Data Specialist

Role

The Data Specialist manages the credit union's data infrastructure, ensures the accuracy and accessibility of core and third-party data, and partners with departments across the organization to turn data into actionable insights that support member service and business decisions.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Data Warehouse & Database Management: Manage the data warehouse solution; validate and reconcile data from core banking and third-party systems for accuracy and completeness. Administer SQL Server/database environment — updates, table management, indexing, performance tuning, and backup/recovery processes. Maintain data lineage and documentation so data sources, transformations, and definitions are traceable and auditable. Monitor data quality on an ongoing basis (not just at point of extract) using validation rules, exception reporting, and reconciliation checks.

• Dashboards & Reporting: Partner with management to design, build, and maintain data dashboards that support operational and strategic decision-making. Develop self-service reporting capabilities so departments can pull standard reports without ad hoc requests, freeing capacity for higher-value analysis.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the primary point of contact for data-driven requests and custom extracts from internal departments (Lending, Marketing, Compliance, Finance, etc.). Translate business questions into data requirements and deliver clear, actionable outputs. Provide basic data literacy support/training to help staff interpret and use dashboards and reports effectively.

• Emerging Responsibilities / Current Trends: Data governance: Support development and enforcement of data governance policies — data ownership, access controls, retention schedules, and standardized definitions across systems. Data security & privacy compliance: Ensure data handling practices align with GLBA, NCUA guidance, and other applicable member privacy/security regulations, including monitoring for unauthorized access and supporting audit/exam data requests. Cloud & integration management: Manage or support cloud-hosted data solutions and API-based integrations with fintech/third-party vendors, ensuring secure and reliable data flow.

• Carries out supplementary tasks aligned with the role and department objectives.

Knowledge and Skills

EXPERIENCE

• Two to Five years of similar or related experience, including time spent in preparatory positions.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES

• Microsoft SQL Certification, Associates Degree, College Degree

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Work with third party data providers, management, and subject matter experts, developing data visualizations. Dialog is of technical nature that may require communicating abstract data relationships.

OTHER SKILLS

• Knowledge of technology programs utilized by the financial industry including but limited to JackHenry Symitar, Fiserv, Origence, Internet/Intranet applications, and Microsoft Office products. Has programming platform experience using Object Oriented Architecture, HTML, XML, SOAP, and REST api. Has database management skills with stored procedures, views, and SQL Server 2016 and above.