Department of Education

The Arizona Department of Education is a service organization committed to raising academic outcomes and empowering parents.

Data Management Specialist

Job Location:

Address:  Exceptional Student Services Section
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Posting Details:

Salary: $63,500 - $66,000 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: 6/13/25

Job Summary:

• The Exceptional Student Services (ESS) Data Management team is responsible for the collection, review, validation, verification, and analysis of special education data in Arizona, as required under Section 618 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• The Data Management Specialist position involves working on deadline-driven, agency-critical projects that occur cyclically throughout the year, requiring extensive coordination with multiple areas within ADE.
• This role collaborates with the entire ESS team, other program areas, and the Information Technology (IT) division to provide guidance and support to Public Education Agencies (PEA) for data-related systems and reporting.
• Key responsibilities include specialized work in data collection and statistical reporting.
• Occasional in-state and rare out-of-state travel is required for this position.

The Arizona Department of Education currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with an ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

Job Duties:

• Collect, review, and troubleshoot data related indicators that reflect the performance of special education in the state, which includes reconciling data elements for preschool and K-12 students with disabilities.
• Understand student information submitted into AzEDS and ESS applications as required for student data reporting.
• The collection process may involve research, evaluating data, and targeted outreach to PEAs.
• Provide technical assistance and support to PEAs pertaining to the collection of IDEA federal data reporting requirements, the annual federal child count , ESS applications, and AzEDS.
• Develop and disseminate technical assistance guidance documents, manuals, and general notifications to the field.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures revolving around the Data Management timeline.
• Collaborate with team members to plan and execute activities, maintain the web page, and participate in various ESS meetings as needed.
• Develop training materials to facilitate training sessions and workshops for PEAs on the IDEA federal data reporting requirements, both in person and virtually.
• Collaborate with ESS program areas, ESS IT, and other ADE units to create workflows and rule documentation for each program area supported.
• Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge in:
• Expertise in current software infrastructures for submitting and processing student data
• Principles and practices of ADE/ESS business units and programs
• Understanding of ADE data collection, calculation, and flow processes (AzEDS and IDEA Section 618)
• Database concepts, coding, and processing
• General understanding of how state and federal laws, regulations, and administrative codes function
• A Bachelor’s degree in finance, data management, a related field, or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree, is required.

Skills in:
• Project and task management
• Computer skills with a heavy focus on interaction with databases, data collection, and reporting programs
• Microsoft Office competency (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Powerbi), web-based software, and databases (SQL)
• Public speaking and presentation
• Report and proposal writing
• Analysis and problem-solving
• Organization, evaluation, and monitoring

Ability to:
• Attention to detail
• Multi-task partner and work collaboratively interpersonal relationships
• Group dynamics and facilitation; working on collaborative teams
• Analysis, interpretation, translation, and simplification of complex software systems
• Identification of methods to streamline systems to increase efficiency and ensure compliance

Selective Preference(s):

Preference will be given to those applicants with experience working in an education environment