Application Analyst - Data

PLOS is a nonprofit, Open Access publisher empowering researchers to accelerate progress in science and medicine by leading a transformation in research communication. The Application Analyst – Data will focus on improving how PLOS manages, connects, and understands data across its application ecosystem. This role will center on integrating systems, ensuring data consistency and accuracy across platforms such as Tableau, SQL, and other reporting tools, while learning and supporting Editorial Manager (EM) as needed. The analyst will act as a data steward for the applications team—monitoring data quality, maintaining field mappings, and ensuring seamless data flow between systems.

The Application Analyst has a strong understanding of enterprise level applications, understands both their current configurations and our business objectives, and is responsible for supporting and implementing scalable solutions proactively and effectively. The Application Analyst is responsible for working closely with stakeholders, other Digital team members, and end-users to refine and prioritise user demands, to support a robust ecosystem of solutions, and to ultimately help the organisation achieve its business goals.

This position demands an understanding of information technology concepts as well as strong communication skills, with an eye for agile process optimization, continuous improvement, and excellent customer service.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain various environments within your designated enterprise applications (e.g. Tableau, JIRA, Confluence, Alchemer, NetSuite, HubSpot) including data management, system configuration and security practices
• Perform routine maintenance tasks (i.e. monitoring usage and archiving data as needed)
• Advise business users on application usage and best practices. Proactively monitor usage and identify and propose improvements
• Facilitate collaboration among stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical specifications and estimates
• Communicate policies and outages, bugs, workarounds and solutions to internal and external users.
• Provide end-user support and administration for all user needs: including user account maintenance, reports, and dashboards.
• Act as a subject matter expert for internal stakeholders, participating in chartered and team programs and communicating stakeholder needs within the Platforms team.
• Partner with the Technology Services team to establish and enhance application integrations and uphold security best practices
• Create and maintain technical documentation on policies, procedures, and workflows and deployed configurations.
• Troubleshoot and work with staff and/or vendors to resolve reported issues, escalating technical issues to the vendor for resolution as necessary.
• Maintain and enhance relationships with system vendors.
• Uphold a high standard of customer service to all as a representative of the Digital team.
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards, regulations and PLOS’s internal policies.
• Manage data in accordance with our Information Governance policy and other legal frameworks, such as GDPR
• Ensure systems and data are secure in accordance with our cybersecurity policy
• Monitor and evaluate incoming issues, ensure timely follow-up, and foster a culture of support.
• Functional knowledge of business systems
• Experience administering large, enterprise-wide applications
• Results-driven, capable of balancing multiple high priorities and quickly determining priority
• Customer-oriented, with the ability to develop and maintain excellent relationships externally and internally
• Excellent troubleshooting, problem-solving, and analytical skills
• Adept at queries, report writing and presenting findings

Knowledge and Skills

• Proficiency with data and reporting tools such as Tableau, SQL, and related data visualization or analytics platforms.
• Understanding of system integrations, data mapping, and ensuring data quality and consistency across applications.
• Strong analytical and collaboration skills, with the ability to partner effectively with engineering and other teams to support data-driven initiatives.
• Experienced with administering enterprise systems or platforms. Enterprise application certification(s) a plus
• Business analysis background with additional focus on business process management
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organise, analyse, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong understanding of typical operational workflows spanning multiple business functions and systems (e.g. Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Finance, etc.)
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Must be able to clearly articulate and present findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical team members
• Results driven, capable of balancing multiple high priorities and quickly determining priority
• Ability to multitask, prioritising multiple assignments to meet deadlines
• Self-directed and capable of working under minimal supervision.
• Familiar with Agile development methodologies
• Excellent troubleshooting skills
• Positive approach to problem-solving

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical or scientific field or equivalent experience
• Administrator certification for applications which offer them
• Experience with scientific research publishing is desirable.
• Experience working with Publication Management Systems (Aries Editorial Manager) or similar submission tracking systems highly desirable.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Prolonged periods stationary at a desk and working on a computer.
• Some domestic and/or international travel may be required
• Rare, but occasional after-hours (evening or weekend) work.

The base salary range we’ve established for these positions is (US): $75,000 - $100,000. PLOS also offers a comprehensive benefits package summarized below.  

BENEFITS: 

US:

• 401k with employer match
• Employee sponsored health, dental and vision insurance (Dental and Vision 100% employer paid)
• Paid Vacation, 11 public holidays and sick leave
• Parental leave
• Birthday and three winter holidays days off
• Short term and long term disability insurance
• 2 days paid time off for volunteering per year
• Fully remote work environment with stipend on joining for home office 

About PLOS 

Building on a strong legacy of pioneering innovation, PLOS continues to be a catalyst in open science, reimagining models to meet open science principles, removing barriers and promoting inclusion in knowledge creation and sharing, and publishing research outputs that enable everyone to learn from, reuse and build upon scientific knowledge.

Our work is supported by a highly skilled global in-house team, partnerships with local scholarly organizations, and the valued contributions of a diverse, international community of scientific researchers.

We’re committed to equal opportunity

We’re working to create a more equitable system of scientific knowledge and understanding. Removing barriers to inclusion and facilitating broad participation of voices is core to our success, inside and out. 

Beyond accepting distinct perspectives, we seek and support divergent backgrounds among our staff because we know differences strengthen our teams, our work, and our communities. We strongly encourage applicants of all identities to join us as we work towards a future where science is open to all, for all. 

Visit plos.org/careers to learn more.