Data Strategy and Analytics Lead

1. One example of an executive-facing analytics or measurement presentation authored by the candidate. Also provide the necessary project details to explain the presentation

2. A data model, ERD, or high-level architecture diagram, along with a short explanation (5 7 sentences) of :

what it is,

what problem it solved, and

what the candidate's role was

3. In one paragraph, tell us about a time you used data strategically to influence or change a product, service, or decision.

Any submission that does not include these three samples with these exact requirements will not be considered.

This is Us

The State of Connecticut is leading a new digital transformation in government to uplift the lives and well-being of our residents, businesses, and employees. Our goal is to improve access to our programs and services, making interaction with government easier. When you join the Connecticut Digital Service, you'll be part of a team creating simple experiences personalized for everyone. If you enjoy solving complex problems with a curious, supportive, high-performing team, then the State of Connecticut is the place for you.

Is This You?

Big Thinker . You see data as a means for reaching strategic goals and can use data to impact both the business and the customer.

Problem Solver. You recognize the critical role data plays in understanding and solving pain points.

Organically Curious . You see beyond the obvious to identify and fill-in the missing data and gaps of understanding

Service-Oriented . You are passionate about government innovation and improving services for your fellow citizens.

About the Role

NOTE : This is a hands-on senior contributor role requiring demonstrated leadership of data programs, initiatives, or teams. Junior candidates will not be considered.

The Data Strategy and Analytics Lead will be a key player in establishing a robust, scalable, and accessible data practice for the State of Connecticut. This role requires a unique combination of technical expertise, strong analytical skills, and a highly strategic mindset to drive awareness and adoption of data and analytics. This person will strategize, maintain, and expand on existing data structures including pipelines, databases, and dashboards, while also helping to build a sustainable data practice that drives government-wide optimization and ensures ethical use of data to benefit all residents.

You will guide teams in leveraging data to improve the end-to-end user journey, identify product and service challenges, and foster a culture where data is integrated into everyday operations. You will also ensure the integrity, uptime, and accessibility of data technology to support the state's initiatives.

You must have a deep understanding of data modelling, user research, data analysis, visualizations, and the strategic application of data to improve service delivery at every stage of the customer lifecycle. You will need to have a strong background in quantitative / qualitative data management, data research methodologies, data engineering, data analysis, business intelligence, and executive-level communication skills to be successful in this role. There will be a heavy emphasis on first party / transactional data as well as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, CMS platform, and other behavioral metric systems.

Note : This is a full stack data position. Candidates must have both hands-on technical experience and strategic leadership experience. Submissions for candidates with only one of these skillsets will not be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Data Strategy and Leadership :

Help lead the development and execution of the state's data practice, focusing on clear and actionable strategies and aligning with organizational goals.

• Work closely with stakeholders to identify critical data needs and design solutions that address them.
• Identify opportunities to integrate machine learning, NLP, and AI-assisted analytics into government service improvement initiatives.
• Mentor and guide non-technical teams to build their confidence and capability in using data for decision-making.
• Analysis and Measurement :

Collect, compare, and analyze complex data sets to identify trends, patterns, and actionable opportunities.

• Present findings in clear, visually engaging formats tailored to audiences with varying levels of data literacy.
• Create detailed reports, dashboards, and presentations that drive organizational improvements and adoption of insights.
• Lead development of statewide data maturity and impact measurement frameworks to assess progress in data-driven decision-making.
• Technical Maintenance and Expansion :

Establish and maintain enterprise data architecture standards, including metadata management, data lineage, and interoperability across systems such as Salesforce, Sitecore, and Azure.

• Maintain and optimize existing pipelines, databases, and dashboards while advancing the state's data innovation agenda. Design new ways to use data, AI, and analytics to modernize services and improve resident outcomes.
• Develop and implement strategies to scale data systems as needs grow, ensuring performance and data integrity.
• Oversee ETL processes to integrate data from new sources and improve workflows.
• User Engagement and Enablement :

Design and deliver training programs to help non-technical teams incorporate data and analysis into their regular workflows.

• Collaborate with teams to develop KPIs and frameworks for measuring the impact of data-driven initiatives.
• Facilitate workshops, office hours, and regular program updates to ensure alignment across teams.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration :

Partner with leadership, IT teams, and other stakeholders to identify priorities and implement solutions.

• Act as a liaison between technical teams and business stakeholders, ensuring alignment and understanding.

Experience Required for This Role

Data Collection & Analysis at least 3 years of measurable experience in the following :

• Analyzing user data and metrics to drive specific business goals. Emphasis on Google Analytics and other behavioral and analytical data.
• Using data to isolate complex problems and develop workable solutions
• Utilizing predictive analysis, gap analysis, quantitative reporting, user research, and statistical analysis
• Providing insights and recommendations based on data
• Bridging the data divide between technical, product, and customer-facing teams
• Developing and applying data models to improve the collection and analysis of data
• Crafting compelling presentations and narratives from data findings. Emphasis on Power BI dashboards
• Engaging in data experiments that provide cross-persona or enterprise-level analysis
• Data cleansing, optimizing, and ETL
• Developing and analyzing user surveys
• Organizing and storing data and queries for easy access in future work projects
• Documenting data collection and analysis procedures
• Preparing and executing ROI analysis

Technical Expertise at least 3 years of measurable experience in the following :

• Managing data pipelines, ETL processes, and databases (e.g., SQL, Power BI, Azure Data Lake)
• Proficiency in Python or R for data manipulation and analysis.
• Experience with modern data stack technologies (e.g., Synapse, Databricks, Snowflake, Airflow, or equivalent orchestration tools).
• Data modeling, data governance, and data quality best practices
• Administering analytics software and platforms (GA4, GTM, SPSS, Excel, Microsoft Office Suite)
• Using business intelligence tools like Tableau or Power BI
• Experience with all types of big data, both structured and unstructured
• Data collection from on-prem and cloud platforms like Microsoft, Azure, and Salesforce
• Leveraging statistical analysis and algebra
• Leveraging economics, business / systems analysis, and quality assurance
• Manipulating large, complex data sets
• Documenting data processes and configurations

Strategy, Communications, and Governance at least 3 years of measurable experience in the following :

• Must have led a data function, practice, or vertical - not just participated in one
• Experience presenting analytical insights and data strategies directly to leadership
• Developing a data practice that incorporates strategy, training, tool development, and support
• Communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams and government partners
• Crafting compelling presentations and narratives from data findings
• Explaining data analysis to stakeholders with varying levels of data comprehension
• Using data to help internal teams improve capabilities and operations
• Training non-technical teams on data analysis and its real-world application
• Performing competitor research to help improve products and services
• Researching latest market trends and implementing knowledge
• Organizing focus groups and feedback loops to establish data collection
• Establishing and integrating appropriate KPIs to help track success
• Improving research or data management environments
• Establishing standardized testing of products / services using data
• Ability to juggle multiple project workstreams
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Judgment in dealing effectively and diplomatically with all levels of government staff

Other Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Deep domain knowledge for a particular industry especially Health, Business, or Education
• Experience working in a large enterprise or public-sector environment, including navigating complex governance and multi-stakeholder structures
• Experience with first party, behavioral, and CRM-related metrics platforms
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, business, IT, management, administration, economics, or information science
• Experience with machine learning, AI, and cognitive service engine models
• Demonstrated understanding of data ethics, bias mitigation, accessibility, and equitable data use in public sector or civic analytics settings.
• 2 years experience with Power BI or other data visualization platforms
• 2 years of user research and feedback analysis
• 2 years of data governance and working within data security groups
• 1 year of API development
• 1 year of marketing experience, supported through metrics
• 1 year of project management experience
• 1 year of experience with customer relationship management platforms such as Salesforce
• 1 year of experience with web content management platforms such as Sitecore

Administrative Considerations

The Data Strategy and Analytics Lead will work as part of an enterprise digital service team. You will work iteratively on multiple data projects using agile sprints. Work will be assigned based on items in the product backlog as well as responsibilities associated with holistic digital programs and services. These tasks may be adjusted, reduced, or expanded as the projects progress through various phases. The contract employee shall be expected to maintain and provide written documentation on any work performed in conjunction with this engagem