Job Description:

• Forbes named Mesa Public Schools in their list of 2024 Best Employers in Arizona.
• East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for consecutive years. 

Base Salary:  $65,327.00

Performance Pay:  Available annually

New hire experience:  1% of the base rate granted for each year of verified relevant experience (within ten years) beyond the requirement, up to a ten-year maximum

New hire education:  1% of the base rate awarded for an AA or higher degree if not required for the position

Class/Calendar:  C53-RE, 12 months

Hours:  Full-time

FSLA:  Exempt

Benefits:  Vacation, sick leave, holidays, matched retirement, health and life insurance

Job Summary:  The Data Strategy and Reliability Analyst provides expert guidance to district and school leadership for enhancing outcomes through sophisticated data analysis. As a key member reporting to the Senior Research and Business Intelligence Lead, this role involves collaborating with district leadership to use data effectively in the school improvement process. The Analyst will play a crucial role in aligning school and program plans with the district's strategic goals, identifying areas for improvement, and fostering innovation to enhance overall school performance. The position requires a strong technological background, proficiency in PowerBI, and a commitment to ensuring data accuracy and reliability to support informed decision-making.

Key Responsibilities:  This section outlines the primary duties and key responsibilities required for this role, detailing the essential tasks and functions necessary to perform the job successfully, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Collaborate with the Research and Evaluation team to build consistent, accurate and available data solutions in specialized software (e.g., PowerBI, Tableau, Excel, etc.)
• Produce documentation to ensure consistency, quality and transparency across the district
• Collaborate with Research & Evaluation leadership team to ensure accurate visualizations, data elements and consistent practices are adhered to
• Prepare various reports for professional, technical, and non-technical audiences to provide and/or convey information
• Maintain department procedures and policies in alignment with district, state and federal statutes and regulations
• Foster a continuous learning, professional development and growth mindset amongst team members
• Respond to in-district and out-of-district inquiries for data requests
• Travel to school, district buildings, and professional meetings as required
• Work closely with Research and Evaluation leadership to identify and support data-driven projects aligned with district strategic goals
• Be able to understand and process low level data to ensure the reliability of data
• Participate in data quality issue analysis and resolution recommendations
• Gather, prepare and facilitate the analysis of specific data needed to monitor the impact of projects aligned with district strategic goals
• Utilize understanding of SQL to be able to change existing queries and reports
• Analyze educational studies, student data and test results to provide information and produce reports for site administrators
• Identify trends and patterns in data, providing meaningful insights and recommendations
• Compile information from internal and external sources (e.g., student records, surveys, federal, state and local governmental agencies, etc.) for use in analysis
• Combine data files from multiple sources (e.g., student records, surveys, federal, state and local governmental agencies, etc.) to efficiently and effectively create analytic datasets
• Provide training on the proper and effective use of data tools
• Focus on continuous improvement by analyzing data, assessing systems and timelines, and recommending adjustments to enhance procedures and strategies; provide root cause analysis and suggestions to the administration
• Identify opportunities to optimize the use of various information systems and liaise with department leadership to stay informed on updates and explore potential improvements
• Work with department leadership and staff to identify ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness in assigned areas and related departmental functions
• Develop and execute both short- and long-term goals for assigned responsibilities
• Stay informed on federal and state laws and best practices relevant to the assigned area through ongoing research
• Manage special projects and perform additional tasks related to areas of responsibility as assigned by department leadership
• Assist with other assigned duties as appropriate to the area of assignment and Mesa Public Schools

Required Qualifications:

To be eligible for this position, an applicant must meet the following required qualifications. Verification of these required qualifications is necessary.

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Data Science, Information Systems, Statistics, or a related field
• Evidence of data manipulation and visualization in a professional setting  

Preferred Qualifications:

It is preferred that the applicant possess the following preferred qualifications; however, the following qualifications are not required to be eligible for this position. 

• Master’s degree or higher in Education, Data Science, Information Systems, Statistics, or a related field
• Three years of experience with K-12 data 
• Experience with Student Information Systems (SIS), state/federal education reporting, and assessment data.
• Experience in translating complex data into actionable insights for educators and administrators

Skills & Competencies:

This section outlines the critical skills and competencies required to excel in this role, enabling effective performance, adaptability, and consistent achievement of job responsibilities.

• Experience with data analytics, data wrangling and/or data blending/integration
• Proficient knowledge of data visualization and reporting tools (e.g., PowerBI, Tableau, Google Analytics, etc.)
• Familiarity with SQL at high level, being able to read, interpret and modify existing code
• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of computer applications in the use of research and analysis (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R, Stata, etc.)
• Familiarity with school improvement practices and trends as well as Arizona’s school accountability system and Business Rules to A-F Letter Grades
• Demonstrated ability to independently analyze data stored in relational databases and report findings
• Eagerness to learn and develop skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for all levels and types of audiences (e.g., technical and non-technical)
• Capacity to work cooperatively with teachers, administrators and other employee groups in an educational setting
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

This section outlines the work environment and physical conditions associated with this role. It includes information on whether the job involves working in an office, classroom, or other settings, and if there are physical activities like standing, walking, or lifting.  

• Primarily works in a school district office or central administration building
• May occasionally travel to schools within the district to collaborate with principals, teachers, and staff
• Works extensively with computers, data management software, visualization tools, and cloud-based platforms
• Balances multiple projects, reports, and requests from district leadership
• May need to transport a laptop or presentation materials (up to 20 pounds) 

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: 

Mesa Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination. The District strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Applicants and employees may contact Human Resources to request reasonable accommodations needed to perform the essential functions of this position.