Senior Data Specialist

Title: Senior Data Specialist

Employee Working Location: Partially Virtual / Hybrid (Canada)

Employment Status: Permanent Full-time

The Canadian Red Cross (Red Cross) - an inspirational not for profit organization, helps people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supports them in strengthening their resilience. As a Canada's Best Employers 2026, we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment.

The Senior Data Specialist reporting the Lead, Data and Analytics, in Humanitarian Services, designs and maintains scalable data systems and standards that enable high-quality analytics and informed decision-making. This role supports organizational priorities by developing sustainable data structures, promoting data governance, and translating complex data into actionable insights. Through collaboration, mentorship, and continuous improvement, the Senior Data Specialist strengthens data capabilities and fosters a culture of responsible data use.

In this role, you will:

• Collaborate with leaders to understand priorities and identify opportunities where data management and analytics can support long-term improvements in services and knowledge sharing.
• Lead the design and implementation of sustainable data solutions, including data models, pipelines, and repositories that support scalable analytics and reporting in partnership with Technology Group.
• Conduct in-depth analyses to uncover trends and insights that inform strategic planning and operational improvements.
• Develop and maintain data management frameworks and standards to ensure consistency, quality, and reusability across systems and teams.
• Translate complex data findings into clear narratives and visualizations that support evidence-based decision-making.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to align data capabilities with organizational goals and long-term planning.
• Contribute to the implementation of data governance practices, promoting data quality, integrity, and responsible use.
• Recommend and implement improvements to data tools, processes, and methodologies that enhance long-term data utility.
• Mentor colleagues in data stewardship, governance, and the application of data standards to promote sustainable data practices.
• Participate in internal data forums and contribute to the implementation of organizational data strategies and standards.
• Stay informed on developments in data analytics, tools, and relevant policies to ensure best practices are applied.
• Ensure data security and integrity in all analytics activities and assist in identifying and mitigating data-related risks.

What we are looking for :

• Qualifications include a minimum of 6-9 years experience and a 3-year college diploma or university degree in Data Science, Information Management, Computer Science, Statistics or a related field and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Expertise in data management and analytics, along with an understanding of how data supports operational and strategic decision making
• Strong understanding of data architecture, data modeling, and metadata management.
• Proficiency in data analytics, statistical methods, and data visualization tools and software (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, R, Python, SQL).
• Knowledge of cloud-based platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP).
• Experience using Python or R for data manipulation, automation, and statistical analysis.
• Ability to create compelling data narratives and visualizations that support decision-making.
• Ability to document and maintain data standards and technical specifications.
• Familiarity with data governance principles, data quality standards, and privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
• Experience with and understanding of best practices around data management concepts, including data quality, data cleansing, standardization, metadata management, privacy, and security governance
• Ability to identify complex problems, analyze interrelated factors, assess and mitigate risks, and develop solutions using specialized skills.
• Communication and influence skills to gather perspectives, understand needs, and present information to reach consensus, often in somewhat sensitive situations.
• Ability to guide and coordinate the work of others to ensure work is completed to meet business needs and in compliance with applicable data and privacy policy and legislation
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of discretion and integrity to handle sensitive workforce and organizational information.

  * Lived and/or professional experience with First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis Nations or communities is an asset.

Working Conditions :

• Requires significant attention to detail and concentration and ability to mentally process large amounts of information.
• The work pace is often unpredictable with significant time pressures.
• Ability to adapt to frequent and often urgent changes in priorities, and make decisions under pressure, work at an
  unpredictable pace.
• Work will be conducted in an office-like setting.
• May require travel to safe locations; limited exposure to adverse conditions.
• Work requires the ability to work to deadlines.
• Work requires interactions with dissatisfied clients and the resolution of complex client issues.
• In a large-scale emergency, where staff numbers are compromised or additional resources are required provide disaster relief and/or emergency field operational support.