Executive Director of Data Strategy and Impact

DHRM; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is recruiting for an Executive Director of Data Strategy and Impact to support the Department’s efforts to effectively use data and evidence as part of its strategic planning and implementation processes. Working with agency leadership, this role advances a shared vision for data use to improve outcomes for Virginia’s students, educators, and schools.

Location: Richmond, Virginia.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute an agency-wide data strategy aligned to organizational priorities and decision-making needs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of data governance, stewardship, standards, policies, and processes for data quality and security.
• Ability to identify how data supports strategic planning, policy development, and organizational improvement.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear, concise, decision-oriented information for executives and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to build data literacy and data-use capabilities across an organization through coaching and tools.
• Strong understanding of data systems, analytics, and related technologies, with ability to partner with technical experts.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise data strategy aligned with the department's strategic priorities and performance goals.
• Develop and maintain an agency-wide data framework with tracking for progress and impact.
• Set clear data-driven priorities for major agency decisions and initiatives.
• Serve as an internal consultant to leaders on framing questions and measuring outcomes.
• Provide consultation on data framing, baseline setting, measures, and interpretation for strategic planning.
• Provide hands-on analytical leadership to translate data into actionable insights for decision-makers.
• Partner with technical/programmatic leaders to ensure data infrastructure supports strategic use.
• Ensure clear expectations and constructive feedback for staff and interim evaluations.

Skills

Data governance

Data strategy

Analytics leadership

Executive communication

Data literacy

Office tools

Education

Master’s degree in data science

Public policy

Education

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Access

Job description

Title: Executive Director of Data Strategy and Impact

State Role Title:Education Administrator III

Hiring Range: $130,000-$158,000

Pay Band: 6

Agency: Dept of Ed Central Operations

Location:Richmond, Virginia

Agency Website:doe.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: Agency Employee Only - A

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is recruiting for a Executive Director of Data Strategy and Impact to support the Department’s efforts to effectively use data and evidence as part of its strategic planning and implementation processes.

Working in partnership with agency leadership, the position helps advance a shared vision for how data can support the Department’s strategic priorities and contribute to improved outcomes for Virginia’s children, students, educators, and schools.

The Executive Director of Data Strategy and Impact would be expected to perform the following duties:

• Support successful implementation of VDOE strategic plan by providing enterprise leadership for how VDOE uses data and evidence to advance its strategic priorities, improve organizational performance, and inform decision-making.
• Develop and maintain an agency-wide data strategy aligned with VDOE’s strategic plan, including clear and transparent mechanisms for tracking plan progress and impact.
• Establish clear priorities for how data, analysis, and evidence should support major agency decisions and initiatives.
• Serve as an internal consultant and thought partner to leaders and teams on key strategic priorities, helping them develop the skills and practices needed to use data effectively.
• Provide strategic consultation to agency leaders and teams on framing questions, establishing baseline, selecting measures, interpreting evidence, and applying data to decisions for strategic plan.
• Provide hands‑on analytical leadership to answer high-priority agency questions and translate complex information into actionable insights for decision-makers.
• Partner with technical and programmatic leaders to ensure VDOE’s data infrastructure, tools, and analytical capabilities support strategic data use.
• Ensure expectations are clear, well communicated, and relate to the goals andobjectivesof the department and that staffreceivefrequent, constructive feedback, including interim evaluations asappropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute an agency-wide data strategy aligned to organizational priorities, outcomes, and decision‑making needs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and the ability to establish effective data governance, stewardship, standards, policies, and processes that promote data quality, integrity, accessibility, security, and responsible use.
• Demonstrated ability to identify how data and evidence can best support strategic planning, policy development, program implementation, performance management, and organizational improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex data and analytical concepts into clear, concise, decision‑oriented information for executive and non‑technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build data literacy and strategic data‑use capabilities across an organization through coaching, consultation, tools, processes, and professional development.
• Strong understanding of data systems, data management, analytics, visualization, data integration, and related technologies, with the ability to effectively partner with technical experts.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access.

Additional Considerations

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in data science, statistics, public policy, public administration, education, information systems, computer science, economics, social sciences, business administration, or a related field or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field combined with substantial directly related experience may be considered.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Email: [e-mail]

Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. The Virginia Department of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity within its workforce.

Advertised: 06 Oct 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close: 11 Oct 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.