Assessment and Data Analysis Senior Specialist, Career Development

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

Career Development

Job Description

Smith has a dynamic opportunity available that is rooted in Career Development work. We’re looking for someone with a strong foundation in assessment design who can bring data to life—telling compelling stories that inform strategic decision-making and promote equity in career outcomes. The ideal candidate will be able to translate complex information for non-technical audiences, prioritize tasks aligned with institutional goals, and apply a big-picture lens to daily work. If you thrive on using data to drive progress, collaborate across functions, and contribute to the long-term success of students and alums, we encourage you to apply.

Please note: While this role requires strong data fluency, it is not an IT position. It is housed within the Career Development office and focuses on programmatic and educational outcomes rather than enterprise systems or technical infrastructure.

Job Summary

Collaborates across the Lazarus Center for Career Development and Smith College to provide accurate, relevant data that supports departmental decision making and Smith's strategic initiative to enhance equitable career outcomes. Primary responsibilities include analyzing institutional, survey, and other data about the experience of students and alums receiving career services. Collaborating with the Institutional Research (IR) team and staff in the Career Center to develop standardized and customized data tools that allow leaders to better understand the career learning outcomes of students and alums across a 14-year trajectory (entry to 10-years post-graduation). Leading and enhancing analysis of utilization, engagement, satisfaction, and learning impact metrics.  Producing and further enhancing existing equity data packets that disaggregate student data by key demographic attributes and conducting customized follow-up analyses.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Core Functions

Data Systems Design & Data Collection (25%)

• Manage and enhance standardized methods for supporting centralized data related to work-learning outcomes.

• Develop and automate reproducible systems for reports generated cyclically.

• Design and administer surveys related to career strategic initiatives.

• Support institution-level efforts to elevate career education to high-impact standards, in partnership with academic areas and learning centers.

• Collaborate closely with institutional research (IR) to share data, ensure the relevance of career-related questions on cross campus surveys, and broaden institutional narratives around economic mobility outcomes.

• Conduct relevant benchmarking across peer institutions when needed.

Analytic Support for Undergraduate Career Learning Outcomes (40%)

• Administer first destination survey, managing all aspects of survey design, data engagement, delivery, scraping, analysis, visualization, reporting, and marketing for external visibility.

• Analyze engagement and learning outcome data to identify engagement gaps to be addressed.

• Conduct follow-up studies to explore questions that emerge in planning processes related to current projects.

Communication of Findings (10%)

• Create written reports and presentations that are accessible to audiences with a range of data literacy

• Produce data visualizations for both internal and external audiences

• Provide actionable data-driven recommendations.

Other Functions

Data Maintenance and Team Support (25%)

• Serve as the departmental data steward and respond to ad-hoc requests for departmental data and peer comparisons from both internal and external sources.

• Maintain regular reports from the Handshake CRM and other technology vendors on utilization and engagement metrics and systematically share with team members where needed.

• Lead internal cross-training and systems development to increase the data knowledge base of the full career center team.

• Collaborate with and provide support for colleagues reciprocally during busy periods and be ready to adapt priorities and workflow according to shifting institutional needs.

• Supervise and mentor student worker(s) by facilitating and providing feedback on developmentally appropriate projects that benefit both the student and the goals of the department.

All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

• Bachelor's degree with coursework in social science research methods and 1-3 years’ experience working with survey research and/or educational data sets, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

• Experience producing data visualizations using real-world data, preferably in a higher education setting.

• Advanced knowledge of Tableau, R, Qualtrics, SQL and Excel (writing Macros, V-lookups, regression, pivot tables).

• Experience designing, conducting, and analyzing surveys.

• Demonstrated commitment to navigating ethical considerations, ensuring privacy, data security, and ethical use of data in analyses

• Demonstrated experience working on issues of equity and inclusion, including racial and economic justice.

• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related field preferred.

• Skilled in design and data visualization.

• Experience managing multi-stakeholder projects

• Experience supervising student workers.

Skills

Analytic, statistical, and data-related programming, including Tableau, R, Qualtrics

Excellent communication skills, including visual, verbal, and written communication

Understanding of equity and inclusion issues in higher education and knowledge of best practices in higher education research

Please attach BOTH a current resume and a cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position . Be sure you have provided all attachments before submitting your application.

You will NOT be able to attach additional files after you have hit the Submit button.

Review of applications will begin

July 7, 2025

Position Type:

Regular

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts.  A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of  equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty.  The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.