Data Acquisition Specialist
Civitech · Austin, TX
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- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $75,000 / year
- Austin, TX
Job highlights
- Acquire civic data via public records and web scraping.
- Manage data projects from collection to ingestion.
- Utilize SQL and internal platforms for data tasks.
- Ensure data quality and resolve issues.
- Contribute to a fairer, more equitable democracy.
About the role
About Civitech
Civitech is a public benefit corporation dedicated to creating a fairer and more equitable democracy by building the tools and infrastructure needed to increase civic participation, empower Democratic candidates to win, and support the success of progressive causes. Since its founding in 2019, over 500 partners—a range of nonprofit organizations, national political committees, and individual campaigns—have utilized Civitech’s tools to reach tens of millions of voters to help create a more equitable and progressive democracy.The Data Acquisition Specialist will lead research focused on the extraction, normalization and ingestion of civic data. This person would join a team working to build an unparalleled database used to inform the public and register new voters. Civitech is a remote-first company hiring within our current footprint of 27 states (AL, AK, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IL, MA, MD, MN, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY); Civitech does have an office in Austin, TX.
It is important that our team reflects the diversity of the organizations we seek to serve. We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and others otherwise underrepresented in the technology sector to apply.
What You Will Do:
(50%) Data Acquisition:
- File hundreds of public records requests to obtain publicly available data
- Work closely with technical staff to build and apply web scrapers
- Use internal data platforms, SQL and Google Sheets to extract, clean, explore and upload data
- Drive fast-paced, complex research projects through thoughtful planning, organization and delegation
- Troubleshoot data issues, resolve flags, and share learnings to enhance data quality and the end user experience
(50%) Project Management:
- Lead a research project focused on the collection of data from public information requests
- Delegate tasks, monitor progress, and find creative solutions to meet tight deadlines
- Independently develop project checkpoints, milestones, and dashboards for assessing and communicating progress to the broader team
- Scope out new research projects and communicate requirements around timeline, scope and staffing
About You:
- Experience using web scrapers to collect data from both static and dynamic sources
- Experience filing public records requests
- 3-7 years of professional experience in data acquisition and project management
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency with SQL
- Strong attention to detail and excellent time management skills
- Experience maintaining complex datasets
- Committed to leveraging technology and data products to increase civic participation
Additional Qualifications (desired but not required):
- Experience working with political data
- Experience partnering with software engineers and technical staff to build simple tools
About our Data Acquisition Team:
The Data Acquisition team is focused on building processes to extract, normalize, ingest and regularly refresh large volumes of civic data. The Data Acquisition Specialist is on our Data Acquisition team and reports to our Director of Data Acquisition.Civitech’s Values:
- Integrity: At Civitech, we hold ourselves to the highest standards and value open and transparent communications with all of our stakeholders. Our rigorous approach to product design, testing, and data science leads to accurate assessments of our outcomes and challenges us to constantly improve our tools
- Changemakers: As a team, Civitech seeks to make transformational change in our democracy by eliminating obstacles meant to hamper contribution from every member of the community
- Collaborators: Buoyed by our mission, we look for opportunities to partner with everyone committed to making democracy easier to participate in. We seek to understand the challenges our partners face and use our skills and creativity to help them solve them
- Bold: We recognize that disruptive change won’t come with doing business as usual. Civitech seeks to revolutionize civic participation by bringing innovation and creativity to politics
Why Work at Civitech:
- Medical, Vision, & Dental Insurance
- 401(k) plan
- Employee Stock Options
- Employer-paid Life Insurance
- Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
- Flexible Time Off & Paid Company Holidays
- Flexible Spending Account
- Parental Leave
- Flexible Schedules
- Professional Development Stipend
- Monthly Office Upkeep Stipend
Civitech provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
Please be aware that Civitech utilizes E-Verify to verify an employee's eligibility to work in the United States. This step occurs after an offer has been extended and accepted, and after the employee has completed their Form I-9. Please find more information about our participation in this program here.
No recruiters or agencies, please!
Key skills/competency
- Data Acquisition
- SQL
- Web Scraping
- Project Management
- Data Cleaning
- Data Ingestion
- Public Records Requests
- Civic Data
- Data Analysis
- Dataset Maintenance
Skills & topics
- Data Acquisition Specialist
- Data Acquisition
- SQL
- Web Scraping
- Project Management
- Data Cleaning
- Data Ingestion
- Public Records Requests
- Civic Data
- Data Analysis
- Dataset Maintenance
- Civitech
- Progressive causes
- Civic participation
- Remote
- Technology
- Data Specialist
- Data Analyst
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight experience with data acquisition, SQL, and project management.
- Showcase your impact: Quantify achievements in data collection and research projects.
- Address the mission: Emphasize your commitment to civic participation and democracy.
- Prepare for technical questions: Brush up on SQL, web scraping, and data cleaning techniques.
- Demonstrate project management skills: Be ready to discuss your experience leading and delegating tasks.
Technical preparation
Practice SQL queries for data extraction.,Familiarize yourself with web scraping tools.,Review data cleaning and normalization techniques.,Understand public records request processes.
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex data research project.,How do you ensure data accuracy and quality?,How do you manage competing deadlines?,Why are you passionate about civic participation?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the application process for a Data Acquisition Specialist at Civitech?
- The application process typically involves submitting your resume and cover letter, followed by initial screening calls, technical interviews, and potentially a final interview with the hiring team. Focus on highlighting your data acquisition, SQL, and project management experience.
- Does Civitech offer visa sponsorship for the Data Acquisition Specialist role?
- Civitech is not able to provide visa sponsorship at this time for the Data Acquisition Specialist position. Candidates must have existing work authorization in the United States.
- What are the key technical skills required for the Data Acquisition Specialist role at Civitech?
- Key technical skills include proficiency with SQL for data extraction and manipulation, experience with web scraping tools for data collection from static and dynamic sources, and familiarity with internal data platforms and Google Sheets for data cleaning and uploading.
- How important is a passion for civic engagement for the Data Acquisition Specialist position?
- A passion for civic engagement is very important, as Civitech is a public benefit corporation dedicated to increasing civic participation and creating a fairer democracy. Your commitment to leveraging technology and data for these causes will be a significant factor.
- What is the remote work policy for the Data Acquisition Specialist at Civitech?
- Civitech is a remote-first company. This Data Acquisition Specialist role is open to candidates within Civitech's current footprint of 27 states, with an office located in Austin, TX.
- How does Civitech ensure diversity and inclusion in its hiring for the Data Acquisition Specialist role?
- Civitech strongly encourages applications from women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and others underrepresented in the tech sector, recognizing the importance of a diverse team reflecting the organizations they serve.
- What is the expected experience level for a Data Acquisition Specialist at Civitech?
- The ideal candidate for the Data Acquisition Specialist role has 3-7 years of professional experience in data acquisition and project management, with specific experience in filing public records requests and using web scrapers.