Please note that pursuant to Massachusetts general law, contracted employees are not paid for the eleven scheduled holidays, do not receive any paid, vacation, personal leave benefits, or contribute to the state retirement system or social security. As a state contracted employee, you must participate in direct deposit and contribute towards the Commonwealth of Massachusetts state alternate retirement plan, ("OBRA Plan").

Massachusetts is building a unified, easy-to-use Education-to-Career (E2C) Research and Data Hub to serve educators, policymakers and researchers by enhancing the scope and quality of existing data as well as improving the ways in which data and research are shared and utilized. This work builds on a strong foundation of existing integrated data systems across early childhood, K-12, higher education and labor and workforce.

The E2C Data Training Specialist will lead our efforts to teach more people to use state data to inform policy and practice decisions. This role is perfect for someone who loves data analysis and loves teaching others how to use, understand and visualize data. Audiences include district and school administrators, parents/caregivers, policy advocates or analysts, and more. The data training specialist will work under the direction of the Outreach and Engagement Specialist of the E2C Hub.

Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Develop a strong understanding of Massachusetts state data about education, and agency processes for producing them. The Specialist will:

o Become familiar with the wide range of existing data tools published by DESE, DHE, EEC and the Education-to-Career Research and Data Hub (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/e2c-hub-directory-of-datasets-and-reports)
o Learn to answer common audience questions about data definitions, sensitive-data policies, appropriate use, and the best tools for different use cases.
o Build relationships with agency staff who are data experts and owners, so that the Specialist can seek support or refer questions to them as needed.
o Collaborate with internal data owners on content of data trainings.

• Plan and design trainings that address the specific needs and uses of different data-use audiences, including district and school admin, parents/caregivers, policy advocates/analysts and more. The Specialist will:

o Conduct interviews and surveys of internal staff and external users to build a strong understanding of audiences' desired use cases and needs for skill/knowledge building.
o Identify equity-oriented use cases and learning needs.
o Determine what data software is commonly used by audiences (e.g. Excel, Google Sheets, R, etc.) and what software audiences want to learn more about.
o Select an appropriate format and structure to meet the needs and availability of the audience, potentially including in-person workshops, Zoom workshops, webinars, online tutorials, videos or other formats.
o Design curricula for the training, determining the required time and planning out agendas, learning goals, and interactive activities for participants.
o Create high-quality, polished training slides, handouts or other materials that represent the E2C Hub brand positively.

• Conduct high-quality, engaging training sessions for a variety of audiences and in a variety of formats. The Specialist will:

o Collaborate with E2C and agency staff to develop the content for training sessions.
o Handle registration and other logistics, sending pre and post emails to participants.
o Present or co-present sessions to audiences in an engaging, interactive way.
o Attend and exhibit and/or present at conventions and meetings held around the state.
o Create post-session feedback surveys, and use results to inform improvements in future sessions.

• Participate in communities of state data users to build and disseminate knowledge. The Specialist will:

o Join monthly data meetings with DESE (and possibly other agencies) to keep up-to-date on changes to data and upcoming projects.
o Support one or more external communities of practice of data users, by facilitating meetings, responding to questions on email listservs, and engaging members to share their knowledge with the community.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

• Experience teaching data analysis and tools (e.g. Excel training), either in formal or informal settings.
• Demonstrated track record of creating and leading professional development sessions using interactive, best practice methods with strong participant feedback.
• Experience working in public K-12 education in Massachusetts or closely related work that provides understanding of school/district data needs.
• Experience using data with an explicit equity-based lens.
• Strong expertise in Excel/Google Sheets for data analysis and data visualization.
• Portfolio of existing data projects that illustrate candidate skills.
• Bilingual or multilingual communication skills.
• Experience working with a range of diverse stakeholders and tailoring approaches and communication to successfully meet project goals and timelines.

Travel may be required for this position.

Questions regarding this position or the application process should be directed to Dawn.E.DeRoche@mass.gov.

Qualifications



Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

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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.