Data Operations Lead

Job Title: Data Operations Lead 

Company Name: Nebraska Children and Families Foundation 

Position Type: Lincoln, Omaha, or Remote within Nebraska 

Location: Lincoln, Omaha, or Remote within Nebraska  

NEBRASKA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOUNDATION: 

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation (NCFF) is a nonprofit created to support children, young adults, and families with the overall goal of giving our state's children what they need to thrive. We do this by building strong communities that support families. Our mission is to create positive change for Nebraska’s children through community engagement, and we believe in a Nebraska where all children will have the resources and support to thrive. 

 

SUMMARY 

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation seeks a Data Operations Lead to help us manage our growing data lifecycle needs. If you are a technology enthusiast who enjoys working with databases, building data pipelines, and transforming data to drive insights, we think you'll enjoy being a member of our team. 

For over 25 years, NCFF has been using evidence-based and evidence-informed practices to help children, young adults, and families thrive. Data plays a key role in understanding the needs of those we serve and demonstrating the impact our programs and initiatives have. 

As the Data Operations Lead, you will manage every stage of the data lifecycle from creation & capture to deletion. You will build and maintain automated data pipelines using tools like Fivetran and dbt, work closely with both the Research & Evaluation team and the IT and Operation Department to automate the data transformation and preparation process to meet their needs, help design & manage our data warehouse infrastructure to ensure data integrity and accessibility for cross-system data sharing and provide data analysis support on a limited basis.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Data Pipeline Management: Build and maintain automated data pipelines using Fivetran to extract data from various sources including Qualtrics, vendor-specific SQL databases, Excel/CSV files, and public data sources into our data warehouse.  

• Data Transformation & Modeling: Use dbt to clean, transform, and model data as it flows into the warehouse, ensuring data quality and consistency across all sources.  

• Data Storage & Warehousing: Manage PostgreSQL and MySQL databases, ensuring data integrity is maintained as it moves between systems, that data is transferred securely, and that only appropriate people have access to the data.  

• Data Preparation Automation: Write SQL queries and scripts to automate data preparation processes, creating reliable and repeatable workflows for the Research & Evaluation team.  

• Database Administration: Serve as the primary database administrator for our PostgreSQL and MySQL systems, including performance monitoring, optimization, and maintenance tasks.  

• Cross-System Data Integration: Ensure seamless data flow between multiple management information systems and partner data sources while maintaining data quality standards. 

• Analysis Support: Collaborate with the Research & Evaluation team to provide data analysis support, including building queries, preparing datasets, and conducting limited statistical and trend analysis at both program and population levels. 

• Population-Level Data Management: Assist with integrating, organizing, and maintaining large-scale, population-level datasets that track outcomes across multiple systems, ensuring they are accurate, accessible, and usable for evaluation and reporting. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None to start. 

WORK DIRECTION RECEIVED: Works with minimal direction. 

SCOPE/NATURE OF DISCRETION: Delegated discretion; authority to initiate and carry out actions that are deemed essential. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES: 

• Strong technical skills in SQL. 

• Basic understanding of data engineering principles and ETL/ELT processes 

• Familiarity with data transformation tools 

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data quality 

• Excellent communication skills and ability to document processes clearly 

• The ability to work independently and learn new technologies quickly 

• Excellent cross-team collaboration skills 

• Demonstrated ability for continuous learning and improvement of technical skills 

• Basic understanding of data security and privacy best practices 

• Ability to support data analysis and interpretation for programmatic and population-level datasets 

PREFERRED SKILLS/ABILITIES 

• Experience with PostgreSQL and MySQL dialects 

• Experience with Fivetran or similar ETL/ELT tools  

• Experience with dbt (data build tool)  

• Familiarity with database design principles and data modeling  

• Experience working with APIs and data extraction  

• Basic scripting abilities (Python, bash, or similar)  

• Familiarity with Git version control  

• Experience with cloud databases or data warehouses  

• Understanding of data governance principles  

• Experience working with survey data (Qualtrics) or social services data  

• Basic knowledge of Ubuntu server administration 

• Familiarity with statistical analysis tools or data visualization platforms  

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE: 

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Statistics, or a related field. 

• In lieu of a degree, 1+ years of experience in data analysis, database administration, SQL development, or data pipeline management. 

• Experience working with relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, or similar) 

• Basic experience with data extraction, transformation, or loading processes 

• Familiarity with data quality and integrity concepts 

• Experience managing or working with data from multiple sources 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

• While performing duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. 

• The employee is frequently required to use hands. 

• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Remote / Work from Home option available 

• Hybrid option available in Lincoln or Omaha 

• Flexible scheduling, including possible evenings and weekends. 

• Willingness to travel, including overnight stays. 

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 

 

**Summary:** Nebraska Children and Families Foundation is seeking a Data Operations Lead to manage data lifecycle needs. The role involves building and maintaining data pipelines, transforming data, managing databases, automating data preparation processes, and supporting data analysis. The ideal candidate will have strong technical skills in SQL, experience with data engineering principles, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills. A Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience is required. This position offers remote or hybrid work options with potential for flexible scheduling. **Keywords:** Data Operations Lead, Data Pipeline Management, Data Transformation, Data Warehousing, Database Administration, Data Analysis, SQL, Data Engineering **Hashtags:** #DataOperations #DataManagement #DatabaseAdmin #DataAnalysis #SQL #RemoteJob #NebraskaJobs