Data and Policy Lead

The New Jersey State Office of InnovationThe New Jersey State Office of Innovation is looking for diverse and experienced team members to deploy world-class innovative and digital services that solve pressing public interest challenges for the people of New Jersey. Our work spans numerous issue and policy areas, and is focused on making an impact in the lives of the New Jerseyans that we serve. Our work has decreased the amount of time it takes to apply for Unemployment Insurance, made it easier to start, operate, and grow a business in the Garden State, and connected millions of New Jerseyans to government programs, services, and benefits.
Our team members wear many hats, contributing to both the execution of core projects and the evolution of the Office of Innovation (OOI). We use data and modern research, design, and development methods to inform our decision making, and we collaborate with stakeholders within and outside of government to understand and solve challenges. To learn more about the New Jersey State Office of Innovation, read our inaugural impact report here and visit our About Us page.
The Office of Innovation seeks a skilled and experienced Data and Policy Lead to join our Business.NJ.gov team. This role will focus on leveraging data to transform how the state interacts with businesses and entrepreneurs, enhancing the effectiveness of Business.NJ.gov. The successful candidate will integrate data services and activities to improve products, define success, and advance diversity and equity in entrepreneurship across New Jersey. For this role, we are seeking skilled and experienced professionals with at least 5 years of data analytics and policy research experience. Your responsibilities may include:

Lead success measurement and goals-based analysis

• Report and synthesize data from State data sources, federal data sources, and industry sources with Google Analytics data to assess Business.NJ.gov’s trajectory and success.
• Maintain and expand these databases to establish overall baselines for the success of the initiative’s goals, and build comparative analyses with the current state of the marketplace to report on and advise on the initiative’s overall direction and goals.

Analyze, visualize, and model data

• Analyze Google Analytics data to extract meaningful insights and trends.
• Create regular reports and ad-hoc analyses and participate in product design and development to provide actionable recommendations and support decision-making for product prioritization, marketing campaigns, website optimizations, and user experience design.
• Conduct exploratory data analyses to support project discovery and prioritization.
• Develop user-friendly data visualizations and dashboards for stakeholders.

Implement and configure advanced web analytics and tracking

• Lead the implementation and configuration of Google Analytics across our digital properties, including websites, multimodal campaigns, and other relevant digital platforms.
• Ensure accurate tracking of user interactions, events, conversions, and custom dimensions for comprehensive data collection.
• Identify and resolve technical issues related to Google Analytics implementation, data accuracy, and data integration.
• Conduct thorough audits to ensure data integrity and troubleshoot any anomalies or discrepancies in the analytics data.
• Utilize Google Tag Manager to efficiently deploy and manage tracking tags, pixels, and scripts for various marketing and analytics tools.
• Maintain and optimize tag management processes for streamlined implementation.
• Implement advanced tracking techniques, such as cross-domain tracking, marketing tracking, and event tracking, to capture granular data insights.
• Develop and maintain custom reports, segments, and dashboards tailored to business requirements.

Conduct policy research and evaluation

• Conduct policy research to inform product development and data best practices.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs and services.
• Ensure compliance with data protection regulations and privacy policies.
• Stay updated with industry best practices in data governance and privacy.

Engage and collaborate with a wide variety of stakeholders

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, product development, engineering, IT, and data and policy, to align Google Analytics implementation with business goals and requirements.
• Provide guidance, training, and support to team members on best practices for data collection, reporting, and analysis.

Do what’s needed for the team

• Work with various teams and initiatives to execute additional duties and responsibilities to advance the Office of Innovation’s mission and work.

Preferred Technical Experience, Skills, and Abilities

• 5+ years of experience in data and product analytics; a focus on public service and impact is preferred.
• Proven experience as a Google Analytics technical expert or similar role, with a deep understanding of Google Analytics implementation, configuration, and reporting.
• Familiarity and up-to-date experience with Google Analytics 4, Google Tag Manager, and associated modern platforms, as well as managing the migration of data into new platforms.
• Analytical acumen with demonstrated experience generating data to drive tangible actions; familiarity in quantitative and qualitative research strategies; commitment to ethical data practices.
• In-depth knowledge of web analytics concepts, tracking methodologies, data visualization skills, and data analysis techniques.
• Proficiency in implementing Google Analytics through JavaScript, Google Tag Manager, and other relevant tools.
• Familiarity with advanced tracking techniques, such as funnel and goal tracking, cross-domain tracking, custom dimensions, and event tracking.
• Solid understanding of digital marketing strategies and metrics, including SEO, SEM, social media, and conversion optimization.
• Strong communicator with experience using data to drive insights and translating technical concepts into understandable and actionable intelligence for non-technical audiences.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail, able to identify and troubleshoot technical issues effectively.
• Project management capabilities and the ability to work independently or collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, best practices, and evolving technologies in web analytics and data governance.
• Graduate-level training in public policy, data science, statistics, economics, applied mathematics, and/or business is preferred, but not required.

We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. If you have any questions, please contact heather@innovation.nj.gov.
Compensation: Up to approximately $103,000 (depending on experience) + full benefits.
The New Jersey Office of Innovation is proud to be an equal opportunity employerWe are deeply committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusiveness and seek to create a pluralistic community for all. We strongly encourage people of color, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, women, LGBTQI+ people, those with disabilities, and Veterans to apply. We are committed to building a team that is reflective of New Jersey’s incredible diversity.
We do not discriminate against any candidate because of color, race, age, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, membership in an employee organization, pregnancy, marital status, status as a parent, ancestry, national origin, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, retaliation, or other non-merit based factors.

EligibilityYou must be authorized to work in the United States. Candidates may be required to pass a background check and complete additional steps as part of the application and onboarding process. You will be considered an “at-will” employee, meaning both employer and employee have the right to terminate employment with or without cause or notice.