Merit America is a national nonprofit that creates pathways to family-sustaining careers for Americans stuck in low-wage work. Our fast, flexible solutions are built for working adults: We start by analyzing millions of job postings to identify in-demand, high-paying tech careers and then partner with industry-recognized training partners to provide part-time programs that combine flexible online learning with best‑in‑class coaching. Finally, we support our learners in their job search, connecting them with a broad constellation of local and national employers such as JPMorgan Chase and Infosys to land higher‑earning, family‑sustaining jobs, driving an average wage gain of $24k three months or more after completing the program.
About the Role
The primary mission of the Data Scientist is to transform Merit America’s data into actionable insights that directly improve learner outcomes and scale our impact. The Data Scientist partners with key functions (Growth, Sustainability, Communications, Policy, etc.) to improve operational effectiveness and impact. This role blends applied data science, analytics, and close collaboration with teams to answer critical questions like: what makes learners successful, and how can we adapt our program to scale impact? We seek a collaborative individual who is comfortable with ambiguity, is service‑oriented, and is eager to look and think cross‑functionally in their work.
The Data Scientist is an exempt role and will sit on the Data & Engineering team and will report directly to Merit America’s Head of Data & Technology.
What You’ll Be Doing
The responsibilities of the Data Scientist will include, but are not limited to, the following:
Collaboration with key functional areas (40%)
Build trusted relationships with teams and help scope data projects with maximum strategic impact
Contribute to the organization’s and functional teams’ planning process by identifying high‑ROI opportunities
Educate stakeholders on data inputs, data responsibility, and data interpretation
Drive data‑informed decision making across all organizational functions
Analytics and dashboarding (40%)
Define, track, and analyze key metrics to gauge the success of key organizational functions
Build dashboards and automated reports to enable self‑serve analytics
Work with the Data & Engineering team to identify, instrument, and ELT new data into a centralized warehouse
Create compelling data visualizations and narratives that drive action across teams
Advanced analysis and data science (20%)
Partner with teams to launch and analyze experiments that measure and amplify our impact
Identify and tackle potentially abstract topics like the qualities that make for effective coaches
When appropriate, build exploratory or decision‑support models to improve learner engagement, prospect management, and outcomes
What Makes a Successful Candidate
We recognize that some individuals from underrepresented backgrounds may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet 100% of the listed qualifications. Please don’t let that discourage you from applying! We value the unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that each applicant brings, and we encourage you to apply if you believe your background demonstrates the required skills and competencies.
Must Haves for All Roles at Merit America
Committed to Merit America’s mission to pave pathways to family‑sustaining careers, break the poverty cycle, and create upward mobility for low‑wage workers
Demonstrated history of embodying our values, which inform our work and drive our organization’s culture
Shared sense of responsibility and ownership for our collective work in making a positive impact on the community we support, true to our value of Win & Lose Together
Committed to continuous learning and growth in advancing inclusive excellence and closing gaps across lines of difference
Passionate about fostering a workplace culture that embraces and values individual differences, aligned with our core value of inclusivity
Must Haves for This Role
Technical Expertise:
2+ years of SQL experience; proficiency in R or Python for data analysis; proficiency in at least one BI tool (Hex, Tableau, etc.)
Communication:
Exceptional ability to translate technical insights for non‑technical stakeholders with strong stakeholder empathy
Delivery:
Proven track record delivering both strategic analyses and self‑service solutions
Nice to Haves
Experience with DBT
Demonstrated ability to support cross‑functional teams as they become more data‑oriented
Demonstrated ability to proactively work with stakeholders to identify organizational problems/opportunities that can be addressed with data
Other Logistics
Position is full time: 4‑day work week (Fridays are an operating day if there is a holiday closure during the week)
Location: Remote
Perks and Benefits
4‑day work week (Fridays are an operating day if there is a holiday closure during the week)
Medical, Dental and Vision insurance (100% Paid Employee Only Coverage)
Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account
Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Merit
Catalog of courses for professional learning and development
Short and long‑term disability
Unlimited vacation (after a 90‑day introductory period)
Paid Parental Leave and Adoption benefits (after 1 year of employment)
11 federally recognized holidays
1 week office closure in July (week of July 4th)
2 week holiday office closure in December/January
401(k) retirement plan with automatic Merit contribution
Wellness benefits/resources
Discount perks at work program
Home office setup stipend
Affinity groups and community building via virtual, in‑person, and/or regional meetups
Remote Work & Sponsorship
Candidates must reside within the 50 states or District of Columbia and have full authorization to work in the U. S. Merit America does not offer employment visa sponsorship.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Building an inclusive, high‑performing team that is diverse across lines of personal identity is integral to our success and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any job applicant or employee because of their race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment. We actively strive and evolve to develop and maintain workspaces that are fully inclusive. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.
E‑Verify Statement
This employer participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U. S. If E‑Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized, the employer is required to give written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS or SSA so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E‑Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the I‑9 Form.
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