Director, AskTED and Creative Services (Director II)

Agency Information The Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees primary and secondary public education in Texas and is committed to improving outcomes for all public school students by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems across the state. Core Values We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in pursuing our primary purpose of improving outcomes for students. We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain committed talent that reflects the diversity of Texas, with each individual contributing to our shared vision for students. We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on outcomes, and continuously improve in pursuit of excellence for students. We are Servant Leaders: We are public servants committed to improving opportunities for students and supporting those who serve them. Job Description This position is the Director of AskTED and Creative Services in the Division of Research and Analysis and reports to the Director of Accountability Research. This position performs advanced (senior-level) managerial work, providing direction and guidance in strategic operations and planning of the daily activities of the unit. The work involves establishing goals and objectives, developing guidelines, procedures, policies; developing schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving established goals; coordinating and evaluating unit activities. This position is responsible for planning, assigning, and directing the work of creative services staff related to designing, producing, editing, and disseminating division research and legislative reports, conducting policy analyses and literature reviews as needed, and filling requests for technical consultation and ad hoc requests for information for stakeholders. This position serves as the business owner of AskTED, the system of record for Texas public school organization data for the Texas Education Agency (TEA). This includes directing the work of technical staff related to maintaining and updating organization data through AskTED, overseeing training, technical assistance and customer service to AskTED users and stakeholders, engaging in strategic decision making to prepare requirements documents including in response to policy and legislative changes, conducting user testing and performing quality assurance on AskTED updates and enhancements, and overseeing the creation of summary statistics for frequent data requests prepared using SAS, SQL and Excel. This position additionally directs the work of staff related to coordinating and processing open records requests, supporting the TEA Data Governance Board (DGB), and completing the division¿s strategic plan performance measures set by the Texas legislature and adopted in the General Appropriations Act. The ideal candidate is knowledgeable about the publication process including editing and preparing manuscripts for publication, has a technical background and experience with databases and database testing, and can coordinate varied tasks across different content areas with strict deadlines. This position works under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. This position requires up to 5% travel, based on business needs, to support program initiatives, collaboration, and operational priorities. Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates. Please note that a resume and 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. AskTED Direction: Direct the execution of activities related to maintaining, updating, and safeguarding the integrity of the Texas public school organization data using AskTED and the ORG database. Engage in strategic decision making to design and review enhancements to AskTED when needed. As the agency business owner of AskTED and the ORG database, determine the scope of work for the system and direct policy decisions impacting the functionality of the system and the integration of the ORG database into agency systems.
2. Creative Services Provision and Direction for Annual Projects: Direct and execute activities related to planning, designing, producing, and disseminating division research reports, legislative reports, and Web-based content. Additionally, collaborate on literature reviews, policy history and policy analyses as needed. Establish and maintain division reporting and editing guidelines, develop processes and procedures for execution of this work, and stay up to date with changes to external and agency publishing style guides and accessibility rules and regulations.
3. Direction of Data Governance and Division Administrative Functions: Direct and execute activities related to providing support for TEA's Data Governance Board and assist with the completion of division-related strategic plan performance measures that are set by the Texas legislature and adopted in the General Appropriations Act. Establish and maintain policies or procedures related the execution of these functions and stay abreast of policy changes that may impact the authority of data collections and performance measures.
4. Execution of Stakeholder Engagement and Public Information Requests: Direct and execute activities related to providing consultation and technical assistance related to areas of unit responsibility and ad hoc requests for information by stakeholders. Additionally, direct the coordination and processing of open records requests for the division, monitor and adapt to the agency's policy and process changes regarding open records requests, and establish policy and procedures related to coordination and processing of open records requests for the division.
5. Leadership Direction for Staff and Projects: Direct and execute unit projects and guide staff to accomplish them on time; promote opportunities for staff growth and development while engaging in strategic decision making to balance work across unit resources to ensure seamless project execution from inception to finalization and documentation; provide direction and guidance in strategic operations and planning of the daily activities of the unit; and ensure administrative tasks (e.g., completing T&E, approving leave, conducting performance management tasks, managing staff hiring) are completed in a timely manner.

Qualifications Minimum Qualifications Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. Experience: At least five (5) years of experience in writing, editing and preparing reports for publication, preferably research, evaluation, or statistical reports. At least one (1) year experience in personnel or project management, including project planning, development, coordination, and oversight. Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience. Knowledge of education data, policy, and research; research methods; statistics (including familiarity with statistical software (e.g., SAS, SQL, Excel); library and Internet resources for research; and editorial style manuals such as "Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association" and the "Chicago Manual of Style") Experience in writing and editing as well as experience in conducting literature reviews, analyzing data, policy and statute or legislation; Web and desktop publishing including knowledge of web programming languages (e.g., html); and developing and documenting standards, procedures, and/or quality assurance measures Strong communication skills, with ability to express ideas clearly verbally and in writing with the ability to present research results effectively; ability to comprehend, analyze, synthesize and communicate complex information quickly Experience with MS Office Suite especially Outlook, Word, Excel, and Visio to prepare visual displays of data and to format layout reports for publication Ability to direct decision-making for large, integrated data systems or institutional applications Familiarity with developing requirement documents, testing software changes, and problem solving Experience providing training, technical assistance and customer support A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback, and continuously improve Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military New hires, rehires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees within the same classification. Offers are based on the candidate's experience and qualifications and consider internal pay equity across employees performing similar work. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates whose qualifications exceed the role's requirements. The maximum of the range is typically reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the required and preferred qualifications. Benefits TEA employees receive a comprehensive benefits package through the State of Texas and the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS), supporting health, financial security, and work-life balance. Benefits include: Retirement through ERS and employer-paid health insurance for eligible employees Optional dental, vision, and dependent coverage Paid state holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, and longevity pay Wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and professional development opportunities Eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program Military/Veteran Information Applicants eligible for Military Employment Preference will be considered in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. To explore how military experience may align with this role, applicants may review Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes within the State's Position Classification Plan. Please refer to the Military Crosswalk and select the occupational category that most closely corresponds with the classification listed in this job posting. Additional Information TEA is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or veteran status. TEA does not sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas. 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. To learn more about working at TEA, including hiring timelines, process details, and candidate resources, please visit the Careers at TEA page . Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to accept phone calls or respond to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. To help ensure you receive updates regarding your application, please add View email address on click.appcast.io and @tea.texas.gov to your safe sender's list. #J-18808-Ljbffr Texas Education Agency