Program/Evaluation Specialist

Arizona Department of Administration•Phoenix, AZ

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

FIRST THINGS FIRST (ARIZONA EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH BOARD) IS AN ESSENTIAL LEADER AND PARTNER IN CREATING A FAMILY‐CENTERED, EQUITABLE, HIGH‐QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT, WELL‐BEING, HEALTH AND EARLY EDUCATION OF ALL ARIZONA’S CHILDREN, BIRTH TO AGE 5. CREATED BY VOTER INITIATIVE IN 2006, FIRST THINGS FIRST IS GOVERNED BY A STATE BOARD WITH 28 REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP COUNCILS. FIRST THINGS FIRST IS A DECENTRALIZED ORGANIZATION THAT ENGAGES DIVERSE CONSTITUENCIES TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION. ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES INCLUDE A COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION; A FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION; AND AN EMPHASIS ON THE OUTCOMES THAT WILL ENSURE YOUNG CHILDREN START KINDERGARTEN HEALTHY AND READY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.

Requirements

Master’s degree in early childhood development/education, developmental psychology, research methodology, data science, public health, social work, public policy, public administration, educational psychology, or a related field is required.
Minimum of two (2) years of experience in research, evaluation, and/or data analysis.
Knowledge of research design, evaluation methods, and data collection practices.
Strong quantitative and qualitative research and analytical skills, including experience managing datasets, conducting analyses, and developing summary reports.
Proficiency with statistical and analytical software such as SPSS, R, STATA, or similar tools.
Experience extracting, cleaning, and managing data from multiple sources, including administrative databases and cloud-based storage systems.
Experience documenting business requirements, report specifications, procedures, or related technical documentation for IT teams or database vendors.
Experience developing surveys using platforms such as Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, or similar tools.
Experience using data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms.
Ability to communicate data findings and insights to non-technical audiences in a clear and actionable manner.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing demands.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively, exercise sound judgment, and contribute positively across teams.

Responsibilities

Lead data collection, management, cleaning, analysis, interpretation, and reporting activities to support agency initiatives and evaluation projects.
Review and synthesize research and literature to identify appropriate evaluation methods and measurement tools.
Collaborate with Program & Data staff, IT staff, regional staff, and other stakeholders to develop data requirements, submission templates, reporting logic, and reporting tools.
Conduct user testing and quality assurance for data systems and templates.
Produce quarterly, annual, and ad hoc reports, presentations, infographics, policy briefs, and other data products for internal and external audiences.
Perform quality checks on data submitted by grant partners and coordinate corrections as needed.
Support dissemination of research findings and implementation data to inform program improvement, strategic planning, and board/regional council decision-making.
Identify opportunities to improve data systems, reporting processes, and data quality, including development of business requirements for IT staff and vendors.
Contribute to the evaluation of systems change projects.
Develop training materials and deliver training to support accurate and timely grant partner data collection and submission.
Provide technical assistance and data interpretation support to internal and external stakeholders.
Assist with monitoring grant partner performance and outcomes.
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to provide data, reporting, and evaluation support.
Contribute to a collaborative, respectful, and mission-driven organizational culture.
Support additional Program & Data initiatives and projects as assigned.
Serve as a subject matter expert on Cross-Functional Teams (CFTs), providing evaluation, reporting, and data expertise.
Support regional councils and staff through tools, training, policy interpretation, and strategic data guidance.