Job tile: Data Analyst
Duration: 6 Months
Location: Boston, MA(Remote)
Summary
This posting is for a Data Analyst to assist the Client in its support of the Commonwealth's Designer Selection Board (DSB). The Data Analyst will focus on Tableau and Data Visualization.
Background:
The DSB serves as the central administrative authority for selecting firms to provide design services for state building projects across the Commonwealth. The agency is supported by a dedicated three-person team (DSB team/team) and an 11-member, volunteer board comprised primarily of architects and engineers. Together, they facilitate the distribution of requests for services, receive and review applications from the design community, and assess these applications for compliance with legislation, Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) requirements, and adherence to Public Notice descriptions. The Board selects firms for interviews and recommends designers for contract awards.
Additionally, the DSB collects and reviews designer evaluations during and at the conclusion of the design process, collaborates with other Commonwealth agencies, municipalities and charter schools, and provides recommendations, guidelines, and insights into the designer selection process. Their work involves managing data from several sources, including a proprietary Designer Selection Network program management tool. Currently, the DSB is developing a data warehouse to centralize and integrate data from multiple sources, which will support reporting and analytics needs for both internal stakeholders and broader Commonwealth initiatives. This data centralization and analysis effort will be supported by Tableau dashboards, enhancing the agency's capacity to review, report on, and share insights with the board and stakeholders across the Commonwealth.
Department provides support for both the data warehouse and Tableau initiative. One or more members of the Client team will be actively involved in the setup, implementation, and training processes associated with this project.
Objective:
To engage a Tableau consultant to collaborate with a three-person team at the DSB and A&F IT personnel to install Tableau on workstations, create data-driven dashboards and reports from various data sources (data warehouse, Excel, etc.), and provide comprehensive training and knowledge transfer to the team and stakeholders, ensuring long-term independent use of Tableau. Data visualization expertise is a crucial component for building effective dashboards and reports that deliver insights clearly and compellingly.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Tableau Installation and Configuration
a. Collaborate with A&F IT personnel to install Tableau Desktop on designated computers.
b. Ensure Tableau is configured to access and integrate with various data sources such as the organization's data warehouse, Excel files, and other relevant systems.
2. Dashboard and Report Development
a. Work with the team and stakeholders to define reporting needs and key performance indicators (KPIs) for multiple user types.
b. Develop interactive and insightful dashboards and reports using expert data visualization techniques to create clear, impactful visual representations. Dashboards and reports must meet accessibility standards.
c. Ensure dashboards are tailored to different user groups, with a focus on usability and accessibility for both technical and non-technical users.
3. Data Integration and Automation
a. Set up data connections to automate the refresh and updating of dashboards from various data sources (data warehouse, Excel, etc.).
b. Ensure data accuracy and consistency across all reports and dashboards.
4. Training and Knowledge Transfer
a. Provide hands-on training to the team members and A&F IT on how to create and modify reports and dashboards using Tableau.
b. Conduct sessions to help the team understand data integration, manipulation, and best practices in data visualization.
c. Empower the team to independently use and manage Tableau, ensuring sustainability of reporting processes beyond the consultant's engagement.
5. Stakeholder Engagement
a. Facilitate meetings with stakeholders to gather dashboard requirements and ensure that their reporting needs are met.
b. Offer demonstrations and updates to stakeholders, ensuring that the dashboards and reports that are developed align with their expectations.
6. Documentation
a. Develop comprehensive documentation that outlines the processes for report creation, data integration, and dashboard customization.
b. Provide a step-by-step guide for troubleshooting common issues.
Deliverables/Tasks:
1. Installation and set-up of Tableau on the necessary computers.
2. A suite of Tableau dashboards and reports with expert data visualization, tailored for different user types, with data pulled from a variety of sources.
3. Documentation of processes and guides for future reference.
4. Training sessions for DSB team members and possibly other support staff on Tableau usage and data visualization best practices. Training may vary depending on level of access to Tableau.
5. Regular meetings, presentations and training on dashboards with stakeholders.
6. Knowledge transfer to the team ensuring they can maintain and enhance Tableau reports post-engagement.
Required Qualifications:
1. Expert knowledge in Tableau (with at least 5 years of experience).
2. Strong background in data visualization, enabling the creation of visually compelling and easy-to-understand dashboards and analytical, data, summary, status or other report types.
3. Proficiency in data integration, specifically with Excel, data warehouses, and other databases.
4. Demonstrated experience in training and knowledge transfer.
5. Ability to work collaboratively with teams that are new to Tableau.
6. Proficiency in creating dashboards and reports that meet the requirements of accessibility. Example dashboards and reports will be requested during the interview process.
