Senior Data Analyst

About Ingenuity’s Data Work

Ingenuity is the leading arts education data authority in Chicago, collecting data on behalf of the CPS Department of Arts Education and the district. The Data & Research team manages the full data lifecycle: collecting data directly from CPS schools each fall, validating and analyzing these data in the winter, sharing insights through tools and reports in the spring, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders year-round to activate these findings. The Data & Research team, composed of the Director of Data & Research and the Senior Data Analyst, works closely with the CPS Department of Arts Education and across all Ingenuity program areas. Ingenuity tailors its data tools and publications to a wide range of stakeholders, including principals, teachers, arts organizations, and CPS leadership. See Ingenuity’s Data & Research page to learn more.

Arts education data are disseminated through the artlook® data-mapping platform, Creative Schools Certification ratings, the annual State of the Arts Report and Dashboard, Data Snapshots, and Creative Schools Roadmaps. Together, these tools provide comprehensive insights on arts education access, including staffing, program quality, equity of program distribution, and much more. These data inform, prioritize, and fuel strategies that uplift the arts in CPS.

Ingenuity also leverages arts education data to inform internal strategies, including the Creative Schools Fund and advocacy efforts. This data illuminates where investments from the Creative Schools Fund can have the greatest impact and provides insights on reach.

In May 2025, CPS launched its new Arts Education Plan 2.0, building on the foundation of the original 2012 plan. Ingenuity’s data team plays a pivotal role in implementing this new plan, contributing across multiple strategies to increase both access to and quality of arts education districtwide.

Position Summary

Ingenuity seeks an individual with strong analytical skills who is excited about two primary areas of focus for this position: complex data analysis and management, and advancing equity and access in arts education for Chicago Public School students. The work is centered on leveraging artlook® (https://chicago.artlookmap.com) and its database, which collects and displays data on more than 400 arts organizations and 600 Chicago Public Schools.

A successful candidate will be a detail-oriented, strategic thinker with a strong curiosity and eagerness to learn, eager to play a pivotal role across the full data lifecycle (data collection, management, validation, analysis, and reporting). The ideal candidate enjoys working with a variety of data sets and collaborating with stakeholders, uncovering insights, and tailoring findings to meet stakeholder needs – even if not all ideas are implemented. This role involves close collaboration internally and externally to deliver actionable insights to a range of stakeholders, including sector leaders, schools, arts organizations, current and potential funders, and board members. The candidate should feel comfortable communicating analyses and findings to non-technical audiences.

Note that Ingenuity conducts its analyses using R (https://www.r-project.org/), a language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. The successful candidate must be experienced using R and must be willing to learn to code and operate in this environment.

Key Responsibilities

Data Collection (20%)

The Analyst will support data collection through the annual survey and other mechanisms in the artlook® platform to ensure the most accurate and representative data are collected each year.

• • Data Preparation: Gather, clean, and wrangle administrative datasets from CPS and other sources to upload into the survey instrument
  • Survey Instrument: Design and update data collection tools to align with evolving needs
  • Technical Support: Work with stakeholders on-the-ground, including arts teachers and arts organizations, to troubleshoot any data submission or platform access issues
  • Platform Engagement: Develop and implement communications strategies to drive stakeholder participation in all data collection activities

Data Management (20%)

The Analyst will manage the data by cleaning, tracking, and updating the artlook database, compiling sources for future analysis, and creating and maintaining data documentation.

• • Data Audit: Work with survey respondents during the annual Data Audit to validate the data and conduct data-cleaning procedures, ensuring accuracy and representativeness
  • Database Management: Maintain and update to the artlook database throughout the year (e.g. school addresses and principal contacts)
  • Technical Support: Assist artlook users in accessing and navigating the platform throughout the year
  • Process Improvement: Develop and implement new strategies to strengthen data management, including systems for version control and handling data from multiple sources
  • Documentation: Create technical documentation for database management and processes

Data Analysis & Reporting (30%)

The Analyst will conduct a wide range of quantitative and qualitative data analyses aimed at driving change and improvement in the sector and designed to support Ingenuity and CPS strategic initiatives.

• • Creative Schools Certification: Ensure data integrity with calculating and reporting school-level Creative Schools Certification arts education ratings on behalf of the district
  • State of the Arts: Lead production of the annual State of the Arts report, drafting analyses and write-ups, and conducting new analyses as appropriate
  • R Shiny Dashboards: Build and update various code-based dashboards to present data in actionable and digestible ways to stakeholders
  • Data Snapshots: Lead and manage production of Data Snapshots, focused analyses into a particular topic that complement the State of the Arts
  • Ad-Hoc Analyses: Develop and conduct analyses from artlook and other sources to meet the needs of arts education stakeholders across the sector

Data Activation & Strategy (30%)

The Analyst will activate Ingenuity’s data and findings throughout the year, while shaping strategies to advance Ingenuity’s mission through evolving data tools and supporting the new 2025-2030 CPS Arts Education Plan 2.0.

• • Data Communications: Present findings in clear, accessible, and compelling ways to a wide range of audiences with varying levels of data literacy, including Ingenuity staff, arts educators, arts organizations, funders, and CPS leadership
  • Actionable Insights: Evolve Ingenuity’s data tools and publications to ensure that they provide relevant and actionable insights for stakeholders across the arts education sector
  • Arts Education Plan 2.0: Contribute to data team strategy for sustaining existing and implementing new initiatives aligned with the CPS Arts Education Plan 2.0
  • Ingenuity Programs: Provide thought partnership and lead strategy on building and strengthening data infrastructure and systems to support other Ingenuity program areas, including the Creative Schools Fund and Partnerships & Learning

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• • Data Analytics: Strong analytical skills and high attention to detail.
  • Statistical Programming: Strong coding ability for statistical analyses.
  • Project Management: Independent project execution.
  • Relationship Building: Strong relationship-building skills with all stakeholders - CPS leadership, teachers, school leaders, and arts organizations.
  • Communications: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to present and translate data for diverse audiences.
  • Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams and with external stakeholders.
  • Strategic Thinking: Identify new opportunities with data products.
  • Data Utilization: Uses data to monitor and adapt arts education strategies.
  • Technical Proficiency: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Work Ethic: Committed to quality work and personal excellence.
  • Emotional Intelligence: Mature, ambitious, and politically savvy.
  • Lifelong Learning: Eagerness to keep informed with the arts education sector and data analysis trends, including learning new analytical techniques.

Desired Background

• • Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with 3-5 years of experience in data analysis and coding in R.
  • Demonstrated experience managing, cleaning, and analyzing complex datasets.
  • Ability to work independently and manage project timelines.
  • Experience in establishing and maintaining relationships with a wide variety of colleagues who may not have a data background.
  • Ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree in data science, statistics, mathematics, public policy, or equivalent. Candidates without a degree who have significant relevant work experience will also be considered.
  • Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
  • Previous lived experience, interest in, or connection to Chicago’s arts/arts education, youth development, and/or civic community.

Location + Travel

Ingenuity’s offices are based in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Minimal travel outside of Chicago may be expected occasionally and may include participation in professional conferences. Ingenuity employees are currently expected to work in the office three days a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays).

Ingenuity recognizes that there is no such thing as a perfect candidate. Even if you do not meet all the requirements for the position, we encourage you to apply. You might just be the candidate we are looking for!

Ingenuity offers a generous health insurance and benefits package, matching retirement plan contributions, personal days, and paid vacation and sick time. Our current excellent benefits package includes:

• Medical and dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Paid vacation time Paid sick time
• Paid personal time
• Twelve (12) standard company holidays per calendar year
• Pre-tax Commuter Expense Reimbursement Plan
• 401K retirement plan with up to 4% employer match Funds to support professional development related to work
• Employee Assistance Program

Please note that all employment-related pay and benefits provided to Ingenuity employees are subject to all applicable policies, practices, processes, and legal requirements, including changes to them that may occur from time to time.