Reports developer job description

The Gazette, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is seeking a Growth and Development Reporter to join our news reporting team. This reporter won’t be focused on earnings reports, but will instead focus on context-based reporting about business and economic trends in Iowa and within the region.

This reporter is able to quickly turn daily stories, but enjoys taking a few steps back and look at the bigger picture. You should be comfortable writing analysis stories and profiles. There are a wide variety of sub-beats ranging from workforce, agribusiness, start-ups and entrepreneurs to commercial and residential real estate and more.

Our ideal candidate will be a self-starter and idea generator who doesn’t sit back waiting for an editor to make assignments. Your ideas will sew multiple ideas together into deeper contextual stories about how changing demographics impact workforce and the kind of businesses we have, interconnections of the local economy and more.

Our ideal candidate will be able to juggle multiple assignments simultaneously. You’ll be eager to get past what and spend more time looking at why. You should be comfortable using a variety of story formats and know that work can appear in the daily newspaper, a variety of magazines and in a variety of digital formats.

Our ideal reporter writes clearly, accurately and can handle deadline reporting. You know your way around an earnings reports and business filings but don’t simply regurgitate them as stories. You understand reporting ethics and sourcing. The reporter will be excited to work with data and will have basic analysis skills. You should also enjoy working closely with other reporters, photographers and editors.

You should have strong news judgment, enjoy engaging with audience online and in social media. Our next reporter will be comfortable hosting and participating with in-person events such as panel discussions, Facebook Live and podcasts.

With your combination of journalistic chops and office humor, you've left a clear impression with those you've worked with before that they'd be glad to cross paths with you again someday. If these qualities describe you, we'd like to talk to you about joining our team at Iowa's second largest newspaper.
Our organization:
Our news team reaches audiences across a variety of print and digital platforms and through a variety of in-person events. Our company has a strong tradition of being independent and is owned by a trust for the benefit of its employees. The Gazette is delivered to 16 Eastern Iowa counties each morning. The majority of our news team is focused on enterprise reporting, and we have a strong spirit of collaboration with other news outlets. While we’re focused in Cedar Rapids -- Iowa’s second-largest city – we take both regional and statewide looks in our reporting. The region is rich with things to do outside of work hours.
Qualifications & Requirements:
A Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, communications or a related field and and at least two years of prior reporting are required. We offer competitive salary and benefits, including health care, dental and vision coverage, flex spending accounts, 401K, paid time off for vacation. A pre-employment drug screen and satisfactory driving record are required.
To Apply: Apply online at www.thegazette.com/careers.
EOE. Pre-employment drug screen, MVR, and background check required

• At least ten (10) years of experience working as a reports developer creating and fine-tuning SQL reports from data stored in various relational databases. This experience must include experience designing robust Logical Data Models and stewarding the data design of the solution and ensuring alignment with the larger roadmap goals.
• At least ten (10) years of experience designing, developing, debugging and supporting complex data integration interfaces and processes (including stored procedures, triggers, tables, user defined functions, views, indexes, relational database models) using various tools and technologies including SSIS, SSAS, SSRS, T-SQL and SQL Server technology. This experience must include experience in developing ETL scripts and writing code using the data model, dataflow diagram and technical design specifications.
• At least ten (10) years of experience developing complex SQL queries; developing detailed SQL reporting specifications; aggregating, analyzing, validating, and/or reconciling data from heterogeneous data sources, for example, MS SQL Server, XML files, CSV files, text files, etc.).
• At least ten (10) years of experience demonstrating understanding of SDLC methodologies specific to requirements elicitation and analysis, analyzing business processes, business process modeling, preparing business use cases, logical data modeling, and user interface design for reports.
• At least eight (8) years of experience working with Microsoft products/tools such as Power BI, SQL Server versions 2008, 2012 and 2016, SQL Server Reporting Services, SQL Server Integration Services, etc.

Desirable Technical Qualifications

• Previous experience with CalSTRS specific Pension Solution System and in-depth knowledge of the Pension Product that is currently being configured and customized for CalSTRS is highly desired.
• Experience developing SQL Reports as part of the data integration solution for a Pension Administration System.
• Strong understanding of SQL Server Replication Services and experienced in setting up replication between a single source and multiple targets.
• Experience developing and designing a business intelligence solution involving a data warehouse utilizing Microsoft tools and technologies available on premise as well as platform as a service in the public cloud.

• Participate in requirements gathering. Organize and modify requirements enforcing version control.
• Utilize SQL scripts and Python to automate business intelligence reporting needs.
• Collaborate with the operations team to maximize use of corporate system's stored information to help with the quality of patient care, improve revenue or reduce cost.
• Independently work closely with end users to understand and translate business needs to create well-designed and validated solutions using business intelligence tools.
• Deliver clear and concise presentations to varied audiences necessary to ensure informed decision-making on key strategic issues.
• Validate Cooper business rules and document difference with Epic system rules. Perform data analysis and data validation to ensure accurate results.
• Develop and/or utilize MS SQL query to extract data from the data warehouse, EPIC - Clarity database, Lawson and other systems.

Experience Required

Competent to work at the highest technical level of most phases of systems analysis while considering the business implications of the application of technology to the current and future business

Participate in the development of strategies, innovation and creative solutions to enhance processes and increase productivity of the reporting and analytics team pertaining to technical solutions and other business processes

Under general direction and in collaboration with key stakeholders; formulate and define systems scope, timelines and objectives based on both user needs and applicable business systems/industry requirements for reporting/analysis requests. Serve as analytical subject matter expert for external stakeholders and provide suggestions based on requested objectives to optimize reporting process. Effectively translate and communicate objectives and requirements to reporting/analytics team members (excluding ad-hoc requests/existing report revisions).

Act as a technical resource to team members through advising, training and supervising less-experienced reporting and data analysts, Informaticists and department interns.

Collaborate in the process of testing, validating and deploying requests prior to “go-live” or distribution and advise revisions where necessary

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degrees in Health Care, Computer Sciences, Economics, Statistics, Informatics, Statistics; Master's degree is preferable
• Epic data model certification preferable
• Tableau certification preferable

Special Requirements

• Intermediate to expert level with SQL Server and data science tools such as Python, R or SAS
• Intermediate to advanced experience building dashboards in Tableau or other data visualization tools (PowerBI, Qlik, Crystal Reporting)
• MS Excel with an ability to create macros, pivot tables, charts, formulas, etc.
• Ability to understand database environment, schemas and translate findings into functional utility of information to support business needs
• Data Analysis and modeling expertise
• Detail oriented, effective communication, presentation, and time management skills
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills. Ability to work closely within a team environment
• Ability to rapidly learn new subjects or concepts, follow best practice methodology, process and instructions Knowledge and understanding of relational database systems, entity relationships and data integrity concepts