Analytics Consultant

Analytics Consultants at Focus Strategies achieve our mission by providing high-level and high-quality analyses for our client communities, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods projects using an equity lens and a systems approach. The day of an analytics consultant includes project management, conducting key research and analyses related to homeless systems and programs, identifying key questions for analysis, methodologies to approach the analysis, and interpretation of findings. Our calendars on Monday will look significantly different from the way things turn out by Friday and we are comfortable with changing priorities and ambiguity. We may be leading project staff, working closely with internal and external stakeholders, or preparing draft and final deliverables on time and on budget – we are always striving for excellence. We are trusted to lead communities in reducing homelessness by making strategic shifts that can be high stakes. It’s a serious responsibility and every day we feel like we’re making a difference we are proud of.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead data analysis efforts for communities working to reduce homelessness, using an equity lens and a systems approach.
• Represent clients or client interests in meetings to identify and resolve problems, including speaking publicly in formal and informal settings.
• Develop project plans, manage projects, work with assigned staff, and work collaboratively to achieve superior results for Focus clients.
• Support a range of community planning and design activities to develop systems to end or reduce homelessness, including community input processes, data collection and analysis, 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 into 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 project management and analytic tasks, and provide timely updates.
• Work collaboratively with staff at client and partner organizations to collect and accurately interpret information.
• Actively participate in continuous learning, process, and product improvement efforts with the Focus team.
• May supervise one or more Analysts, including directing their work and providing an opportunity for continued growth and team effectiveness.  

Position 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 coursework in research design, statistics, and/or data science (PhD welcome).
• At least three years of analytics experience in human services programs, systems, policy development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with program evaluation and outcomes measurement, identifying key questions, as well as methodologies and statistical approaches to address them.
• Demonstrated proficiency interpreting quantitative and qualitative data about homelessness, homeless programs and systems, health, or behavioral health.
• 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.
• 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.
• Strong written, verbal, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency with all Microsoft Office Suite products, statistical software (such as R, SPSS, Stata), and data visualization (such as Tableau, Power BI). 
• Able to travel occasionally throughout the West Coast and rarely to other areas.
• 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.
• Willingness to do whatever is needed to support projects and staff in accomplishing work.
• Excellent attention to detail and self-directed.
• Bilingual skills preferred (English and Spanish written and verbal fluency).

What the Analytics Consultant will Gain from Position

• Advanced experience with complex policy, technical, and community issues using a Systems Thinking approach within the field of ending and reducing homelessness.
• Ability to develop innovative solutions and analyses to common and emerging problems related to homelessness response systems of care.
• Development of advanced client relational and management skills, including managing moderately complex projects in jurisdictions with many key stakeholders.
• Opportunity to deepen skills in program, systems, and policy analysis using data and information from multiple sources.
• Opportunity to lead the development of complex plans, evaluations, and reports.
• Develop advanced writing and presentation skills.
• Increasing responsibility over time. 
• Opportunity to be part of an evolving and growing consultation practice dedicated to public benefit.