Data Analyst (GWV NewForce Insights - ALT-EXP Project) na Generation West Virginia

Description

This is an 8-week, project-based role available exclusively to NewForce Cohort 12 graduates participating in the stipend program.

Project Overview

The Allegheny Trail Economies Expedition (ALT-EXP), developed in partnership with the West Virginia Scenic Trails Association, is a long-distance, place-based research initiative spanning the Allegheny Trail. The project combines field research, storytelling, and economic analysis to better understand tourism, recreation, and rural economic development opportunities across West Virginia communities.

The NewForce Insights team will play a critical role in transforming qualitative and quantitative data into meaningful insights and visual products for policymakers, tourism leaders, and community stakeholders.

Position Summary

The Data Analyst will support the collection, cleaning, analysis, and visualization of data generated through the ALT-EXP project. This includes interview data, tourism metrics, economic indicators, and geospatial insights gathered across multiple counties.

This is an 8-week, project-based role available exclusively to NewForce Cohort 12 graduates participating in the stipend program.

Key Responsibilities

• Aggregate and clean datasets from multiple sources (interviews, surveys, public datasets, tourism metrics)
• Develop dashboards and visualizations using tools such as:
• Power BI
• Tableau
• Looker Studio
• Translate qualitative interview data into structured insights and themes
• Support development of:
• Regional economic profiles
• Tourism and recreation impact summaries
• Data visuals for reports, media, and presentations
• Collaborate with media and storytelling teams to align data insights with narrative outputs
• Assist in compiling the final Economic Insights Report
• Organize and document datasets for future partner use

Project Scope Areas

Analysis will support insights across communities including:

• Recreation economies (e.g., trail usage, outdoor tourism)
• Legacy industry transitions (logging, rail, coal)
• Small business and hospitality trends
• Regional tourism assets and visitation patterns
• Economic opportunity gaps and development potential

Deliverables

• Interactive dashboard(s) for stakeholder use
• Data visualizations for:
• 10+ town profiles
• Published articles and media features
• Structured datasets and documentation
• Contributions to final ALT-EX Economic Insights Report

Requirements

Required Skills & Experience

• Completion of NewForce training (Cohort 12)
• Proficiency in at least one data visualization tool (Power BI, Tableau, or Looker Studio)
• Strong data cleaning and analysis skills (Excel, SQL, or Python preferred)
• Ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative data
• Clear communication and data storytelling ability

Preferred Skills

• Experience with geospatial data or mapping tools
• Familiarity with economic development or tourism datasets
• Experience working with unstructured data (interviews, transcripts)

Project Details

• Duration: 8 weeks
• Eligibility: NewForce Cohort 12 graduates (stipend program only)
• Work Type: Remote with collaborative team check-ins
• Start Date: June 2026 (aligned with ALT-EX fieldwork timeline)

Why This Project Matters

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a statewide economic storytelling initiative, helping shape how rural communities are understood and supported through data-driven insights. The outputs will directly inform tourism strategy, economic development planning, and national narratives about West Virginia.