Posted Aug 19, 2026

PRINCIPAL DATA ANALYST, Institutional Research

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About the position 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. Responsibilities • 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. Requirements • 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. Nice-to-haves • Experience in higher education analytics. • Familiarity with data governance and enterprise reporting environments. Benefits • PTO • Paid intersession break • 13 paid holidays • University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 2 years of eligible service. • Competitive tuition assistance program for yourself and family members. • Staff learning including lunch and learn sessions • Extensive library of online courses • Opportunities to engage with peers at NERCOMP and EDUCAUSE events.