PRINCIPAL DATA ANALYST, Institutional Research

Boston University Information Services & Technology (IS&T) is seeking applicants with diverse skills and experience to join our innovative and inclusive community. Join us as a Principal Data Analyst where you will lead advanced analytics and deliver data-driven insights to support strategic decision-making across the university. You will design complex analyses, build visualizations, and partner with senior leaders on high-impact initiatives. As part of the Analytical Services & Institutional Research (AS&IR) team, you will report to the Director of Data Analytics and collaborate closely with academic and administrative stakeholders. This position is hybrid with 1-2 days per week in office.

You Will:

• Develop advanced statistical models, dashboards, and visualizations to inform institutional strategy.
• Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership.
• Lead cross-functional analytics projects and mentor junior analysts.
• Partner with IT and data governance teams to improve data quality and reporting platforms.

Required Skills

You Will Have:

• Bachelor's degree
• 8+ years of experience in data analytics, institutional research, or related roles.
• Strong expertise in data modeling and visualization.
• Expertise in advanced analytics techniques like Bayesian generative modeling, machine learning for textual analysis, neural topic modeling, or vector embeddings.
• Familiarity with data extraction techniques including querying data lakes, building data pipelines, scraping web data, and pre-processing text.

Bonus Qualifications: If you do not meet these, you are still encouraged to apply; we value a willingness to learn.

• Experience in higher education analytics.
• Familiarity with data governance and enterprise reporting environments.

Boston University offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Time Off: In addition to PTO and leave policy, BU employees have a paid intersession break and 13 paid holidays.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 2 years of eligible service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive tuition assistance program for yourself and family members.
• Check out and for more information!

Boston University IS&T invests in our staff and their personal and professional growth. We promote staff learning including lunch and learn sessions, an extensive library of online courses, Fun Advisory Board (FAB) arranges a number of events throughout the year and opportunities to engage with peers at NERCOMP and EDUCAUSE events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-353-6474. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We, at IS&T, appreciate each individual's knowledge, experiences and insights which enhance who we are, and as our DEIA knowledge and practice grows, we will ensure that our Mission, Vision, & Practices remain equitable and welcoming to all.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.