Decision Support Analyst - City of Vancouver, Vancouver

Day-to-day

As a Decision Support Analyst with the City of Vancouver, you will play a pivotal role within the Centre of Expertise for Performance Measurement and Decision Support. Your primary function is to support evidence-informed decision-making across the City, helping leaders understand service performance, assess options, evaluate outcomes, and identify opportunities to improve accountability, transparency, and value for money. This role uniquely blends performance measurement, service evaluation, business analysis, and business intelligence to guide sound strategic, operational, and service-delivery decisions. You will partner closely with corporate and departmental teams, fostering a culture of data-informed decision-making and enhancing data literacy. Your ability to translate complex analysis into clear, decision-ready insights is crucial for the success of various City initiatives.

• Supports performance measurement reporting by linking City services and service plans to performance metrics, departmental work plans, and the corporate plan.
• Supports the design and delivery of the City’s enterprise-wide corporate planning process, helping connect service plans, performance measures, and corporate priorities.
• Supports corporate, capital, and service-planning processes by connecting service plans and performance information to operating requirements, costs, and resource implications.
• Develops, monitors, and analyses performance metrics and benchmarks to assess the efficiency, effectiveness, and outcomes of City services.
• Helps identify short-term and long-term measures that support continuous improvement, service planning, and corporate accountability.
• Reviews and analyses how major City decisions may affect service plans, performance measures, and service-delivery outcomes.

• Contributes to the evaluation of City services by helping define evaluation questions, identify measures of success, gather evidence, analyse outcomes, and summarize findings.
• Synthesizes quantitative and qualitative evidence into clear findings, implications, and options for decision-makers.
• Provides analytical decision support, including business analysis, options analysis, scenario modelling, and business case development, and develops findings and recommendations for managers and senior leaders.
• Analyses and develops service proposals and business cases, including their operating, financial, resource, risk, benefit, and performance implications.
• Assists client departments in identifying opportunities to improve service outcomes, strengthen accountability, increase transparency, and support value-for-money decision-making.
• Applies structured problem-solving approaches to complex business, operational, and service-delivery questions.

• Develops and maintains datasets, reports, dashboards, and analytical models using tools such as Power BI, Excel, SQL, and other business intelligence platforms.
• Supports the development of user-friendly reporting products that help leaders and service owners understand performance, trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Works with client departments to identify and remediate data quality issues that affect reporting, analysis, and decision-making.
• Supports the team’s use of modern analytics platforms, including Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, or similar tools, as required.
• Contributes to the development of consistent reporting methods, data definitions, and analytical approaches across the City.

• Works with client departments to understand business needs, clarify decision questions, and translate those needs into useful analytical products.
• Supports adoption of business intelligence tools by developing guidance materials, providing training or coaching, and helping users interpret and apply performance information.
• Builds effective working relationships with technical, professional, and operational staff across the City.
• Presents analysis clearly and appropriately for different audiences, including operational teams, managers, and senior leaders.
• Supports a culture of data-informed decision-making by helping departments use evidence to understand performance, improve services, and make better decisions.

Who we're looking for

The City of Vancouver is seeking a highly analytical and collaborative professional with a strong ability to drive data-informed strategies. You will bring a robust background in performance measurement, business intelligence, and service evaluation, coupled with excellent communication skills to support diverse stakeholders. Your expertise will be vital in enhancing the City's operational efficiency and public service delivery.

• A relevant master’s degree, such as Business Analytics, Commerce, Economics, Statistics, Public Policy, Public Administration or an MBA, or a professional designation, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Examples include a CPA.
• Minimum 4–5 years of experience in performance measurement, data analytics, service or program evaluation, business analysis, business intelligence or a related field, ideally in a large, complex organization.

• Considerable knowledge of performance metrics, benchmarking, and service evaluation, with the ability to link operational and financial measures to service outcomes.
• Considerable knowledge of business intelligence, analytics, and automation tools to transform data into reliable, user-friendly reporting and decision-support products.
• Considerable knowledge of business intelligence and analytics tools such as Power BI, Excel, SQL, and data modelling approaches.
• Considerable knowledge of designing performance measures, indicators, or evaluation approaches that inform strategic, operational, or service-delivery decisions.
• Ability to support corporate planning, service planning, business planning, or enterprise reporting processes.
• Ability to systematically frame and breakdown complex issues, opportunities, or service questions, and reaches conclusions supported by evidence and sound judgment.
• Ability to work with structured data, analytical models, data quality issues, and modern BI platforms, with the ability to partner effectively with technical teams.
• Ability to turn quantitative and qualitative information into clear findings, implications, and recommendations.
• Ability to present complex analysis simply and compellingly in writing, verbally, and through reports, dashboards, and presentations.
• Experience supporting multi-stakeholder initiatives and presenting analysis to a range of audiences, including managers and senior leaders.
• Ability to focus on accuracy, definitions, and analytical detail without losing sight of the broader business or service context.
• Ability to approach problem-solving with professional judgment, confidentiality, tact, and diplomacy.
• Collaborative. Builds effective working relationships with technical, professional, operational, and senior management staff across the City.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Knowledge of Python, Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Power Automate or similar analytics, automation or cloud data platforms is an asset.

About the employer

The City of Vancouver is consistently ranked among the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities, and is recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers. As a public service organization, the City is deeply committed to exceptional public service, sustainability, equity, and fostering an outstanding quality of life for all residents. This commitment extends to being a City of Reconciliation, actively inviting diverse colleagues to join their innovative, inclusive, and engaging workplace.

Working for the City of Vancouver means contributing to meaningful work that plays a key role in ensuring equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and supporting the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication. The City acknowledges that it is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).

Why you'll love it here

A career with the City of Vancouver offers more than just a job; it’s an opportunity to engage in meaningful work within the broader public service. You will be part of a dedicated team that directly impacts the quality of life for residents, contributing to a city renowned for its liveability and environmental leadership. The City fosters an innovative, inclusive, and engaging workplace where your contributions are valued, and your ability to drive positive change is supported.

The City is committed to recruiting a diverse workforce and provides accommodations upon request during the selection process. Joining this team means becoming part of an organization that prioritises sustainability, equity, and an outstanding quality of life, offering a truly rewarding professional experience in one of Canada's most vibrant cities.