Senior Analytics Consultant

Position overview

The appropriate candidate will help Focus Strategies achieve our mission by providing high-level analyses for our client communities, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods projects using an equity lens and a systems approach. The Senior Analytics Consultant will help lead the analytics team through producing high quality analyses and project management. Duties will include conducting and overseeing key research and analyses related to homeless systems and programs, identifying key questions for analysis, methodologies to approach the analysis, and interpretation of findings. Project management responsibilities include leading mid- to large-size projects including leading and supporting assigned project staff, working closely with internal and external stakeholders, preparing draft and final deliverables on time and on budget, and continuously striving for excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of projects including creating the project plan, overseeing project launch and progress, and preparing deliverables.
• Lead data analysis efforts for communities working to reduce homelessness, using an equity lens and a systems approach, including overseeing the work of analytics and other consulting staff.
• Represent clients or client interests in meetings to identify and resolve problems, including speaking publicly in formal and informal settings.
• For mid- to large-size projects, develop project plans, manage projects, work with assigned staff, and work collaboratively to achieve superior results for Focus clients.
• Supervise one or more Analytics Consultants and/or Analysts, including directing their work and providing an opportunity for continued growth and team effectiveness. 
• Support a range of community planning and design activities to develop systems to end or reduce homelessness, including designing community input processes, overseeing and conducting data collection and analysis, and overseeing and developing documentation of existing and proposed system processes and structures.
• Conduct research and analyze data from single systems (e.g. homelessness) and multiple disciplines, including health, mental health, homelessness, and affordable housing. 
• Synthesize research findings with contextual and best practice information to offer recommendations for practice.
• Develop and implement initiatives to analyze the capacity needs of supportive and affordable housing systems within the context of reducing homelessness and addressing racial and other inequities.   
• Work closely and collaboratively with supervisor and company leadership to set priorities, independently organize project workflow, conduct and oversee project management and analytic tasks, and provide timely updates.
• Work collaboratively with staff at client and partner organizations to collect and accurately interpret information.
• Be committed to excellent supervision and support of staff, including fully participating in the performance review and succession planning processes to ensure that all staff have an opportunity to grow, develop, and achieve.
• Actively participate in continuous learning, process, and product improvement efforts with the Focus team.

Requirements

• A passion for ending homelessness with a commitment to data-informed public policy, including advancing equity for marginalized communities.
• A graduate degree in public policy, psychology, public health, or a related field, including graduate classes in research design and/or statistics (PhD welcome).
• At least five years of substantive/system-level experience in homelessness response.
• At least five years of analytics experience in homelessness response programs, human services programs, systems, or policy development.
• At least three years of experience in consulting or client management, which may include leading community processes with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience with program evaluation and outcomes measurement, identifying key questions, as well as methodologies and statistical approaches to address them.
• Understanding of racism, oppression, and the ways in which systems interplay to cause homelessness and housing instability and appropriately engages clients where they are to fluently advance equity throughout the work.
• Demonstrated proficiency interpreting quantitative and qualitative data about homelessness, homeless programs and systems, health, or behavioral health.
• Demonstrated project management experience including developing appropriate plans and timelines for accomplishing tasks and projects, holding self and others accountable, developing short-term goals and alternatives; delegates work and assigns decision-making responsibilities appropriately.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expression, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities in a multicultural environment.
• Superior technical writing skills and a commitment to and focus on data-informed public policy.
• Leadership experience including building effective teams, delivering performance feedback, and developing others.
• Strong written, verbal, and analytical skills including the ability to craft messaging (verbally and in writing) in a neutral or persuasive way.
• Must be highly self-directed, detail‐oriented, and proficient at generating and understanding budget data.
• Proficiency with all Microsoft Office Suite products, statistical software (such as R, SPSS, Stata), and data visualization (such as Tableau, Power BI).
• Experience translating program, community, or systems information into data collection and reporting tools.
• Flexibility - must be able to work with shifts in priorities on a daily and weekly basis with occasional travel throughout the West Coast and very occasional travel to other areas.
• Willingness to do whatever is needed to support projects and staff in accomplishing work.
• Excellent attention to detail and self-directed.

Preferred skills and aptitudes

• Deep knowledge of the homelessness landscape and common issues, particularly on the West Coast; general knowledge about homelessness funding streams; and system design and housing options for communities working to reduce homelessness.
• Demonstrated expertise in supportive housing, including familiarity with project financing.
• Bilingual skills (English and Spanish written and oral fluency preferred).

Physical requirements

• Ability to operate a computer for 6-8 hours per day.

• Ability to perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, expansive reading.
• Ability to set up and maintain a safe and ergonomic workspace in home environment with minimal paper file management, including receiving occasional office supply shipments, rare shipping of equipment for repair, and carrying laptop and files for occasional all-day travel.
• Ability to give and receive detailed information through verbal and written communication.

Location: Remote; Pacific Time Zone, United States (preferably California)

Reports to: Manager of Analytics and Evaluation

Direct reports: Analytics Consultant

Status: Full-time, 40 hours/week, Exempt

Compensation: $115,000-$135,000 (most candidates join us at the lower half of the range to leave room for growth, learning, and development; we negotiate actual salaries with final candidates based on experience in similar roles and expertise related to qualifications)

Benefits

• Paid time off (vacation, sick time, and 10 holidays)
• 401(k) with 4% salary match and profit sharing
• Health, dental, and vision
• Flexible spending plans
• Short and long-term disability insurance