelligence needs. The Data Visualization Specialist is responsible for performing all aspects of the data visualization process from concept and prototype, to design, launch, upkeep, and improvement. This includes navigating, connecting to, and extracting data from college data warehouses, as well as public data sources, using a combination of custom SQL queries and public APIs. The Data Visualization Specialist designs and deploys public or internal dashboards/data solutions using Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server (and any other necessary data tools), depending on the identified data users and purpose. Once deployed, they maintain and optimize these existing resources, troubleshooting any end-user challenges, as well as using techniques for creative and effective visualization to make improvements/refinements as needed. Additional responsibilities can include consulting/collaborating with other Tableau and data users across the College as a subject-matter expert; evaluating and testing software applications; and advising analysts and leadership on fruitful new lines of inquiry and analysis. The Data Visualization Specialist should also work to identify self-training and professional development opportunities that will increase her/his capacity and job performance, including awareness of ongoing developments in the field of higher education data analysis and research.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to analyze user requirements and build dashboards, reports, or other BI applications according to specifications
• Able to work closely with researchers and other developers to respond to and evaluate ad hoc requests for data, research projects and studies
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, programming in SAS (or knowledge of a similar statistical programming language/software such as SPSS, Stata, R, etc.)
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation and interpersonal skills
• Exceptional analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving abilities
• Highly detail-oriented
• Ability to educate and train end users
• Willing to work in a highly collaborative environment, managing multiple competing priorities and assignments
• Ability to communicate with an ethnically and culturally diverse campus community, as well as to integrate considerations of diversity, equity, and inclusion into data analysis and reporting
• Ability to self-start and consistently work independently with minimum assistance
• Ability to effectively communicate technical information to non-technical customers

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, statistics, computer science, or a related field; or equivalent education and experience
• Demonstrated experience using Tableau products including Tableau Desktop, Tableau Online, Tableau Public, Tableau Server, Prep Builder, SQL, and MS Office Suite
• Experience with Tableau Server administration, configuration, maintenance, and security. Proficiency in managing large data sets using SQL programming language
• Experience with enterprise scale databases and environments such Oracle (specifically, PeopleSoft)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with higher education, institutional research and/or academic assessment, including working knowledge of higher education data systems and metrics
• Experience with Salesforce and Tableau integration (Connect Tableau to Salesforce)
• Graphic design experience and knowledge, including experience in Adobe Creative Suite a plus

About NOVA

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is the second largest community college in the United States and the largest public educational institution in Virginia. NOVA has more than 71,000 students and 2,600 faculty and staff members. As one of the most internationally diverse colleges in the United States, with a student body consisting of individuals from more than 180 countries, NOVA is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable Virginia by fostering excellence in higher education. As an Achieving the Dream “Leader College,” NOVA is committed to the principles of access, opportunity, student success, and excellence by meeting the educational and training needs of the region and its people with excellent and affordable courses and programs, offered by an inspired and committed diverse faculty and support staff.

With six unique locations throughout our region, each conveniently located within 40 miles of Washington D.C, we have Northern Virginia covered. NOVA’s Annandale Campus, with its urban feel and suburban appeal, is ranked as the most diverse in Virginia and boasts a thriving Koreatown.

NOVA offers an opportunity to make a difference with outstanding career opportunities and competitive total rewards benefits, including a comprehensive health and dental insurance program, generous paid leave, deferred compensation plans, paid parental leave, state employee discounts, and a solid and secure retirement system. NOVA embraces opportunities to create a college community that is a welcoming and inclusive place to learn and work. We do this by fostering a sense of belonging and ensuring equity while maintaining an open, civil, and safe environment for our students, faculty, staff, and guests. In so doing, NOVA fulfills its mission to offer world-class teaching and learning to the Commonwealth of Virginia.