Program Manager, Research & Evaluation

Position Overview

The Program Manager for Research and Evaluation is an essential position that drives core elements of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement’s (GOSA) work. Working under limited supervision of GOSA’s Director of Policy, Research, & Evaluation, the program manager supervises a team of four policy & research analysts and an intern to ensure the agency produces high quality reporting and research for diverse education stakeholders that inform practice and policy.

Duties and Responsibilities

The program manager directly manages a team of policy & research analysts/specialists and one intern, providing leadership and coaching development to support them in their roles. The program manager’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Research

Manage the agency research agenda using GAAWARDS and other data, balancing internal research, external partnerships, and grant opportunities to accomplish goals
Publish research reports, data files, program evaluations, and infographics on GOSA website

Ensure writing is tight, clean, and clear on published documents

Provide ad-hoc research and analysis for agency leadership as needed
Track and provide updates on proposed legislation and its effect on the agency
Collaborate with the GAAWARDS team on the following:

Annual Report Card publication (interactive reports and downloadable data)
Data Element Additions
Creation of data dashboards
Other issues where a research "end-user" perspective is helpful

Evaluation

Manage State Charter Commission annual value-added analysis, including coordinating data transfer, liaising between SCSC and the contractor, and proofreading the final report
Provide strategic support for the Department of Early Care and Learning evaluation work
Conduct evaluations of and provide programmatic data to improve GOSA programs and grants, such as the Governor’s Honors Program and the Growing Readers Program
Provide strategic support and data analysis to assist other program managers with monitoring agency initiatives as needed (eg: Innovation Fund and Connections for Classrooms)

Accountability

Manage publication of A-F Reports, including contractor communications, edits/updates, integration with traditional Report Card, and feedback sessions
Oversee the calculation of the Turnaround Eligible schools list, the Single Statewide Accountability System (SSAS) awards, the Beating the Odds (BTO), and the Financial Efficiency Star Rating (FESR)
Collaborate with the GaDOE on CCRPI, star ratings, and other accountability work as needed
Participate in standard-setting for Georgia Milestones assessments, as needed

General

Manage human resources responsibilities for team, including approval of leave requests and biweekly time cards
Evaluate performance, both formally through annual performance reviews of full-time staff, and informally to improve outcomes and strengthen quality of work
Plan and lead meetings with team as needed

Agency Specific Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and four years of related experience
Advanced level skill in the use of STATA or R
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
Strong communication skills and follow-through
Self-directed and self-motivated with a strong work ethic
Ability to make complex ideas easy to understand through oral and written communication
Ability to multi-task within an ambiguous, fast-moving environment while also driving toward clarity and solutions
Ability to manage a team of analysts to produce high quality research that meets deadlines
Ability to travel overnight as necessary

Additional Information:

Please include a cover letter and resume with your electronic application.

Qualifications:

Master’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university that included coursework in research and evaluation techniques AND Two years of related experience that included the application of strong research competencies, advanced level methodological research and statistical analysis OR Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university that included coursework in research and evaluation techniques AND Four years of related experience that included the application of strong research competencies, advanced level methodological research, statistical analysis AND Two years of experience having supervision over such research staff.

Preferred Qualifications – External:

Master’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and four years of related experience
Two years of management experience
Extensive econometric training and experience
Demonstrated initiative in prioritizing amidst complex needs and strategically planning to get results
Ability to effectively create and execute against project timelines based on priorities, resource availability, and other project requirements (e.g., budget)