Research Assistant Data Analyst Jobs in Colorado

The Water Conservation Data Analyst plays a crucial role in our mission to protect and sustain our water resources. As a key team member in the Water Conservation Department, you will use data analysis to support water conservation goals, create water‑saving strategies, and help shape a sustainable future for our community. You will support programs to manage water use across our customer types and influence conservation through data‑driven insights.

We’re seeking an individual passionate about using data in an environmental sustainability and water conservation setting. If you thrive on data analysis, enjoy collaborating with diverse teams, and are excited about creating positive change, this role could be a perfect fit.

The work you will do as a Water Conservation Data Analyst will allow you to make a real difference in creating a sustainable future for the community where we live, work and play. In addition, we offer excellent health benefits, a housing program, and opportunities for training and development.

• Data Analysis & Evaluation: Use data to support business decisions about water conservation and other internal initiatives and track the impacts resulting from our work. Lead sophisticated statistical analyses of water use to refine conservation needs and understand how factors such as outreach, weather, and rates affect customers' water use.
• Statistical Modeling & Forecasting: Build regression and time‑series models to quantify how weather, rate changes, and outreach affect water use, and forecast future demand and revenue under different rate and conservation scenarios.
• Data Engineering & Tooling: Develop and maintain reproducible data pipelines, analysis scripts, and interactive tools (R, Quarto, Shiny) using version control, and audit and QC source data for accuracy before it drives analysis, reporting, or billing.
• Data Management & Visualization: Develop and manage interactive dashboards, charts, and reports in Power BI and Shiny to communicate key findings internally and for the public.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Support: Partner with departments across the organization to design customer communications and support water conservation and rate initiatives. Serve as a subject‑matter resource on water‑use data and analysis for other teams and leadership and help onboard and mentor interns and analysts on tools, methods, and best practices.
• Communication & Storytelling: Translate complex analyses into clear narratives and visuals for non‑technical audiences, present findings at internal meetings, town halls, and stakeholder sessions, and respond to occasional technical customer inquiries about water use, bills, and rates.
• Research, Reporting & Documentation: Apply best practices in water conservation and data‑driven rate structures, and maintain SOPs, reports, records, and documentation so analyses and processes remain reproducible and transferable across the team.

• Education & Experience:
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with significant course work in environmental science, conservation, biological science, hydrology, data analysis, or related fields, AND
  • Minimum two years of professional experience in a data analysis‑heavy field, OR any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities.
• Problem Solving: Use critical thinking to address data discrepancies, quality‑check datasets, and support solution development through comprehensive analysis.
• Teamwork: Ability to work across all departments and manage workloads.
• Project Management Skills.

• Data Modeling: Advanced skills in querying, data extraction, transformation, aggregation, and optimization.
• Programming and Analysis: Experience with R and R Studio/VS Code for data manipulation, statistical analysis, and modeling.
• Statistical Software and Libraries: Proficiency in statistical software and libraries (e.g., pandas in Python, dplyr in R) for advanced data manipulation and analysis.
• Git: Ability to incorporate Git version control into workflows for reproducible code, CI/CD DevOps, and collaboration amongst data colleagues.
• Excel: Strong foundational Excel skills for supplemental analysis (Pivot Tables, Conditional Formatting, Index Match, Data Validation).

• SQL Server (Data Warehousing, ETL)
• APIs and Data Integration: Ability to use APIs to integrate data from external sources. Power Platform
• Experience using Virtual Machine (VM) Environments
• Python
• Docker
• Data Security and Compliance: Understanding of data governance, privacy, and security best practices, including compliance with CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) standards.

This position is expected to work a hybrid schedule, working on‑site 2-3 days per week at our office in Vail, Colorado.

The salary range for this role is $85,259.20 – $119,329.60. Hiring wage will depend on qualifications and experience.

We are committed to recognizing and retaining high‑performing employees and offer performance‑based annual merit increases, cost‑of‑living adjustments, and annual market evaluations.

At ERWSD, we value life‑work balance and are leaders in the industry with our holistic benefits package, which includes but is not limited to:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Employee housing or $559 monthly housing stipend
• Wellness program
• Retirement savings plans (414h and 457) – We are a social security exempt organization
• 13.5 Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Parental Leave
• $800 Annual Recreation Benefit
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Loan programs for: Ski Passes, Electric Vehicles, and Computers
• Relocation Assistance (if applicable)

All District employees must possessa valid Colorado Driver License and submit to a pre‑employment drug screen, extensive background check including an educational verification, and reference check. For a full position description including work environment and physical demands, email erwsdjobs@erwsd.org.

All applicants must apply online at www.erwsd.org by August 5, 2026.

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job‑related factors.