About WestEd
As a community of over 1,400 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact by asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.
Furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion is core to who we are and how we work. We are committed to working with our clients to illuminate and address disparities, value and elevate diverse voices, and ensure equitable access to our resources and services. Read more about WestEd’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Come and join us!
SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION—Although WestEd provides the option of working at one of its facilities for employees, many roles allow employees to choose to work remotely for their own convenience. The decision to allow remote work at the employee's convenience is based on the requirements of the position or project in question.
Responsibilities
Strategy & Planning
- Collaborate with stakeholders to identify requirements for new technology initiatives in business intelligence, analytics, and data warehousing that are client-facing.
- Align our data team's capabilities with the needs of various business units, coordinating with directors to support current and upcoming data technology projects.
- Optimize the use of data resources across concurrent projects to ensure efficiency.
- Manage the creation and maintenance of client-facing reports, dashboards, and informational artifacts.
- Formulate comprehensive maintenance schedules for business intelligence and data systems.
- Develop and uphold the department's strategic data plan, capability statement, and identify opportunities for growth.
- Conduct feasibility studies, proofs of concept, pilot projects, and testing for data systems.
- Review and enhance business intelligence metrics and performance indicators.
- Establish and maintain best practices for problem resolution to ensure system reliability and availability.
- Formulate and enforce key policies and procedures for business intelligence and data management, encompassing system architecture, data centers, standards, procurement, monitoring, and service provision.
Acquisition & Deployment
- Oversee the deployment, monitoring, maintenance, updating, and support of data/analytics/reporting systems, including aspects of data architecture, integration, availability, security, and privacy.
- Define short-term and long-term strategies for the agency's data analytics program to align with present and future informational needs.
- Advocate for the procurement of systems, tools, and vendor partnerships that fulfill operational demands.
- Evaluate current operations and suggest improvements for the growth and enhancement of the data architecture and portfolio.
- Stay informed on cutting-edge data technologies and solutions to inform future data management acquisitions.
- Support division and department efforts in proposal development, resource planning, and capability enhancement to expand the data/analytics/reporting portfolio.
- Provide external client subject matter expertise in data reporting, data analytics, data linkage methodologies and data governance for up to 50% of duties.
- Provide project management and leadership for all Client Facing Technology (CFT) data portfolio projects, ensuring regular reporting and updates to CFT and other executives regarding project progress, milestones, risks, and challenges.
Operational Management
- Lead data team staffing, including recruitment, supervision, scheduling, development, evaluation, and disciplinary measures, accommodating a multi-time zone workforce with remote, hybrid, and in-office arrangements.
- Ensure that change management practices are consistent with the organization's overall standards.
- Maintain clear and frequent communication with the organization's executives, department heads, and end users about the role of information in decision-making.
- Facilitate end-user services, such as a user hotline and technical support services, to assist with the organization's data needs.
Educational Requirements
- Bachelors degree in the field of computer science or information systems or business administration and ten (10) years related work experience.
- Preference for candidates will be given to those with industry certifications in: Data Management, Data Analysis, Data Reporting and/or Project Management.
Knowledge & Experience
- Minimum of ten (10) years' experience with data management systems, including data warehousing, data quality, modeling, governance, analytics, and predictive modeling.
- Current with technology advancements in data management, particularly the use of AI and related issues of data quality, privacy, ethics, and transparency.
- Demonstrated experience leading and coordinating remote teams.
- Ten (10) years' experience with research/reporting tools and data manipulation languages.
- Proven track record in strategizing, developing, and updating data analytics.
- Strong grasp of the unique challenges and regulations in the public and non-profit sectors, including budget considerations.
- In-depth knowledge of data privacy laws relevant to sectors such as Education, Health, & Workforce.
- Successful management of large-scale projects involving multiple organizations.
- Solid understanding of human resources management, including standard practices and procedures.
- Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical ideas to non-experts.
Personal Attributes
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Ability to conduct and direct research into IT issues and products as required.
- Ability to present ideas in agency-friendly and user-friendly language.
- Proven experience developing business cases and unit budgets.
- Highly self-motivated and self-directed.
- Keen attention to detail.
- Proven analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
- Exceptional customer service skills.
- Extensive experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
Work Conditions
- Potential travel time required for up to 10% of your time, primarily to meet with leadership in our San Francisco, DC or Los Angeles area offices
- Due to time zone difference and appropriate meeting times, early work hours may be required to accommodate our east coast clients and agency staff.
*Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
WestEd conducts a criminal background check and education verification for all new hires. Any offers of employment will be contingent on receiving a clear background check in accordance with applicable law.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
The full salary range for this position, WestEd level 13, is $139,200 to $208,800 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $139,200 to $174,000. The actual offer takes into account multiple factors including but not limited to education; experience; internal equity, and other organizational needs.
In addition to the base salary, benefits include:
· 15% contribution toward retirement effective day 1 of employment
· Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts
· All health/welfare benefits are effective first of the month following hire date
· PTO: 3 weeks’ vacation (increases to 4 weeks beginning the 4th year of employment), paid holidays, and 12 days paid sick leave per year
· Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary
· Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases + annual incentives
· Professional development opportunities & mentorship program
For more details about our benefits, go to: https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/benefits/
Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of social and professional learning communities, such as Employee Resource groups, the Data Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation PLC, and the WestEd Parent Community, just to name a few. We hope you’ll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more! WestEd is a Drug Free Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. #LI-Remote #LI-Hybrid