SAS Programmer/Analyst

About the Opportunity
The SAS Programmer/Analyst position (IT Analyst/Programmer III) within the Enterprise Data Office (EDO) at the UNC System Office writes SAS programs and uses other tools such as Tableau and Microsoft Office products to manage and report data, conduct analyses, and support the system-wide data marts and analytics platform. The role must understand and integrate the student, human resources, and finance data marts as well as other data sources, manage data quality and metadata, and draw meaning from rich data sources in order to provide value-added information and compliance reports to a wide range of stakeholders. Data security is a major responsibility, so this position must take all measures necessary to ensure that data is protected as prescribed by law, System Office policies, and department standards. This position is expected to manage multiple and complex projects and is responsible for keeping those projects focused on requested outcomes and completion time frames.

With regard to the broader goals of the unit, this position follows work standards and standard processes (e.g., quality control, documentation, naming and coding conventions). This position reviews code written by colleagues and provides constructive feedback, and communicates effectively with his/her supervisor and others within and outside the department. This position documents recurring activities and complex projects to support the department goal of cross-training. This position consults with other programmer/analysts and campus representatives to discuss techniques, assist with resolution of technical problems, and provide technical assistance when needed.

This position is a hybrid work arrangement and will work at least 3 days per week at the Dillon building in downtown Raleigh's Warehouse District. UNC System employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a 2-hour commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

About the UNC System Office

The UNC System Office includes the offices of the President and other senior administrators of the multi-campus University of North Carolina System. The UNC System is a treasured public institution dedicated to serving the people of North Carolina through world-class teaching, research, and community engagement. Today, nearly 250,000 students are enrolled in our 16 universities across the state and at the NC School of Science and Mathematics. System Office staff is responsible for executing the policies of the UNC Board of Governors and providing University-wide leadership in the areas of academic affairs, business and financial management, long-range planning, student affairs, research, legal affairs, and government relations. The UNC System Office also has administrative oversight of a number of University affiliates, including PBS North Carolina, the North Carolina Arboretum, the NC State Education Assistance Authority, and University of North Carolina Press.

About the Team
The Operations Division works collaboratively within the System Office to help ensure efficient and cost-effective integration of new technologies and processes to meet the strategic needs of the University of North Carolina System Office and the common and unique needs of the 17 institutions. The division includes the Enterprise Data Office (EDO), Information Technology, Human Resources, Advancement, and is also charged with managing a highly complex project portfolio and data integration effort that enables the System to better monitor, evaluate, and manage our enterprise.

The EDO provides vision and strategy to leverage enterprise data, leads the data integration and governance efforts in alignment with the System Office strategic objectives, and effectively communicates the value of data. The office manages the existing information product suite and works to create a comprehensive, integrated view of data for System Office decision making and reporting. The EDO is responsible for overseeing the collection, management, quality, and improvement of data; coordinating state and federal reporting requirements centrally; and developing products and services to respond to data needs across the organization. The office establishes and maintains policies and procedures for responsibly using, protecting, and disseminating data, while ensuring such standards comply with data protection and privacy regulations.

The EDO provides decision support to UNC System leadership, the Board of Governors, the legislature, and various other stakeholders, primarily through the maintenance of and extraction of information from a rich central database. They meet this objective by developing an efficient, responsive, sustainable technology platform and cultivating an effective, highly-skilled team. The office's goal is for enterprise data to be accessible, useable, understandable, and actionable. The EDO serves as a central source of expertise, supporting the research, analyses, and evaluations taking place across the organization.

Minimum Education, Experience, and Skills
Masters' and 2-4 years' experience; or Bachelors and 3-5 years' experience; or will accept a combination of related education and experience in substitution.

Required Competencies
*Proficiency with SAS programming (minimum of 3 years experience), including Data Step programming, merging large and complex data sets using Data Merge, and use of specific routines in SAS such as Proc SQL, ODS, Proc Report/Tabulate, Macro Programming, and Array Processing
*Experience with debugging and troubleshooting code, updating code written by other programmers, and thoroughly documenting code
*Ability to work as part of a team and communicate complex information effectively to a wide variety of stakeholders, including both technical and non-technical experts
*Excellent customer service skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to accuracy - Strong analytical skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
*Ability to effectively plan and manage multiple projects simultaneously with time constraints

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills
*Management strongly prefers a minimum of five (5) years of writing original SAS code in a professional setting.
*Experience working in a higher education institution, system office, and/or a state-level higher education agency
*Experience working with data visualization software (Tableau preferred), with the ability to create dashboards and update/enhance dashboards created by others
*Experience writing and/or interpreting SQL and/or Python
*Subject matter expertise in one or more institutional research reporting areas, such as student enrollment, academic programs, admissions, financial aid, facilities, finance, or human resources
*Experience investigating and resolving data quality issues
*Knowledge of higher education policy issues, data reporting systems, or federal and state reporting requirements (North Carolina experience preferred)
*Knowledge of FERPA and state laws concerning student privacy and data security

• Classification: IT Analyst/Programmer III
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Employment Type: EHRA
• EHRA Category: Exempt Professional Staff (EPS)
• Location: Raleigh, NC USA
• Position Number: 20034013
• Special instructions to applicants: The posting remains open until filled, but applications received by January 24, 2024 will receive priority consideration.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Other Information
The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To claim veteran's preference, all eligible persons must indicate their eligibility as requested on the application. A DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, may be required later in the selection process.

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Human Resources Contact Information
Applicants needing assistance with the application process are asked to contact: recruiter@northcarolina.edu.