Contracted Early College Data Support Specialist

In January 2017, the boards of Elementary and Secondary Educationand Higher Education jointly launched a statewide initiative intended to support Early College programming by establishing an Early College Designation. Theboards also created an Early College Joint Committee (ECJC), charged withguiding the Early College Designation Process for the Commonwealth. In 2023 an Office of Early College was established at DESE. Working in collaboration with DHE and EOE, the Office is currently drafting a strategic plan with recommendations on how to guide the statewide initiative for the next five years.

Early College programs are intentionally designed to empower students traditionally underrepresented in higher education towards degree completion. MA Early College Designated Programs work to blend elements of high school and college to provide students with the opportunity to experience and complete college-level academic coursework on a clearly articulated pathway and simultaneously gain exposure to a variety of career opportunities. Early college programs also reduce the time and expense of earning a college credential while increasing the likelihood of completion. Currently the Office of Early College manages a public facing data dashboard to capture important data outcomes related to the initiative.

The Contracted Early College (EC) Data Support Specialist will work under the direction of the Executive Director of Early College and in partnership with the Early College team to continue the development of a data and research infrastructure that supports the growth, development, and assessment of designated Early College partnerships in the Commonwealth. The Contracted Early Data and Research Support specialist will also work in tandem with the Early College Research Analyst as well as other colleagues at both the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Higher Education (DHE) to clean, process, and merge data, particularly in regards to maintaining and updating the Early College Dashboard, coordinate data roles and processes, support more automated reporting and fulfill data requests as needed, , The Data Support Specialist will also assist in maintaining and updating documentation of both operational and technical governance and rules- regarding the EC dashboard..

This position has a limited (one-year) duration. The contracted Data Support Specialist will work a hybrid schedule, with an expectation of at least two days per week in the DESE offices (or more as needed) and other days remote, with other possible meetings in the Boston area or across the state as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Support and maintain the continued development of Power BI data dashboards, both internal and external facing, for program transparency, reporting, and accountability
• Support the implementation calendar and process for annual review and updates of dashboards.
• Update and create guidance as needed in partnership with the Office of Early College for both internal and external interpretation of dashboard data.
• Support the continued building of a data reporting structure within the Office of Early College in partnership with the Executive Director of Early College and Early College Planning and Policy team. In collaboration with the Early College Research analyst, work with DESE, DHE, and the Executive Office of Education (EOE) agency research and IT teams to continue work on building and documenting a consistent system of merged data between the agencies.
• Support technical and operational documentation to guide both agency staff and researchers in appropriate data use.
• Support ongoing development of processes and professional development for data reporting and annual review.
• Assist on future data collections, submissions, or edits to both DESE and DHE reporting as it relates to Early College students, including possible qualitative data.

• Support ongoing internal and external data requests on Early College in partnership with members of the Office of the Early College.
• Develop annual data reports on Early College programs to support the annual review, assessment, and designation as needed.
• Support the fulfilling of internal and external data requests as needed.
• Identify any data gaps and pursue opportunities for future collection or analysis.
• Support the design and integration of Early College data into the state's longitudinal data warehouse (EDWIN) and/or the Education to Career Data Hub (E2C Hub).
• Work with program team to fulfill regular data needs for analysis and reporting
• Provide specific tables and views to support those needs
• Document data rules to ensure transparency and shared understanding of data elements

• Provide data support for research and analysis to measure and monitor the outcomes of Early College strategic goals.

• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Minimum qualifications required at hire:

• Experience working with data visualization software (Power BI preferred but not required).

• Experience working with SQL and inter-relational databases, e.g. Oracle, Snowflake, etc.

• Experience with R, SPSS or other statistical software

• Familiarity with Massachusetts K-12 and/or higher education systems and policies.

• Demonstrated track record in supporting and/or developing data reporting systems.

• Demonstrated track record of commitment to efforts devoted to closing achievement gaps for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education and to addressing racial and economic inequities in education.

• Strong ability to comprehend, analyze, and communicate complex information quickly, especially related to databases, data analysis, data security and technology systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

The successful candidate will demonstrate most of the following qualifications. Candidates not meeting all qualifications are still encouraged to apply.

• Familiarity with data systems used by K-12 and/or higher education in Massachusetts (including SIMS, SCS, HEIRS).

• Working knowledge of appropriate indicators and outcomes for Early College or similar programming.

• Track record of strong communication about data (written and verbal) for non-technical audiences, including documentation of datasets, queries and data processes.

• Demonstrated ability to work productively and collegially with individuals and teams.

• Experience working with a range of diverse stakeholders and tailoring approaches and communication to successfully meet project goals and timelines.

This is a limited one-year position, which is a full-time contracted position, 37.5 hours per week, through 6/30/2026.

This contracted position is based at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Everett. Staff are currently operating within a hybrid work model, telecommuting up to three days per week.

Questions regarding this posting or the application process should be referred to Maureen O'Brien at maureen.t.o'brien@mass.gov

Qualifications

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.