Strategic Data Specialist (One Year Only)

Fairfax County Public Schools; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 1,116,636 - 1,938,168; Full time

Job summary

Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia is seeking a data analytics professional to collect, review, and interpret student and operational data to inform senior leadership and strategic planning.

Responsibilities include designing databases, dashboards, and data tools; developing ML models to automate data-driven decisions; and guiding school and central staff on data utilization to improve instructional and student support services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, education, or a related field.
• Five years of experience in data analysis and interpretation, including student/operational data and instructional information.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of instructional test analysis, student services, or data analysis.
• Knowledge of data systems common to the K-12 education setting and familiarity with student testing administration, student support, and/or employee data.
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize statistical, reporting, and database packages (Tableau, SPSS, Oracle, Snowflake, and Apex).
• Skill in coding solutions and ability to develop data tools, data analytics, and visualizations, often under tight time constraints in emerging environments.

Responsibilities

• Performs appropriate qualitative and quantitative analysis of student and/or operational data utilizing database systems and statistical software for data integration, management, and analyses.
• Plans, designs, and develops databases, web applications, and dashboards/data visualizations for senior leadership, school administrators, and staff to support enterprise-wide data collection and provide student-level data and analysis.
• Develops and deploys machine learning models and algorithms to automate data-driven decision-making processes.
• Manages complex data-related projects such as the development and maintenance of web applications that support department activities such as inventory, financial analysis, scheduling, student services, and instructional and administrative data needs.
• Builds online forms such as those used to collect information and/or consent from stakeholders, such as school families.
• Consults with divisionwide staff on data collection needs, creates requirement documents and performs the necessary coding in the appropriate database to collect data from staff, students, parents, and community.
• Designs and develops data tools for assessing student performance, progress, and achievement.
• Collaborates with data engineers to design, develop, and maintain data pipelines and infrastructure that supports data analytics and reporting needs of the organization.
• Performs quality assurance testing to ensure validity and accuracy of data products to include accuracy of federal/state/county/division test results and other student data.
• Performs system maintenance and tracks internet traffic to ensure the systems created are secure.
• Investigates any unusual activity and works with other DIT professionals to diagnose problems and implement solutions as necessary.
• Determines the best approach and software to prepare written and oral reports, analyses, statistical documents, and presentations for a range of audiences and projects, such as staffing projections, target review, and school planning, as assigned.
• Develops high-quality presentations, documentation, and analytical materials for consumption by senior leadership.
• Participates in decision-making related to operational, strategic, student support, and instructional planning, reteaching, and intervention.
• Collaborates with and responds to ad-hoc requests from senior leadership, school administrators, and offices.
• Assists management with the development of project timelines.
• Provides consultation, training, professional development, workshops, and customized support to schools, regions, and department administrators to assist them with statistical analysis and in using assessment results to determine strengths and weaknesses in instructional and student services programs.
• Consults with and provides technical assistance to department administrators and staff.
• Remains current on data, visualization, and analytics trends, topics, and technologies to provide advanced solutions to senior managers and leadership.
• May prepare journal-type articles to publicize Division research and evaluation.
• Performs related duties as required or assigned.

Skills

Data analysis and interpretation

Statistical methods

SQL

Python

R

Data visualization

Machine learning basics

Presentation of findings

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, education, or a related field

Advanced degree(s) beyond minimum degree requirement may be considered for some experience

Tools

Tableau

SPSS

Oracle

Snowflake

Apex

Power BI

Qlik

Git

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

Summary

Performs the full range of professional duties required to collect, review, manipulate, analyze, and interpret student and/or operational data; provides integrated solutions in the design and development of actionable data analytics products to inform senior leadership and support decision-making related to divisionwide strategic planning; designs, tests, and implements complex data‑related systems; consults with school‑based and central instructional and operational staff to provide guidance in the utilization of student or employee‑related data in order to increase student achievement or well‑being and improve instructional/student support services or support operational goals; prepares reports of quantitative and qualitative data to address programmatic questions for schools, regions, department administrators, and senior leadership.

Qualifications

Required

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in computer science, education, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of experience in data analysis and interpretation, some of which shall have involved student/operational data and instructional information.
  • Advanced degree(s) beyond the minimum degree requirement in a relevant field may be considered for some experience.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of instructional test analysis, student services, or data analysis.
• Knowledge of data systems common to the K-12 educational setting and familiarity with student testing administration, student support, and/or employee data.
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize statistical, reporting, and database packages (such as Tableau, SPSS, Oracle, Snowflake, and Apex).
• Skill in coding solutions and ability to develop data tools, data analytics, and visualizations, often under tight time constraints in emerging environments.
• Skill in statistical/quantitative methods and data analysis utilizing technology tools for student or employee data and instructional planning and evaluation tasks.
• Skill in strategic analysis based on empirical data and research.
• Ability to apply strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to design presentations and explain projects, technical concepts, or issues to individuals in both a technical and nontechnical manner.
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a team or as a team lead.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with school and office personnel.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Preferred

• Supplemental coursework in principles, concepts, and methodologies of testing, psychometrics, or instructional program assessment.
• Experience in an educational environment or teaching experience.
• Knowledge of data warehousing (On-Prem and Cloud) and ETL processes.
• Knowledge of cloud service providers (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Knowledge of version control software (Git) and agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).
• Skill in utilizing business intelligence tools (Power BI, Qlik).
• Ability to write SQL, Python, R, or Stata code.

Major Duties / Essential Functions

• Performs appropriate qualitative and quantitative analysis of student and/or operational data utilizing database systems and statistical software for data integration, management, and analyses.
• Plans, designs, and develops databases, web applications, and dashboards/data visualizations for senior leadership, school administrators, and staff to support enterprise-wide data collection and provide student-level data and analysis.
• Develops and deploys machine learning models and algorithms to automate data-driven decision-making processes.
• Manages complex data-related projects such as the development and maintenance of web applications that support department activities such as inventory, financial analysis, scheduling, student services, and instructional and administrative data needs.
• Builds online forms such as those used to collect information and/or consent from stakeholders, such as school families.
• Consults with divisionwide staff on data collection needs, creates requirement documents and performs the necessary coding in the appropriate database to collect data from staff, students, parents, and community.
• Designs and develops data tools for assessing student performance, progress, and achievement.
• Collaborates with data engineers to design, develop, and maintain data pipelines and infrastructure that supports data analytics and reporting needs of the organization.
• Performs quality assurance testing to ensure validity and accuracy of data products to include accuracy of federal/state/county/division test results and other student data.
• Performs security audits on internal or public-facing applications.
• Performs system maintenance and tracks internet traffic to ensure the systems created are secure.
• Investigates any unusual activity and works with other DIT professionals to diagnose problems and implement solutions as necessary.
• Determines the best approach and software to prepare written and oral reports, analyses, statistical documents, and presentations for a range of audiences and projects, such as staffing projections, target review, and school planning, as assigned.
• Develops high-quality presentations, documentation, and analytical materials for consumption by senior leadership.
• Participates in decision-making related to operational, strategic, student support, and instructional planning, reteaching, and intervention.
• Collaborates with and responds to ad-hoc requests from senior leadership, school administrators, and offices.
• Assists management with the development of project timelines.
• Provides consultation, training, professional development, workshops, and customized support to schools, regions, and department administrators to assist them with statistical analysis and in using assessment results to determine strengths and weaknesses in instructional and student services programs.
• Consults with and provides technical assistance to department administrators and staff.
• Remains current on data, visualization, and analytics trends, topics, and technologies to provide advanced solutions to senior managers and leadership.
• May prepare journal-type articles to publicize Division research and evaluation.
• Performs related duties as required or assigned.

Work Environment / Physical Requirements

This job operates in a professional office environment and has a noise level of mostly low to moderate. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. Per the FCFPSA collective bargaining agreement, telework may be approved in limited circumstances as defined by Regulation 4417.

Salary Range

$100,057 - $173,671

Salary Grade

Unified Scale-Schedule B/Grade 008-FCFPSA

Office

Enterprise Info Svcs and Assess

Contract Length

260-Day Contract

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Percent Full-Time

Full Time

Job Type

Information Technology

Open Until Filled

Yes

Re-Adv. Position

No