ED STEPS Program Administrator (Program Administrator 3)

State of Ohio • Columbus, OH

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The ED STEPS Program Administrator provides vision, direction, and alignment for the ED STEPS unit and its initiatives, ensuring work supports the goals of the unit and department and complies with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The role develops and implements policies, procedures, processes, rules, and guidelines; provides hands-on support for daily operations; coordinates stakeholder communication and professional development; and leads, supervises, and develops staff, including assigning and monitoring work, conducting evaluations, and supporting recruitment and onboarding.

The administrator provides program direction for the ED STEPS system and serves as its Business Owner, working with IT and cross-functional teams to prioritize development, manage the product backlog, and define requirements. The role guides system standards and implementation, evaluates outcomes and feedback for continuous improvement, provides technical support and guidance to education agencies, vendors, and internal teams, and coordinates operational use of the system. It also supports district personnel working on school improvement initiatives and develops resources, tools, guidance, and training for ED STEPS users.

The position coordinates ED STEPS, One Plan, One Needs Assessment, and One Funding application activities for Operations. It leads and participates in agile ceremonies, oversees quality assurance and release testing, organizes stakeholder and Steering Committee meetings, gathers user feedback, coordinates annual updates and testing across system components, and builds team capacity for One Plan review and approval. The administrator provides technical assistance and coaching throughout planning and review cycles and leads the ED STEPS Steering Committee.

Other duties include analyzing data and preparing reports, evaluating program outcomes and recommending corrective action, monitoring relevant research and legal developments, drafting and editing written materials, representing the department at meetings, completing special projects, responding to constituent inquiries, and responding to state and federal programmatic audit and reporting requests. The position is permanent, full-time, and offers flexible work hours. The listed work location is 25 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio.

Requirements

• Five years of training or experience in business administration, management, or public administration, or completion of an undergraduate core program in one of those fields.
• Thirty-six months of training or experience in a supervisory, administrative, and/or managerial position, or completion of an undergraduate core program in an academic field commensurate with the assigned program area.
• Thirty-six months of training or experience in a supervisory, administrative, managerial, and/or staff position involving planning, research, and/or policy or procedure development; alternatively, one year of experience as a Program Administrator 2 (classification 63123), or equivalent qualifications.
• The final selected candidate must undergo a criminal background check and other investigative reviews.
• The final applicant must submit to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment; a verified positive result prevents a final offer and results in a one-year period of ineligibility for State of Ohio positions.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision, direction, and alignment for ED STEPS unit work and initiatives.
• Review and recommend legislation and make policy recommendations related to statewide initiatives.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, processes, rules, and guidelines consistent with federal and state requirements.
• Provide hands-on assistance with daily unit operations and prepare and deliver presentations to stakeholders.
• Identify and deliver professional development for staff; coordinate communication, collaboration, implementation, and work across multiple initiatives.
• Lead, direct, and supervise staff, including assigning and monitoring work, approving leave, determining workforce needs, recommending applicants, onboarding team members, and conducting performance evaluations.
• Serve as Business Owner for ED STEPS, collaborating with IT and cross-functional teams to prioritize development, manage the product backlog, and define requirements.
• Manage and communicate ED STEPS standards, rules, policies, and procedures; evaluate implementation and recommend improvements.
• Provide leadership, technical support, and guidance to education agencies, vendors, internal teams, and district personnel working on school improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate agency-wide operational responsibilities related to ED STEPS use and implementation.
• Develop and disseminate resources, management tools, guidance, and training to build capacity for effective ED STEPS use.
• Research relevant laws and legal rulings and use this knowledge to improve tools, practices, and resources.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement, including newsletters, office hours, and webinars, and represent the ED STEPS team in cross-agency leadership and work functions.
• Coordinate ED STEPS, One Plan, One Needs Assessment, and One Funding application activities for Operations.
• Lead and participate in agile ceremonies, including backlog grooming, sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
• Oversee quality assurance, testing, and verification of releases for new features and bug fixes.
• Organize and facilitate stakeholder meetings, Steering Committee sessions, application status updates, and agile planning meetings.
• Collect and synthesize feedback from program offices and end users to inform enhancements and maintain alignment with organizational goals.
• Coordinate updates and annual testing across system components with IT, Program Offices, and Grants Management.
• Build team capacity for One Plan review and approval, including calibration on One Plan rubrics.
• Provide technical assistance and coaching to ED STEPS users during planning cycles and the One Plan review process.
• Lead and organize the ED STEPS Steering Committee, providing updates, risks, and recommendations.
• Interpret and analyze data; prepare, approve, and review reports and statistical or quantitative analyses.
• Evaluate program success and recommend corrective action based on data; stay current on state, national, and global research and trends.
• Draft, review, and edit correspondence, brochures, newsletters, resource materials, professional development materials, social media, guidance documents, web content, and other print materials.
• Attend and present at state and national meetings, represent the team and department, facilitate or attend meetings, and complete special projects.
• Respond to constituent questions and concerns and to federal and state programmatic audit and reporting requests.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave
• Education and development opportunities, including Employee Development Funds and Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Public retirement systems, including OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS
• Optional deferred compensation through Ohio Deferred Compensation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager