The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is the State Education Agency for the District of Columbia charged with raising the quality of education for all DC residents. OSSE is focused on sustaining, accelerating, and deepening the progress being made for the District’s 90,000+ students. OSSE serves as the District’s liaison to the U.S. Department of Education and works closely with the District’s 470+ early childhood facilities, 250+ schools, 60+ local education agencies (including DCPS and charter organizations), and community-based organizations to provide critical programming and resources to our stakeholders.  

This position is located in the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Division of Systems and Support, K12, on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Policy team. This position will be responsible for communications and community relations activities of the Office of Special Education.  

The position works closely with the management and project teams to carry out complex management studies dealing with work measurement, methods, and procedures, time standards, and/or benchmarking to identify root or systemic causes and problems, and propose solutions to improve efficiencies.  

The position conducts detailed analyses of complex functions and work processes of broad administrative or technical programs and makes recommendations for improvement in the effectiveness and efficiency of work operations. The position additionally conducts management surveys and research projects and provides advisory services on issues of substantial scope and impact throughout the organization; and develops new methods, organizational structures, and management processes.  

The position counsels and advises program managers on methods and procedures, management surveys, management reports, and control techniques; streamlines organizational policies and procedures to ensure that the agency operates effectively and efficiently, including designing systems to implement and support improvement, and prepares briefing materials, testimony, presentations and provides subject matter expertise for the supervisor and various management officials on management options and goals. 

Specific functions of the Program Analyst include:  

• Independently plan and conduct all family engagement activities.  
• Independently plan and conduct the annual State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report stakeholder engagement activities. 
• Independently plan and conduct the Annual Parent survey (IDEA APR Indicator 8) and related activities. Coordinate the State Advisory Panel on Special Education (SAPSE) engagement and activities.   
• Independently plan and conduct all private and religious school program consultation activities.    
• Liaise between the DC Special Education Parent Hub and the OSSE Office of Special Education.   
• Communicate with parents via phone and email to provide information on dispute resolution options.   
• Coordinate with appropriate division and Office of Special Education staff to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests. Act as liaison between the Office of General Counsel and division staff to ensure timely production of responsive materials.   
• Coordinate the Communication Review Team process for the Office of Special Education. 
• Collaborate and coordinate with appropriate Office of Special Education staff to ensure all public and stakeholder communications are publishable quality and adhere to agency and division communication standards. Manage timelines to ensure communications are approved in time for anticipated publication dates.   
• Coordinate and collaborate with agency communications teams to align external and internal communications.  
• Perform other duties as assigned.   

Key qualifications for the role include:  

• Proven track record in constituent services.  
• Ability to implement community outreach and education in order to implement programs and initiatives.   
• Knowledge of community systems and the neighborhoods of the District of Columbia.   
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with a large variety of individuals.   
• Knowledge of OSSE’s mission and objectives and the roles and responsibilities of State Educational Agencies and Local Educational Agencies.   
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; and must be adaptive in learning and using new technology and data systems associated with assigned work tasks. 
• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative techniques for measuring effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of assigned programs. 
• Skill in applying generally accepted analytical and evaluative methods of involved field. Skill in applying procedures and approaches. Ability to identify innovative methods to resolve significant issues and achieve agency goals and objectives.   

Our ideal candidate will also have:  

• Thorough knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of principles, theories, and processes of management with a degree of resourcefulness, ingenuity, and inventiveness to a variety of studies, investigations, and assignments. 
• Experience developing communication strategies for a wide variety of audiences and for a wide variety of purposes.  

Interested applicants should register for the OSSE Hiring Fair.