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Data Director

Alabama Forward

Full-Time

Posted: 03/14/2023

Location:

Remote,

Alabama Forward is seeking a full-time Data Director

To begin immediately. We are open to Alabama-based and virtual candidates. We encourage applications from people with a wide range of career backgrounds, including data science, organizing, and equity work.

About Us

Alabama Forward is a statewide civic engagement network committed to bringing together nonpartisan organizations to work together in building power around progressive civic issues and movement towards greater freedom. We aim to civically engage 1 million Alabamians by 2031.

Role and Responsibilities

Alabama Forward has a robust need and opportunity for a passionate professional to envision and manifest our internal data infrastructure and support our member organizations in the expansion of their own organizational data capacity, ensuring effective and efficient data processes across the Table network in the immediate and long term. As Alabama Forward’s inaugural full-time Data Director, this person will play a critical role in shaping data-related strategy, systems, and outcomes.

Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Director and Table Leadership Team, the Data Director will spearhead strategic planning to achieve Alabama Forward’s annual outreach plans and long-term vision for the state. To achieve this, we are seeking a Data Director who will both strengthen the Table’s current data infrastructure, making adjustments to existing systems as necessary, and will also work with Table member organizations to do the same.

The work of defending and expanding democracy in the South has long been overlooked - we are seeking a passionate individual to help expand the Table network’s capacity to quantify the work being done and progress being made in Alabama and identify areas where efforts should be focused.

Our team is small but mighty, and this person will be leading and managing all data responsibilities as the Data Team continues to be built out.

Principal Responsibilities for the Data Director include:

  • Oversee VAN Administration for member organizations and their consultants. This includes managing user and security settings, providing technical assistance, and monitoring the use of the system to ensure compliance with state and national policies.
  • Identify outside data sources to supplement the data in VAN, such as voting history, polling locations, early voting sites, etc.
  • Identify alternatives to VAN and/or supplemental software in preparation for changes to sector reliance on NPG VAN products.
  • Conducting timely and relevant analysis of data, and fielding specialized requests from members about election data, Census data, etc. to assist them in taking a data-driven approach to their issue and advocacy work.
  • Function as part of the State Voices national data team to build and maintain the shared state and national data infrastructure necessary to support Table program work. This includes, but is not limited to, required weekly data calls, required biweekly calls with respective Deputy Director of Data & Technology, required convening attendance, etc.
  • Work across organizational departments to produce content that translates data findings into pieces that can be used in community-based outreach efforts.
  • Identify and champion opportunities to conduct tests and experiments; assist Table staff, members, and partners in facilitating and executing experiments.
  • Develop quality control processes to ensure data integrity.
  • Seek out new tools and applications to enhance the work of the Table and member organizations.
  • Be actively engaged in, and provide input and feedback on, the annual Table and state infrastructure planning processes.
  • Develop and provide strategic guidance on grant proposals.
  • Manage the Table Data Team staff.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • A commitment to racial and gender equity and a passion for protecting and expanding democracy across the state of Alabama
  • Energy for building out and executing on a vision for data strategy across the Table network that will facilitate our 10, 30 and 50 year vision
  • One year or more of experience using VAN as an Administrator
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Drive
    • Advanced proficiency in Excel a plus
  • Experience managing relationships with vendors and partners
  • Ability to work well under pressure, while maintaining a high level of detail orientation and meeting deadlines
  • Familiarity with other online electoral/advocacy tools and constituent relationship management tools
  • Experience manipulating large data sets
  • Experience drafting or editing field plans
  • Sound judgment and critical thinking skills
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to translate technical instructions into easy-to-follow language for non-technical audiences 
  • Ability to work with a broad range of people possessing different skill levels
  • Must be able to work professionally and communicate effectively with staff at all levels of the organization as well as members, partners, external contacts, constituents, and vendors
  • Experience working in coalition with partners, or experience working in diverse communities, particularly in communities of color
  • Willingness and aptitude to seek out and learn new technical skills that will further the mission of the table and assist in presenting data to partners in an accessible manner
  • Experience building and maintaining meaningful relationships
  • Diplomatic and professional approach to problem solving
  • Must be organized and able to adapt to rapidly evolving priorities and deadlines
  • Flexibility in managing multiple activities to get the job done - we are a small team with audacious goals
  • Commitment to approaching the work in an inclusive and empathetic way
  • Experience managing staff is a plus
  • Experience working on budgets and/or grant proposals is a plus
  • Knowledge of software for mapping (ArcGIS, QGIS, etc.), reporting (Periscope, Tableau, etc.), and data management (Access, SQL, etc.) is a plus

Compensation

  • Compensation will be $65,000-$72,000, plus a full benefits package. Benefits for eligible Alabama Forward employees include but are not limited to: 100 % employer paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) savings plan with employer match, a flexible work schedule, and paid vacation, leave, sick, and parental leave.
  •  Alongside financial compensation, Alabama forward is committed to providing consistent professional development opportunities for all staff.

To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to info@alforward.org with subject, “Data Director”, by COB Friday, April 14 2023.

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