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.

Position Overview: This role is for a Senior Evaluation and Research Scientist within the Evaluation Activities unit of the Division of Research and Analysis. This position performs advanced and/or supervisory computer SAS programming work as well as performs complex research, program evaluation, data analysis, statistical, research methodological consultative work as assigned. This role supports the assessment of the effectiveness of school districts and student learning outcomes in the Texas public school system.

Within the unit, SAS is used to extract, accurately process, and manage state educational data from multiple sources, including the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS); assessment data; as well as a variety of program-specific data and other sources. In the role as senior SAS programmer, this position designs, plans, oversees, writes, tests, and debugs, complex PC SAS programs to perform data analytic work in support of education initiatives or grant programs; grant program accountability initiatives; and internal data analysis requests. This position mentors and provides quality assurance reviews for junior staff members in the unit and plans, studies, and revises current systems/SAS programs to promote efficiency adapt new procedures for system enhancement.

In support of evaluation projects, the Senior Evaluation and Research Scientist verifies the appropriateness and accuracy of the use of research designs, instruments, data, analysis plans, methodological approaches and advanced statistical analyses, and the presentation of analysis for and within written reports or proposals for evaluation projects with third-party vendors and/or internal projects. This position also reviews and/or contributes to the preparation of written reports in support of evaluation activities. This position develops or collaborates to develop methodologies, statistical models, and/or conduct and interpret statistical analyses for internal program evaluations or ad hoc commissioner requests. The ideal candidate is a strong SAS programmer, knowledgeable in research and statistical analysis, detail-oriented, self-driven, and works well in a team environment as well as independently.

The Senior Evaluation and Research Scientist works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume, tailored cover letter, and short answer responses 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. Performance on Analytical Tasks: Perform analytical tasks on time and to a high degree of quality and accuracy, including implementing and understanding business decisions, creating clean, well-documented SAS code, and following unit's processing rules.

2. Accuracy of QC Checks: Perform accuracy and quality control checks of SAS programs and output, including those generated by other team members, on time and with a high degree of quality and accuracy.

3. Project documentation: Document project date, decisions, program (SAS) and outputs.

4. Technical Consultation - External: Provide technical consultation in research methodology and statistics in review of vendor proposals, data requests, evaluations plans, analysis and statistical analysis for appropriateness.

5. Technical Assistance - Internal: Provide technical assistance, data analysis, and consultation to internal agency staff.



Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

• Experience: At least four (4) years of experience in SAS programming, and a minimum of two (2) in research, evaluation, or statistical analysis. Major course work in education, sociology, psychology, psychometrics, and or/statistics preferred.

• Substitution: 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

• Experience working with large, institutional databases and state education data sources (e.g., Census data, PEIMS, STAAR, etc.)

• Experience with data cleaning and processing

• Experience with the research and evaluation process (e.g., problem identification, evaluation design, methods, data collection and management, statistical techniques, analysis, and reporting. Clearly indicate all relevant professional experience/coursework/training/workshops on application)

• Experience planning and implementing research projects

• Ability to synthesize data analyses and research results

• Ability to process information logically, manage multiple, simultaneous tasks

• Ability to successfully manage projects and meet deadlines, analyze problems and develop solutions in a fast-paced environment; and to express ideas clearly, verbally and in writing

• Ability to maintain good working relationships with a variety of people and groups including external vendors, school district personnel, and TEA staff

• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback, and continuously improve

• Experience with MS Office Suite especially Word, Excel, and Outlook

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.