Job Description
MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.
Core Values:
• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students.
• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.
• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.
• We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.
New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.
Position Overview
The Data Analyst IV serves as a key member of the Data and Reporting Unit within the Division of Special Populations Strategic Supports and Reporting in the Office of Special Populations and Student Supports (OSPSS) at the Texas Education Agency (TEA). This position reports directly to the Data Strategy and Reporting Manager and receives technical mentorship and oversight from the Data Analyst V position. The Data Analyst IV independently performs highly complex analytical work and advanced SAS programming, leads major data initiatives, and serves as a senior subject matter expert for federal reporting requirements including the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), Results-Driven Accountability (RDA) systems, and other activities within the data project portfolio. This role requires advanced judgment to identify and interpret data patterns and trends, establish and refine work procedures and perform comprehensive data management functions, and make strategic recommendations for senior-level leadership decision-making.
Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.
Please note that a resume and tailored cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.
Essential Functions
Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.
1. SAS Programming and Data Analysis: Develops and maintains advanced SAS programs to support federal and state reporting requirements, ad hoc data requests, and public information requests (PIRs). Translates complex business rules into efficient, reusable SAS code. Creates, debugs, maintains, and improves SAS programs to facilitate data cleaning, segmentation techniques, data processing, reporting, and visualizations while ensuring compliance with established business rules and reporting standards. Designs and implements sophisticated data analytic solutions (e.g., dashboards) to identify patterns and trends in special populations educational administrative data. Maintains standard work procedures governing SAS programming, ensuring adherence to best practices across the team and project portfolio. Develops advanced segmentation techniques and data models to analyze special populations data across multiple dimensions. Proactively Identifies data quality issues proactively and implements programmatic solutions to address them.
2. Data Quality Assurance and Testing: Performs comprehensive data testing against validation rules, and conducts quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) activities on datasets used for SPP/APR and RDA submissions to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with reporting requirements. Identifies and documents anomalies in data outputs, providing actionable feedback to improve data integrity and reliability. Collaborates with team members to design and implement automated quality control checks, ensuring datasets consistently align with federal and state requirements while meeting internal data standards and data management policies and practices. Establishes and maintains standard work procedures governing the appropriate use of data. Prepares concise, comprehensive technical reports to present and interpret data, identify data quality alternatives, and make and justify recommendations for revisions to data products.
3. Documentation and Technical Writing: Leads the development and maintenance of comprehensive technical documentation for data systems, processes or workflows, business rules, methodologies, and file management. Collaborates with stakeholders to gather business rules and requirements, translating them into clear and actionable documentation to inform SAS code development. Establishes and maintains documentation standards for the team to ensure consistency and knowledge transfer. Creates and maintains comprehensive data dictionaries, business rule catalogs, and procedure manuals for data products within the project portfolio. Develops instructional materials and guidance documents for internal and external stakeholders to facilitate proper data use and interpretation. Establishes file structure, naming conventions, and version control practices to ensure data integrity and accessibility for other team members.
4. Data Systems and Stakeholder Engagement: Serves as a technical subject matter expert for internal and external stakeholders, providing authoritative guidance on data methodologies, interpretations, and reporting requirements. Prepares and delivers technical presentations to diverse audiences, translating complex data concepts into accessible formats. Collaborates with stakeholders to gather business requirements and translate them into technical specifications for data systems. Identifies opportunities for process improvements and recommends strategic enhancements to data collection, analysis, and reporting systems. Develops and refines metrics, indicators, and analytical methodologies. Conducts impact analyses to assess the effects of methodology changes on accountability outcomes and compliance requirements. Builds and maintains relationships with TEA divisions, education service centers (ESCs), and local educational agencies (LEAs) to ensure proper data usage and interpretation. Ensures compliance with federal data requirements while continuously improving data systems to enhance transparency and usability. Anticipates stakeholder needs and proactively develops resources to address common questions and challenges.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Experience: At least three ( 3) years of experience in a related field to include experience in data quality assessment, pattern identification, trend analysis, and technical documentation.
• Substitutions: Education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-for-year basis.
Other Qualifications
• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military
• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve
• Intermediate knowledge of SAS programming and/or Python
• Ability to establish standard work procedures and data governance practices
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and resolve complex data issues
• Ability to prepare comprehensive technical reports with data-driven recommendations
• Experience with or knowledge of federal education reporting systems preferred
• Knowledge of special education and/or other special population programs preferred
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.
To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State's Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military "occupational category" that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.
This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.
No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add and " click apply for full job details
Date Posted: 10 April 2025
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