Our Story:
Committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations, the Region of Waterloo is an inclusive, thriving, and sustainable region of connected rural and urban communities with global reach. Our mission is to serve, engage and inspire, by delivering quality services to a diverse population of 630,000+, while creating a healthy, collaborative environment of learning, respect, and innovation.
This is a place where employees are valued and recognized for their talents and contributions to our success. Our employees take pride in making a difference in people's lives through the work that we do. We are looking for people like you to help make it happen.
The Opportunity:
Working with a team of Community Services staff and community partners, the Housing Services Data Analyst will provide day-to-day technical support and data analysis to users of the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) database. In this role, you will work collaboratively with a team of passionate Regional staff and community partners to ensure that there is reliable and accurate data within the HIFIS database. You will author reports and resources that staff and partners will use to understand the state of homelessness in our community, and how we can leverage the data to enhance services and programs. As a collaborative team player and effective communicator, you will lead all efforts to communicate and leverage local data to end chronic homelessness in Waterloo Region.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Provides day-to-day technical support to users of the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS), primarily service providers reporting data as part of service agreements. Troubleshoots and resolves issues, including staff from HIFIS national, as needed.
- Collaborates with program staff and management to present, interpret, and predict data in effective, engaging, understandable formats.
- Maintains effective, collaborative relationships with a variety of partners, including: corporate ITS staff, consultants, vendors, and community partners to assist with system performance, maintenance, data integrity, and report development.
- Provides expertise on data quality standards.
- Ensures data integrity and accuracy in data and datasets.
- Designs, extracts, modifies, compiles, automates, and maintains datasets, interactive dashboards, and data visualization tools (e.g., data dictionaries, visualizations, indicators).
- Leads the design, implementation, and training of new/updated data sets, including for divisional projects and initiatives.
- Develops project plans for implementation within timelines/deadlines.
- Acts as the Region’s HIFIS lead. Provides user access; monitors user accounts and access control.
- Creates and maintains issue-tracking documents, and compiles resolutions as appropriate. Maintains documentation for support processes, business continuity, technical installations, and system management (e.g., data dictionaries).
- Develops and maintains training resources for system users and provides training. Chairs technology and training working group meetings with system users.
- Provides expertise in database/data model design, development, and maintenance. Analyses system capabilities, including integration with other systems, and best practices for data collection, management, and reporting.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:
- Knowledge and skills are acquired through a 3-year college diploma in a related field plus 3 years of related experience, or, an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Knowledge and skill in data management, data analysis, business intelligence and visualization software, and programming languages (e.g., SQL).
- Demonstrated skill and experience working with Excel, data visualization software, and large datasets, including writing and troubleshooting complex queries in SQL.
- Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, related legislation (e.g., security, encryption, data protection and privacy, information, accessibility, housing), and industry standards.
- Analytical and problem solving skills to identify gaps in data processes/practices, troubleshoot and resolve issues, and develop technical solutions and continuous improvements to support program delivery, including compliance and reporting requirements.
- Organizational and project management skills to plan project tasks and timelines, monitor results, work independently, and balance competing requests and priorities. Ability to keep knowledge and skills current.
- Ability to provide technical and analytical consultation, expertise, and support to service providers, internal program staff, and management.
- Communication and interpersonal skills to work with internal and external partners to support their data needs; describe system and data requirements and analysis to varied audiences; provide training and explain data management practices/requirements; respond to questions from and present to staff, management, and external partners. Ability to participate as an effective team member.
- Ability to write correspondence, resource/training materials, communications, reports, project plans, and manuals/instructions for technical and non-technical audiences; and draft policies and protocols related to data management/administration for management review.
- Computer skills with ability to use Microsoft Office Suite, systems/databases (e.g., Homeless Individuals and Families Information System), relational databases, and data analytics/tools (e.g. Power BI). Ability to prepare database forms, queries, reports, tables, and dashboards.
- Ability to travel within Waterloo Region.
- Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.
We invite internal applicants to APPLY ONLINE through the HR Portal by 11:59 p.m., by the closing date.
The Region of Waterloo is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. At the Region, we respect, encourage and celebrate our diversity. The Region of Waterloo is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require an accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Alternate formats of this document are available upon request. Please contact the Service First Contact Centre at phone number (519) 575-4400, TTY number (519-575-4608) to request an alternate format.
