Education Program Consultant

State of Iowa • Des Moines - 50313 - Polk County, IA

10h

About The Position

The Education Program Consultant (Data and Reporting) provides data support to the Iowa Department of Education’s Bureau of Community Colleges. The position manages student, staff, and course databases for Iowa’s 15 community colleges to support state and federal accountability reporting. It also manages candidate records for high school equivalency diplomas (HSED), coordinates with the diploma-issuing vendor, and provides technical assistance to education and legislative stakeholders.

The consultant leads data processing and programming; maintains statewide databases and the community college management information system (MIS); improves data submission and validation processes; and supports reporting, analysis, and statewide initiatives. The role also supports Department, Division, and Bureau priorities through other assigned duties.

Requirements

• Meet at least one minimum qualification pathway: an accredited U.S. four-year degree plus five years of full-time post-graduate experience in one or more specified areas; an equivalent combination of post-graduate education and qualifying full-time experience; a master’s degree, valid Iowa Teaching Certificate, and three academic years of PK-12 or post-secondary teaching and/or administrative experience; or School Business Official Authorization plus seven years of qualifying full-time finance, accounting, or auditing experience.
• Bring or have the ability and desire to learn strong technical skills.
• Bring or have the ability and desire to learn strategic and analytical thinking.
• Be able to work in complex situations, meet deadlines, and lead teams without supervisory authority.
• Be able to interpret technical or regulatory language and explain it understandably.
• Be able to prioritize work and manage time effectively.
• Have conflict-resolution and interpersonal skills.
• Have a desire to work with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Have a passion for pursuing common goals in public service.

Nice To Haves

• Experience utilizing Google Workspace.
• Experience with business analytics tools such as Power BI, Tableau, ArcGIS, or similar.
• Experience with programming languages or tools such as Visual Basic, Access, SQL, and Excel, or experience working with contractors to develop edits and processes; SQL experience is particularly desirable.
• Experience providing technical assistance and professional learning to educators.
• Experience preparing compliance data for state, federal, or legislative stakeholders.
• Experience interpreting and implementing state or federal education law.

Responsibilities

• Lead data processing and programming to create detailed and summary databases of student, staff, and credit and non-credit course information from Iowa’s 15 community colleges for state and federal accountability reporting.
• Acquire data from primary or secondary sources and maintain statewide databases and data systems.
• Assist with maintenance of the statewide community college management information system (MIS) database.
• Evaluate and design data-processing support for the community college MIS, identifying process improvements, including web-based data submission.
• Edit community college databases and the division’s MIS using programming tools or by working with contractors to develop edits and processes.
• Review reports, printouts, and performance indicators to identify and correct data code problems.
• Design automated edits for the statewide submission process that provide immediate feedback on validation issues or data irregularities.
• Provide data and technical assistance to division staff, supervisors, and education and legislative stakeholders for year-end federal reporting and statewide program reporting and analysis.
• Provide technical assistance and data for the Voluntary Framework of Accountability national project and other statewide initiatives.
• Coordinate the department’s efforts related to issuing high school equivalency diplomas.
• Serve as liaison with the vendor responsible for managing HSED issuance and records.
• Coordinate the HSED database and maintain accurate, complete candidate records.
• Perform other MIS/data team and Department, Division, and Bureau duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Opportunities to make a widespread difference in the lives of children, their families, and Iowa communities.
• Collaborative, positive work environment.
• Talented and passionate colleagues who will help you learn and grow.
• Opportunities to collaborate with experts from around the country.
• Employee discounts from a variety of vendors.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

What This Job Offers

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