Manager of Data Strategy and Reporting (Data Analyst V)

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 Strategy and Reporting Manager, within the Office of Special Populations and Student Supports (OSPSS), reports to the Director of Data Strategy and Reporting and performs advanced (senior-level) managerial work by leading compliance operations for IDEA Part B and special populations reporting by orchestrating federal and state submission calendars, supervising and developing staff, and overseeing technical standards and data management. The manager translates approved business rules into reproducible workflows and documentation, implements automated quality assurance and privacy safeguards, and limits stakeholder engagement to reporting needs. The role advises on and implements approved policy targets but does not set them. It operates with significant independence to deliver accurate, compliant, on-time public reporting.

What You Control:

• Reporting processes, timelines, and quality standards
• Team assignments, development, and technical standards
• Stakeholder communication strategies and materials
• Data request prioritization and workflow optimization

What You Influence:

• Policy targets and compliance thresholds (set by program leadership)
• Federal requirement changes (monitored and adapted to)
• LEA data submission quality (improved through engagement)
• Engagement and technical assistance limited to data/reporting (definitions, validations, timelines); does not lead general program initiatives or content of program reports

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. Compliance Operations Leadership: Own the end-to-end data process pipeline for delivering federal and state compliance reporting, translating complex requirements into manageable organizational workflows.

Key Responsibilities:

• Process Architecture: Design and continuously improve reporting workflows that reliably produce accurate, on-time submissions across multiple federal and state requirements
• Calendar and Cadence Ownership: Maintain the unit’s reporting calendar, stand-ups, checkpoints, and risk flags; drive on-time delivery across teams.
• Requirements Management: Monitor federal guidance changes, assess organizational impact, and coordinate implementation of new requirements with affected stakeholders
• Project Orchestration: Lead major initiatives like SPP/APR cycle planning, coordinating across program teams, data systems, and external partners to deliver complex multi-year submissions
• Risk Management: Identify submission risks early, develop mitigation strategies, and maintain contingency plans for critical reporting deadlines
• Stakeholder Coordination: Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between program teams, data systems, and external partners to align on reporting requirements and timelines

2. Technical Standards and Oversight: Establish technical excellence standards and provide oversight to ensure reproducible, audit-ready analytical outputs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Standards Development: Define and maintain coding standards, documentation requirements for administrative data and data cleaning and processing, and quality assurance protocols for outputs
• Technical Review: Conduct strategic review of complex analyses and methodologies, ensuring alignment with federal requirements and organizational standards
• Hands-on Engagement: Perform hands-on coding only in exceptions (e.g., incident response, escalations, or continuity)
• Architecture Guidance: Advise on technical approaches for new requirements, balancing accuracy, efficiency, and maintainability 
• Knowledge Transfer: Ensure technical knowledge is documented, transferable, and accessible across the team and organization test, and maintain production ready SAS code and analyses that implement approved business rules and produce reproducible reporting outputs.

3. Quality Assurance Systems: Build and maintain systematic approaches to data quality that protect student privacy and ensure submission accuracy.

Key Responsibilities:

• QA System Design: Oversee development of automated validation systems, anomaly detection, and audit trail processes
• Error Resolution Processes: Establish clear workflows for identifying, investigating, and resolving data quality issues across internal and external stakeholders
• Privacy Compliance: Ensure all processes meet FERPA requirements and maintain appropriate access controls and masking procedures
• Continuous Improvement: Analyze quality metrics, identify systemic issues, and implement process improvements to prevent recurring problems

4. Strategic Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain relationships that support accurate data collection and smooth reporting processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• LEA/ESC Relations: Develop systematic approaches to supporting local agencies with data quality improvement, submission requirements, and reporting clarifications
• Federal Coordination: Represent organizational interests in federal technical assistance calls, working groups, and policy discussions
• Communication Strategy: Create clear, accessible guidance materials and communication channels that proactively address stakeholder needs
• Issue Escalation: Manage complex data requests and public information requests (PIR) while protecting student privacy and organizational interests
• Engagement Scope: Engagement is limited to data/reporting (definitions, validations, timelines); does not lead general program or family-engagement initiatives.

5. Team Development and Organizational Capability: Build a high-performing team capable of adapting to changing requirements while maintaining excellence in current operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Talent Development: Coach team members on both technical skills and professional capabilities, creating clear career progression pathways
• Capacity Planning: Strategically manage team workload against multiple competing deadlines, building sustainable work patterns and backup capabilities
• Knowledge Management: Ensure critical processes are documented, cross-trained, and institutionally sustainable beyond individual team members
• Performance Management: Set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and align individual contributions with organizational goals
• Servant Leadership: Prepare team for evolving federal requirements and organizational changes, building adaptability and resilience
• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Knowledge Management: Ensure critical processes are documented, cross-trained, and institutionally sustainable beyond individual team members
• Performance Management: Set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and align individual contributions with organizational goals
• Servant Leadership: Prepare team for evolving federal requirements and organizational changes, building adaptability and resilience
• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience: At least four (4) years of experience in managing projects/complex processes in special education/populations (local to federal level)
• Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience

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 degree in Education, data science, business analytics, computer science, computer information systems, management information systems, accounting, finance, mathematics, statistics, economics, sociology, psychology, business, preferred
• Background in research/statistical analysis and SAS programming, preferred
• Working knowledge of statistical programming languages (SAS preferred, R/Python acceptable) to review code quality and troubleshoot team outputs
• Experience supervising technical staff and managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects with competing deadlines
• Experience with large institutional databases and administrative data, FERPA privacy protocols, and QA process design
• Exceptional communication skills with ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into clear guidance and stakeholder materials for diverse audiences
• Ability to build productive relationships across organizational boundaries and represent organizational interests externally

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 "capps.recruiting@cpa.texas.gov" and "@tea.texas.gov" to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.