Senior Data Officer

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that provides access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography. The Foundation uses its grantmaking, research, programs, affiliates, and initiatives to support the start and growth of new businesses, a more prepared workforce, and stronger communities. Our work is grounded in the principles of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion and is consistent with the aspirations of our founder, Ewing Marion Kauffman.

Based in Kansas City, Missouri, the Kauffman Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the United States with an asset base of approximately $3 billion. While striving to have national impact and global reach, the Foundation is deeply committed to Kansas City, as evidenced by work on initiatives that reach into neighborhoods and enrich the community and quality of life in the region.

For more information about the Foundation, please visit the website ffman.org .

Reporting directly to the Director of Research, the Senior Data Officer (SDO), implements data strategy as developed in partnership with the Research, Learning, and Evaluation (RLE) team, and operationalizes data analysis to inform policy and local activities. This role works closely and collaborates with other RLE team members and Foundation associates, in alignment with the Foundation’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.

Specific

Responsibilities Include:

• Analyze existing datasets held or licensed by the Foundation and recommend data deliverables while considering:
  1) fit with the Foundation’s strategic priorities and research agenda,
  2) sustainability,
  3) data quality,
  4) rigor, and
  5) data justice.
• In partnership with RLE leadership, build strong relationships with local professionals who do “best-practice” work in institutional research, school accountability, assessment, school attendance and engagement, community data, business licensing, or others who are aligned with our strategic priorities.
• Recommend data management approaches that inform citywide learning and measure impact.
• Regularly gather community feedback related to the Foundation’s research and data agenda to identify emerging and ongoing data needs and make adjustments based on this input.
• Track ad-hoc data requests from external stakeholders, identifying themes, and recommending new data products and deliverables that address consistent needs.
• Consult about artificial intelligence and automation tools that improve internal and external reporting, and efficiency. This may include vendor landscape analyses to identify vendors who can advance the Foundation’s research and data practices.
• Support the Foundation’s data strategy and operations while complying with GDPR, FERPA, PII, and CPA standards.

Education: Bachelors or master’s degree in applied data science, computer information systems, or computer science with data science knowledge, required or equivalent years of experience. Data science, or computer science training or certification, preferred.

Work Experience: At least five years of progressive experience in data-driven, applied social science activities, including data science, analytics, visualization and consulting across complex organizations.

Travel: This position may require some business travel.

Candidates for this position must be highly motivated, capable of self-direction, and able to work collaboratively in a team. Candidates must exhibit a keen sense of responsibility and enjoy working with multiple demands, shifting priorities, and constant change.

• Demonstrated passion for advancing equitable and transformative solutions for the communities served by the Foundation, with clear alignment to the Kauffman Foundation’s credo, racial equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments, and strong ethical judgment.
• Familiarity with and interest in the Foundation’s substantive focus areas, such as regional economic development, entrepreneurship, and economic mobility.
• Proven ability to work effectively within and across…