Director of Analytics

State of Illinois•Chicago, IL

38d•Onsite

About The Position

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) is seeking an experienced professional to serve as its Director of Analytics. This position leads IDEC's analytics and reporting functions, providing timely, accurate, and actionable insights on children, families, programs, and agency performance. The Director designs and manages advanced analytical models, dashboards, and reporting structures to monitor impact, identify trends, and guide policy and operational decisions. The role also oversees data quality, integration, and governance processes to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations while promoting secure, ethical, and transparent data use. As a key advisor and collaborator, the Director works closely with leadership, providers, and external partners to strengthen data-driven decision-making and equitable outcomes across Illinois. Apply today to join a team committed to making Illinois the best place in the nation to raise a family!

Requirements

This position requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college with coursework in business or public administration, data science, and/or data engineering or analytics or closely related fields.
This position requires four (4) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or private organization in data science, data engineering, education policy, statistics, and/or economics or closely related fields.

Nice To Haves

Prefers five (5) years of experience developing, implementing, and evaluating data policies and procedures that promote equity and transparency, including the application of advanced analytics to inform strategic decisions.
Prefers five (5) years of experience with the validation, standardization, and integration of complex data from diverse sources..
Prefers four (4) years of experience developing compelling visualizations and spatial analyses in order to effectively communicate and present complex information and actionable recommendations for diverse audiences.
Prefers that you possess a Master's degree with coursework in Data Analytics, Data Science, Education Policy, Statistics, Economics, or a closely related field.
Prefers that you possess four (4) years of experience designing and enforcing data governance policies and practices that ensure data integrity, privacy, security, and compliance with state and federal regulations (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA, GDPR).
Prefers four (4) years of experience working with data related to Early Childhood services/education.
It is preferred that you possess experience with predictive analytics, machine learning techniques and/or analytics for education data, research, or similar disciplines.

Responsibilities

Serves as the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) Director of Analytics, directing all of IDEC's program analytics and reporting functions and ensuring timely, accurate, and actionable insights on children, families, programs, and agency performance.
Designs and manages the development of advanced analytical models, dashboards, and visualizations to forecast trends, monitor impact, and communicate findings to diverse audiences, including policymakers, providers, and families.
Oversees data collection, quality, integration, and IDEC's data governance processes, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA) and promoting ethical, secure, and transparent data use.
Drives collaborative engagements with IDEC leadership, providers, researchers, and external partners to foster data-informed decision-making, aligning analysis with innovative and strategic goals that support IDEC's data-driven priorities.
Serves as a full-line supervisor.
Explores and applies emerging technologies (e.g., machine learning, AI) to enhance predictive analytics, efficiency, and accessibility of insights related to complex early childhood datasets.
Explores and applies emerging technologies (e.g., machine learning, AI) to enhance predictive analytics, efficiency, and accessibility of insights related to complex early childhood datasets.
Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonable within the scope of duties enumerated above.