Ascension is seeking a detail-oriented, analytically disciplined Data & Utilization Analyst to support the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) in the development of a Local and Small Business Preference Program.

This role is critical to establishing a credible, defensible baseline of current vendor participation across M-NCPPC procurement activities. The analyst’s work directly informs program design decisions, stakeholder discussions, regulatory drafting, and implementation planning. Candidates should be motivated by applied public-sector analysis, not abstract research, and should be comfortable working with real-world procurement datasets that may be incomplete, inconsistently coded, or decentralized.

This position is ideal for professionals with experience in public procurement data, supplier diversity analytics, utilization reporting, or government program evaluation who want to contribute to policy-shaping work without serving in a policy-setting role.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Data & Utilization Analyst supports Local/Small Business Preference Program by analyzing Commission-provided procurement, contract, and vendor datasets to assess current participation levels of local and small businesses.

Working under the direction of Ascension’s Project Lead, the analyst focuses on data execution, validation, interpretation, and documentation, not stakeholder facilitation or regulatory drafting. The role requires strong analytical judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to clearly explain assumptions, limitations, and trends so that findings can withstand internal, legal, and public scrutiny.

The ideal candidate is methodical, self-directed, and comfortable translating raw procurement data into clear findings that support implementation-ready decisions, rather than aspirational targets.

This role is expected to solve/support the following:

• Establish a factual baseline of current local and small business participation
• Identify participation gaps and concentration trends across vendor categories
• Reduce program risk by ensuring data-supported, defensible findings
• Support benchmarking and program design without overstating data precision

Tools and Processes Commonly Used

• Microsoft Excel (advanced formulas, pivot tables, structured analysis)
• Data normalization and validation techniques
• Procurement and vendor classification review
• Written analytical summaries and data exhibits

Position Day-to-Day Activities (As Needed Based on LOE)

The contractor will:

• Analyze Commission-provided procurement, contract award, and vendor datasets to assess current utilization patterns
• Validate data for completeness, consistency, and usability, documenting limitations and assumptions
• Categorize vendors by size, locality, and other attributes relevant to Phase I program design
• Develop summary tables, charts, and baseline metrics for internal review and stakeholder discussion
• Identify participation trends, gaps, and concentration risks affecting local and small businesses
• Document analytical methodology in plain language suitable for inclusion in reports and briefings
• Coordinate with the project team to align analysis with stakeholder engagement and program design timelines
• Revise findings based on feedback from project leadership and legal considerations