Manager, Data & Insights

html Job Description

Manager, Data & Insights

The Opportunity

We're looking for a Manager, Data & Insights to join HIEC - someone who gets excited about the possibilities of data, technology, research, and how they can help an organization make better decisions.

For more than 35 years, HIEC has brought people, education, and employers together to build stronger pathways into the world of work. Today, our work spans career development, workforce development, education, skilled trades, and digital platforms, including ApprenticeSearch.com.

That's where you come in! We're looking for someone to lead HIEC's enterprise-wide data and insights strategy, helping shape how information is collected, managed, analyzed, and used across the organization. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, you'll serve as HIEC's lead subject-matter expert in data and insights, establishing priorities, setting organizational standards, and bringing evidence-based recommendations to our leadership team.

This is a strategic leadership role, but it's also hands-on. You should be equally comfortable developing a data strategy, exploring complex datasets, building dashboards, and working with developers to translate organizational needs into practical technical solutions. One of your immediate priorities will be supporting the continued development of ApprenticeSearch.com, helping establish the data, measurement, and analytics capabilities that will support the platform and its users into the future.

It's an opportunity to shape an important organizational function, bring new ideas to the table, and help us use data in ways that make a meaningful difference.

What You'll Do

Data Strategy & Organizational Leadership

• Lead HIEC's approach to data and insights, connecting organizational priorities with meaningful information and opportunities for improvement.
• Own and lead the development, implementation, and evolution of HIEC's enterprise-wide data and insights strategy.
• Establish strategic priorities, measurement frameworks, and a practical roadmap aligned with organizational objectives.
• Evaluate data systems, platforms, and reporting practices to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Executive Director and organizational leadership, proactively bringing forward insights and recommendations.
• Exercise decision-making authority within the data and insights function, in alignment with organizational policies and strategic direction.
• Translate complex organizational questions into practical data initiatives and solutions.

ApprenticeSearch.com & Digital Platforms

A quick note about ApprenticeSearch.com: it's an important part of this role. As we continue developing the platform, we want to be intentional about the information we collect, how we measure engagement and outcomes, and how data can strengthen the experience of apprentices, job seekers, employers, and other users.

• Lead the data strategy, measurement frameworks, and analytics requirements for the continued redevelopment of ApprenticeSearch.com.
• Work with internal teams, developers, and external partners to define data collection, reporting, and integration requirements.
• Determine what information should be captured across key user journeys and establish meaningful measures of engagement, progression, and outcomes.
• Provide strategic and technical direction on data structures, dashboards, reporting tools, and analytics capabilities.
• Ensure considerations such as privacy, consent, access, and future organizational needs inform platform development.
• Have the technical knowledge to confidently define requirements, evaluate recommendations, and work effectively with developers.

Data Analytics, Governance & Reporting

• Develop dashboards, reports, and analyses that provide meaningful insights into organizational and program performance.
• Analyze complex datasets to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
• Establish and oversee organization-wide standards for data governance, quality, documentation, access, and responsible use.
• Evaluate and optimize business intelligence tools, including Metabase, and recommend improvements where appropriate.
• Work with technical partners to strengthen data structures, integrations, and workflows.
• Translate complex information into clear recommendations for leadership, colleagues, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Support appropriate data privacy, security, and retention practices.

Impact Measurement & Research

• Lead the development of organizational performance indicators and program outcome measures.
• Collaborate with program leaders to strengthen data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Provide evidence and analysis to support funding applications, funder reporting, partnerships, and organizational planning.
• Conduct research and analysis of labour-market trends, workforce information, and other relevant external data.
• Identify opportunities to better understand the experiences and outcomes of the people and communities we serve.
• Anticipate future reporting and evidence needs and recommend practical approaches.

Data Culture & Organizational Capacity

• Champion data-informed planning, learning, and decision-making across the organization.
• Build data literacy through training, guidance, and collaboration.
• Help teams understand what information matters, how to collect it, and how to use it effectively.
• Establish consistent practices and shared accountability for data quality and measurement.
• Develop sustainable processes and resources that strengthen HIEC's data capabilities over time.

What We're Looking For (Beyond the Resume)

We're looking for someone who can see the bigger picture while still being comfortable getting into the details.

You understand how data connects to organizational strategy, but you're also someone who can roll up your sleeves, investigate a dataset, evaluate a system, or work through a technical challenge. You don't need someone to hand you a list of reports to produce or tell you what questions to ask. You're comfortable identifying opportunities, setting priorities, and determining how data can help move an organization forward.

You'll work closely with our Executive Director, organizational leaders, program teams, and external technical partners. Being able to listen, ask thoughtful questions, challenge assumptions constructively, and turn different perspectives into a clear direction will be important.

We're also a relatively small and collaborative organization, so you'll have opportunities to contribute beyond the traditional boundaries of a data role and help shape initiatives that directly impact the communities we serve.

Most importantly, we're looking for someone with the expertise, judgment, and confidence to lead this function while remaining approachable, collaborative, and genuinely interested in the work behind the data.

What You'll Bring (You Don't Need to Check Every Box)

• Significant progressive experience in data, analytics, business intelligence, research, or a related field, including strategic or organizational leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience building or significantly advancing organizational data and analytics capabilities.
• Experience developing data strategies, roadmaps, measurement frameworks, and governance practices.
• Strong hands-on analytical skills and experience working with complex datasets.
• Experience developing dashboards and visualizations using Metabase, Power BI, Tableau, or comparable platforms.
• Proficiency with SQL is strongly preferred; Python, R, or similar analytical tools are assets.
• Working knowledge of databases, data architecture, integrations, and data pipelines.
• Experience translating organizational priorities into technical requirements, analysis, and actionable recommendations.
• A strong understanding of data governance, quality, privacy, and responsible data management.
• The ability to communicate complex information to non-technical audiences, including senior leadership.
• Independent judgment, strong organizational skills, and the ability to lead initiatives from planning through implementation.
• Strong relationship-building, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in the not-for-profit, workforce development, education, employment services, government, or social-impact sectors would be an asset, as would familiarity with impact measurement, funder reporting, and labour-market information.
• Relevant post-secondary education is an asset, but we recognize that expertise can develop through different combinations of education and practical experience.

We know no candidate will bring every possible skill or experience. If you're thinking, "I have the expertise to lead this work, even if my background doesn't match every item listed," we'd still encourage you to apply.

What We Offer

We want people to have the opportunity to learn, contribute, and do meaningful work while they're here. Along with joining a collaborative team, you'll have access to:

• Comprehensive extended health and dental benefits
• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
• Complimentary Calm app subscription
• Cell phone reimbursement
• A hybrid work environment balancing remote work and in-person collaboration
• Professional development and ongoing learning opportunities
• Opportunities to contribute to a variety of programs, initiatives, and digital platforms

The Details (The Stuff You Probably Came Looking For)

• Employment type: Full-time, permanent
• Reporting to: Executive Director
• Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with occasional flexibility based on organizational needs
• Work arrangement: Hybrid, combining work at HIEC's Burlington office with remote work, subject to operational needs (minimum two days in office)
• Travel: Some travel within Canada may be required
• Annual salary range: $90,000–$130,000*

*The anticipated hiring salary will be determined based on the successful candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, and demonstrated expertise, with consideration given to internal equity and organizational budget. The posted range allows flexibility to recognize varying levels of experience and the breadth of expertise brought to the role.

Interested?

This is an opportunity for someone who wants to do more than work with data. It's a chance to help shape how an organization thinks about information, measures its impact, and makes meaningful decisions.

If you're excited about bringing together data, technology, research, and organizational strategy to support work that connects people with education, careers, employers, and opportunities, we'd love to hear from you.

Please submit a cover letter and résumé, and complete the application questions included with this posting.

A Note About AI and Our Hiring Process

AI is changing how we work, and we think it's important to be transparent about how we use it in our hiring process.

At HIEC, we may use AI tools to support recruitment planning and preparation, including developing or refining job postings, interview questions, screening questions, and other recruitment materials. We use these tools to support our work, not to make decisions about people.

Applications are reviewed by people, interviews are conducted by people, and hiring decisions are made by people. We do not rely on AI to automatically assess, rank, or select candidates. Human judgment and accountability remain important parts of every hiring decision.

We also recognize that candidates may use AI tools when preparing their applications, and that's okay. If you choose to use AI, we simply ask that what you submit reflects your own experience, perspective, and interest in the role. AI can help you communicate those things, but we still want the opportunity to get to know you.

We thank everyone who submits an application for their interest! This job opening represents an existing vacancy. Although our team is mighty, it's still small; only successful applicants will be contacted.

HIEC is committed to equity and creating a respectful and inclusive workplace culture that reflects the broad diversity of communities we work with. This includes people who identify as immigrants, refugees, women, Indigenous, Black, LGBTQ2S+, people of colour, and people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for qualified candidates during each stage of the recruitment process. Please contact Human Resources by phone at (905) 634-2575 ext. 107. Candidates applying for Canadian job openings must be authorized to work in Canada.