Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking a data-driven public-sector analyst with demonstrated experience working with procurement, vendor utilization, and disparity-related datasets in support of policy development and compliance-focused programs. This role is critical to ensuring that M-NCPPC’s Local/Small Business and MBE Preference Programs are grounded in defensible, well-documented empirical evidence, rather than assumptions or anecdotal inputs.

The ideal candidate brings strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, experience navigating imperfect or incomplete government datasets, and the ability to translate complex findings into clear, decision-ready summaries that support senior leadership, legal review, and stakeholder discussions. This role directly underpins the credibility and legal durability of the preference programs by establishing the analytical foundation upon which program goals, thresholds, and design decisions are based.

This position is well suited for professionals with backgrounds in public procurement analysis, policy research, program evaluation, economics, statistics, or applied social science, who are comfortable working independently while coordinating closely with policy, legal, and stakeholder engagement leads.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Data Analyst / Researcher supports both Phase I and Phase II of the engagement by analyzing Commission-provided procurement, vendor, and disparity study data to establish a clear baseline of current participation, identify gaps, and synthesize findings relevant to program design.

During Phase I, the role focuses on analyzing vendor utilization data to assess local and small business participation, supporting program development tasks by producing factual baselines that inform eligibility criteria, thresholds, and policy options (IV.B.1.1; IV.B.1.3).

During Phase II, the Analyst supports interpretation and summarization of disparity study findings, ensuring that MBE program elements are directly tied to documented disparities and aligned with legal requirements (IV.B.2.1).

The Analyst does not set policy or advocate for outcomes; instead, the role ensures that program decisions are evidence-based, transparent, and defensible, reducing risk of legal challenge or stakeholder dispute.

The ideal candidate is methodical, detail-oriented, and intellectually disciplined, with the ability to document assumptions, flag data limitations, and communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

What This Role Is Expected to Solve / Support

• Establishes a credible, data-backed baseline of current local, small, and minority business participation
• Reduces program risk by ensuring goals and thresholds are supported by documented evidence
• Supports legally defensible program design by aligning findings with disparity study results
• Enables informed decision-making without overreliance on incomplete or inconsistent datasets
• Strengthens confidence in final recommendations presented to Commission leadership

Tools and Processes Used

• Microsoft Excel (advanced formulas, pivot tables, structured analysis)
• Data validation and reconciliation techniques
• Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
• Documentation of assumptions, limitations, and methodological notes
• Collaboration via Microsoft Teams and SharePoint
• Structured reporting and briefing support (tables, charts, narrative summaries)

Position Day-to-Day / Anticipated Activities

• Analyze Commission-provided procurement and vendor utilization datasets to assess participation trends
• Validate data for completeness, consistency, and usability; document limitations and gaps
• Develop baseline metrics for local, small, and minority business participation
• Summarize disparity study findings relevant to program design and remedial considerations
• Prepare analytical tables, charts, and written summaries for inclusion in program documentation
• Support policy and stakeholder teams by translating data into decision-ready insights
• Document analytical assumptions, methodologies, and data sources to support transparency
• Respond to ad hoc analytical questions arising during stakeholder engagement or legal review