Manager of Data Science and Analytics

Posted on 10/07/2022

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Would you like to work with dynamic, results-focused colleagues in a collaborative, team-driven model? Ball State University Foundation is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented individual to join our successful and growing team as Manager of Data Science and Analytics.
This position functions as an integral member of the Advancement Services and Prospect Research team and partners with Foundation staff.
We’re committed to an empowering management philosophy through diversity, equity, inclusion, and excellence and encourage all individuals to apply. Come fly with us!
At Ball State University, inclusiveness and freedom of expression are a part of our enduring values and inform all of our efforts. We encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with our Inclusive Excellence Plan to learn more about our commitment and to identify how you might contribute to these efforts.
Position Function: 

The Manager, Data Science and Analytics will be responsible for utilizing best practices to increase engagement and the size and quality of the prospect pool through screenings, prospecting, and analysis by using data from Blackbaud’s suite of services (Raiser’s Edge, NXT, FPM, ResearchPoint) and turning the information into actionable data to assist in reaching the Foundation’s strategic goals.

Other responsibilities include: Describing predictive models and assisting in continually improving current models; conducting A/B testing of ideas and outreach; using appropriate tools for visual data analysis and sharing; managing projects for multiple areas of the Foundation, clearly defining project completion, and gaining buy-in for the finished results.
Duties & Responsibilities: 
  • Collaborate with Blackbaud and colleagues in understanding and enhancing the foundation’s data analytics and the impact the results have on engagement, prospecting, and fundraising prioritization.
  • Manage techniques and best practices of a variety of projects in donor and engagement modeling, data mining, data visualization, segmentation, and A/B testing.
  • Master the donor database, currently Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, and turn the information into actionable data for fundraising and engagement purposes. This will require participating in maintaining the health of the data via imports, exports, and data entry.
  • Regularly execute data cleansing routines and analyze results to fix problems on an immediate and on-going basis for the purpose of fundraising and engagement analytics. Perform analysis to interpret and determine validity and quality of data.
  • Conduct descriptive analysis projects for system and campus partners and leadership, including analysis of giving patterns, fundraiser performance, pool demographics, etc. Create data visualizations or narratives and present on results as needed.
  • Document data efforts (data sources, reporting specifications, tools, issue/problem resolutions).
  • Provide proactive and reactive data management support and training to users.
  • Participate in pipeline management development and reporting.
  • Continually research and make recommendations for technical resources to support data analytics.
  • Produce donor, fundraising, and engagement activity reports to monitor and improve fundraising and engagement performance. This will require assisting with reporting and analysis of key performance indicators for multiple functional areas, including Development, Annual Giving, and Alumni Engagement.
  • Manage multiple projects at one time and meet deadlines.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Education: 
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or an equivalent combination of four years of education, internships and experiences will be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
Minimum Experience: 
At least one year of experience using databases, data analytics, or research methodology.
Minimum Other:
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Time management and priority setting skills
  • Commitment to quality
  • Detail-oriented
  • High level of accuracy

Preferred Education:
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information science, or related field.

Preferred Experience: 

  • Experience working with relational databases, with a preference for using Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge NXT.
  • Understanding of engagement and philanthropy (mission, practice, trends) and fundraising practices (the development cycle, prospect management policies and practices).
  • Knowledge of and commitment to the values and mission of Ball State University and higher education.
  • Data manipulation skills, such as understanding basic relational database theory and utilizing query tools to extract data form database.
  • Ability to tell a compelling story through research and documentation.

Preferred Other:
Knowledge of various software and tools (such as SQL, Python, or Tableau) for data preparation, data analytics, and patterns discovery.

Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana, on an attractive campus 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Approximately 22,000 graduate and undergraduate students enroll in one of eight academic colleges that offer 120 undergraduate programs. We offer more than 140 master’s, doctoral, certificate, and specialist degrees, with many of them ranking among the best in the nation. We engage students in educational, research, and creative endeavors that empower our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives enriched by lifelong learning and service, while we enhance the economic, environmental, and social vitality of our community, our state, and our world.

To apply for this job please visit bsu.peopleadmin.com.