Director, Data Strategy

Position Summary

The Director of Data Strategy provides leadership that creates a highly collaborative and cross-functional environment supportive of a data team that improves access to and use of data across school sites and central office teams. The Director creates and supports the development of data pipelines, rigorous statistical analyses, dashboards, reports, and presentations. The Director oversees district data collections and supervises teams responsible for data maintenance and reporting (for example: student information systems and data warehouse). The Director performs functions with a laser-like focus on achieving equitable access and outcomes for student groups, and will work with district, department, and school leadership to craft the data strategy for the district.

All district administrators champion and support the health and success of our students and school district through:

1. Open communication and collaboration with district and community partners and families.
2.  Alignment of their work to the District Strategic Plan and utilization of plan outcomes to inform future decisions.
3. Modeling, supporting, and promoting our core values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the completion of their assigned duties.

Supervised by

Director of Strategic Initiatives and/or an assigned designee.

Essential Functions

1. Provides strategic leadership and support for the implementation of data-driven decision-making which promotes equitable student outcomes.
2. Works with department and school leaders to develop systems, tools, and processes to improve the end user experience for all data consumers across the district.
3. Stewards the development of and provides guidance to the strategic data team to ensure a focus on creating a learning and high-performing organization.
4. Leads and supports the district in managing data integrity, data security, data analysis, presentation development, data collection, statistical analysis, and organizational data governance.
5. Aligns district data systems and tools with the district strategic plan, including measures to incorporate into district goals.
6. Collaborates with curriculum and school-level leadership to systematize the use of data and to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and efficacy of teachers’ work to drive improvement at the school level.
7. Analyzes critical data and provides ready access to data insights to support team, department, district, and school board decision-making.
8. Works collaboratively with others, both in-person and remotely.
9. Defines and manages projects and workstreams, including working with stakeholders to establish deliverable criteria and deadlines.
10. Supervises and evaluates assigned staff, including the student information system and business intelligence teams.
11. Ensures team members use data tools appropriately and follow up when necessary.
12. Serves as the District Security Administrator for the Department of Education and supports the District Test Coordinator.
13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of

1. Best practices in the use of data in educational settings to drive change at both the classroom and systems levels.
2. Data engineering, structures, governance, systems, security, and integration methods.
3. Current workplace and education technology standards, including strategies for leveraging technology for workplace access and efficiency.
4. Principles and practices of workplace and student record confidentiality, including relevant local, state, and federal requirements.
5. Other cultures, particularly of cultures represented in the Salem-Keizer community.
6. Principles and practices of leadership and communication, including strategies for creating inclusive, collaborative, and consultative relationships with diverse groups and individuals.
7. Principles and practices of work organization and simplification.

Ability to

1. Use technology and tools for data analytics and reporting (for example: Tableau, Power BI, R, SQL Server Management Studio, Statistical Package Social Sciences)
2. Lead, organize and review the work of assigned staff.
3. Develop, recommend, implement, and evaluate systems and procedures.
4. Evaluate and establish work priorities.
5. Effectively communicate and maintain working relationships with students, employees, family members, and other members of the wider community.
6. Express ideas, proposals, and recommendations effectively, both orally and in writing.
7. Create and facilitate successful professional development presentations.
8. Facilitate effective and purposeful meetings.
9. Use current technology to fulfill job requirements.
10. Use interpersonal, collaborative, and consultative skills with a wide variety of groups and individuals.
11. Multi-task with the ability to adapt quickly to changing situations.
12. Maintain a flexible work schedule if needed for off work hours for completion of projects to meet deadlines.
13. Travel to other locations as needed.

Experience, Education, and Training

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is appropriate. A representative way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the fields of computer science, mathematics, statistics, economics, or a related field; or equivalent training in data engineering, data analysis, and leadership.
2. Five (5) or more years of experience in data engineering, database administration, data integrations, or school or district-level leadership with a focus on data management and strategy.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Knowledge of database structures (for example: Structured Query Language) and data analytics software (for example: Tableau or Power BI)
2. Experience with student information systems (for example: Synergy) and ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) (for example: MUNIS)
3. Five (5) or more years of experience in data engineering, database administration, data integrations, or school or district-level leadership with a focus on data management and strategy.

Work Environment

Climate controlled office setting and exposure to minimal to moderate noise intensity levels. High level of contact with district personnel and the community, including frequent visits to district and non-district locations for meetings and activities.

Physical Requirements

Frequent reaching, handling, talking, and hearing. Mobility to work in a typical office setting and use standard office equipment. Stamina to remain seated and maintain concentration for an extended period and/or to frequently move from sitting position to standing, walking, stooping, and kneeling. Hearing and speech to communicate in person or over the telephone.

Vision

Frequent near acuity; occasional far acuity. Vision to read printed materials, computer screens and/or other monitoring devices.

Strength

Sedentary/Light – Exert force to 15 pounds occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or move objects.

Work Calendar

Full Year - 12 months

Salary Level

Placement on the Supervisor/Administrator Salary Schedule, Grade 211A.

Evaluation

The performance of this position will be evaluated according to the district process for the evaluation of administrators.

Salem Keizer School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.