Education Data Scientist

The Education Data Scientist position within the Office of Institutional Effectiveness supports institutional research efforts by applying data science skills to generate insights and develop tools that improve student success. This onsite role in California combines analysis of student and operational data with predictive modeling, machine learning, and reporting.

Role Overview

Reporting to the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, the Education Data Scientist applies experience in institutional research and higher education alongside data science capabilities to help develop insights and tools aimed at increasing student success.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify valuable data sources and automate data collection processes
• Perform preprocessing for both structured and unstructured data
• Analyze large datasets to uncover trends and patterns
• Use machine learning and other approaches to analyze and categorize student engagement and learning
• Build predictive models and machine-learning algorithms
• Combine models using ensemble modeling
• Communicate findings using data visualization techniques
• Propose solutions and strategies to address operational challenges, including approaches to maximize student success
• Collaborate with institutional research, planning, and development teams
• Perform related duties as assigned

Core Focus and Distinguishing Duties

• Analyze large volumes of raw data to identify patterns that support improved operations and student success
• Work with current and historical data related to students, staff, departmental workload, enrollment, retention, and graduation
• Execute strategic, innovative data-driven analyses in coordination with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness for gathering, analysis, and reporting
• Support development of dashboards, data visualizations, and automated reports, and consult regularly with campus stakeholders to understand workflows and identify opportunities for collaboration, automation, advanced analytics, and project development

Required Qualifications

• Any combination equivalent to: Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field, plus 2 years of increasingly responsible experience in data warehouse & reporting, programming, or systems analysis and design
• OR an Associate’s degree in Computer Science plus 4 years of increasingly responsible experience in data warehouse & reporting, programming, or systems analysis and design
• OR a High school diploma, GED, or equivalent plus 5 years of increasingly responsible experience in data warehouse & reporting, programming, or systems analysis and design

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Data Science or another quantitative field

Additional Requirements

• Knowledge of data extraction, collection, and analysis tools (e.g., R, SQL, Python); familiarity with Canvas, Scala, Java, or C++ is an asset
• Knowledge of machine-learning research
• Ability to use business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau), data warehouses, and data frameworks (e.g., AWS, Redshift, Hadoop)
• Ability to interact with, participate in, and conduct presentations to individuals, college groups, committees, organizations, and others as assigned
• Analytical mindset and problem-solving aptitude
• Ability to prepare comprehensive statistical and narrative reports
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships
• Maintain a positive working environment and work toward a common goal

Technologies

• R, SQL, Python
• Canvas, Scala, Java, C++
• Tableau
• AWS, Redshift, Hadoop

Location

California (onsite)

Salary

• USD 7,635 - 10,789 per month
• Salary range: $7,635.85 - $10,789.27 monthly
• Maximum entry level salary: $8,022.42 monthly

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life Insurance
• Long-term Disability
• Flex 125
• Additional products and services through American Fidelity
• Supplemental Voluntary Life Insurance
• Tax Shelter Annuities
• CalPERS Retirement System (classified and management employees)
• Social Security benefits (classified and management employees)
• STRS (faculty)
• E-Verify participation for newly hired employees

Full-time permanent employees (20+ hours per month) are eligible for health benefits including health, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability. The district also offers voluntary benefit selections including Flex 125, additional products and services through American Fidelity, supplemental voluntary life insurance, and tax shelter annuities.

Application Details

Complete application packets will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications received by August 25, 2026 are assured consideration. The College reserves the right to extend time limits or re-initiate the recruitment/selection process at any point.

Completed Application Packet Requirements

• Completed Online Application for Employment form
• Current resume
• Letter of interest (Cover Letter)
• Copy of legible transcripts
• List of five (5) professional references (listed on the application form)

Important Instructions for Applicants

• It is the applicant’s responsibility to redact (or remove) personal information from all documents before uploading, including Social Security Numbers, Date of Birth, and any photos of the applicant.
• For foreign degrees completed outside the United States, coursework must be evaluated by an NACES member or ACEI, with a copy submitted with the online application.
• Applicants who require reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection process should contact Human Resources to make the necessary arrangements.
• The District does not provide sponsorship for authorization to work in the United States. Work authorization should be established at the time of application submission.

Equal Employment and Accessibility

• For all positions, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students is considered a core system competency and job requirement (5 CCR § 53022).
• Discrimination based on protected characteristics is illegal and violates Kern Community College District policy.
• The District participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to verify identity and employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Helpful links: Kern Community College District, Salary Schedules, Job Descriptions, Benefits, Faculty Minimum Qualifications/Equivalency Process.