Analytics Specialist

Job Description

The Analytics Specialist will serve as a core developer and maintainer of production-grade analytics content at DEQ. The Analytics Specialist will create and maintain solutions that support agency-wide operations and public data accessibility as well as respond to ad-hoc requests for analyses and visualizations. This role will also help support the development and maintenance of extract transform and load (ETL) processes to support analytical tools. The Analytics Specialist will coordinate closely with staff in the Office of Information Services (OIS) Analytics Team and throughout DEQ to define requirements and develop and maintain solutions. The Analytics Specialist will also help support the Analytics Systems Administrator with the maintenance of DEQ’s enterprise analytics environments and tools as needed. This position will need to have experience in a combination of the following: R, Shiny app development, Python, Tableau, or analogous BI tools or programming languages, database query design, and experience with SQL programming.

Responsibilities

Application Development & Enhancement

• Designs, analyzes, and develops systems, enhancements, and changes to applications and datasets while meeting project deadlines and release requirements.
• Develops and executes test plans for all new or updated applications, ensuring issues are documented and resolved prior to deployment.
• Collaborates with the Analytics Team to develop, test, and deploy analytics-based ETL processes that support performant reporting.
• Follows agency development best practices and programming standards in all application development activities.

System Maintenance & Operations

• Maintains and updates agency applications and datasets following established documentation and release processes.
• Updates and maintains scripts and database views that support routine data maintenance and ETL tasks.
• Maintains issue-tracking and git repositories as part of release and documentation processes.
• Performs code and design reviews for staff, developers, analysts, and vendors.
• Responds to all analytics content-related incidents within agreed-upon timeframes.
• Writes clear release notes and coordinates release processes with the Analytics Team.
• Ensures system documentation, standards, procedures, test plans, and scripts are written and kept current.

User Support & Training

• Supports annual update processes for distributed analytical tools.
• Provides installation, licensing, configuration, and documentation support for desktop analytics tool users.
• Participates in analytics user groups, contributing topics and supporting user discussions.
• Coordinates with the Office of Training to schedule or develop analytics-related trainings or workshops.
• Creates and communicates user guides for agency analytical tools.
• Trains and mentors technical staff to strengthen analytical proficiency across the agency.

Qualifications

• Experience developing and maintaining production-grade content hosted in enterprise analytics environments (e.g., Posit Connect, Tableau Server, Metabase, etc.)
• Experience building dashboards (e.g., Shiny or Dash applications, Tableau dashboards, etc.), infographics, and automated data management or process support workflows.
• Experience with ETL development and maintenance using any of the following: SQL, R, Python, Tableau Prep Builder, etc.
• Experience with database query design and optimization to support analytics content development.
• Capable of using a combination of the following development environments: RStudio, Positron, VS Code, Tableau Desktop, Tableau Prep Builder, etc.
• Experience using git to support code development and maintenance.
• Demonstrated ability to gather and translate business requirements into stable and maintainable analytics solutions.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Familiarity with work management tools (e.g., Jira or similar) to track work intake, priorities, delivery, and service performance.

Additional Considerations

• Experience integrating analytics content across data science platforms (e.g., Posit Connect, Tableau, ESRI etc.).
• Experience administering analytical tools (Posit Connect, Tableau Server, etc.).
• Experience developing and maintaining production-grade content hosted in ArcGIS Enterprise and, or, ArcGIS Online.
• Relevant technical certifications or training.
• Coursework in Environmental Science, Data Science/Analytics, or a related field.
• Recommended: 3-4 years of experience developing analytics content in production environments.
• Equivalent education and experience may be considered.

About Us

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the primary environmental permitting agency in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is responsible for administering laws and regulations related to air quality, water quality, water supply, renewable energy, and land protection. Through the dedication and work of over 800 employees across six regional offices and the Central Office in Richmond, DEQ issues permits, conducts monitoring and inspections, and enforces the law.