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. Within OSSE, the Division of Data, Assessment, and Research is responsible for using data to measure and communicate student success. We strive to develop data and measurement systems and resources, produce actionable data, and to conduct research that increases the capacity of our stakeholders to initiate and drive policy decisions and implement and evaluate successful programs that support the improvement of students’ educational opportunities and outcomes.   

The Office of Research, Analysis, and Reporting (ORAR) team partners with divisions within OSSE across the PK-20 spectrum as well as our LEAs and other agencies across the District to promote the quality and transparency of education data and to inform policy and practice. The education research analyst will serve as a policy and research expert concerning postsecondary education projects on college access and success, career training and employment outcomes and will be responsible for ensuring that decision makers have an enhanced view of the pathways between education and employment for DC students.  The education research analyst will employ rigorous research techniques, including quantitative and qualitative methodologies, to evaluate and provide specific recommendations concerning post-secondary career education policies and practices as well as drive continued research.   

Key annual deliverables for the team include: DC School Report Card, analysis of statewide assessments, federal EdFacts and IDEA reports, local reports including the Discipline Report, Youth Risk Behavior Survey findings, Educator Workforce Report, and Attendance Report.  

Employees for all may be eligible for two days of telework per week and will report to 1050 First Street NE on all other days. 

Duties and Responsibilities 
The director will set the vision for and plan for the success of the Office of Research, Analysis, and Reporting by developing managers, providing thought leadership on the use of data across the agency, and ensuring team processes support work products that are efficient, accurate, and enjoyable to create. Examples of functions/responsibilities are as follows:   

• Lead the strategic direction for Office of Research, Analysis, and Reporting, including the development, implementation, tracking, and reporting of annual and multi-year goals and priorities
• Provide direct supervision, guidance, mentoring, and coaching to the team’s data analysis managers through visioning team goals, setting priorities, evaluating performance, and identifying professional development needs
• Partner with agency leaders and external partners to clarify analysis needs and identify opportunities for collaborative research and analysis in order to make data informed programmatic decisions
• Collaborate with partners in the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Data Governance and Privacy team to continuously iterate on the implementation of best practices in data management, data governance, and analysis
• Build and maintain a strong team culture that celebrate the values of the team – curiosity, approachability, diversity, lifelong learning, intentionality – and has a focus on students
• Adopt new tool, techniques, and technology, as appropriate, and ensure that all team members are supported in transitioning to new approaches to the work
• Manage the federal and local reporting requirements across the agency ensuring timely submission of required reports, including high-profile assessment and accountability reporting, and partnering with agency technology and data leaders to continuously improve the reporting process 

Qualifications and Education 
Education research analysts in ORAR possess and demonstrate the following qualifications and experience: 

• Superior resource and project management skills – you’re the person who stays calm amidst chaos because you’ve got it all planned out
• Mastery of and extensive experience in both education research and quantitative analysis – you channel your inner data nerd to continually promote agency-wide use of data and continuous improvement
• Expertise in managing and inspiring data analysts in a fast-paced environment - you help your team see the vision and adopt new approaches while getting the core details of the daily work right
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills – you’ll work closely with senior leadership of the agency and translate strategic policy discussions into technical/analytical direction
•  A vision for sharing and communicating data to inform action by the community, policymakers and practitioners
• Excellent problem-solving, planning, and strategic thinking skills
• Demonstrated coding skills – R, SQL, and Stata are the preferred tools of the team.
• Good humor, adaptability, and resilience in the face of competing and evolving priorities

Interested applicants should register for the OSSE Hiring Fair.