Contracted Early College Data Support Specialist

PLEASE NOTE THAT PURSUANT TO MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAW, CONTRACTED EMPLOYEES ARE NOT PAID FOR THE TWELVE SCHEDULED HOLIDAYS, DO NOT RECEIVE ANY PAID, VACATION, PERSONAL LEAVE BENEFITS, OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR SOCIAL SECURITY. AS A STATE CONTRACTED EMPLOYEE, YOU MUST PARTICIPATE IN DIRECT DEPOSIT AND CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS STATE ALTERNATE RETIREMENT PLAN, ("OBRA PLAN").

The Education Secretariat is committed to equity and valuing the unique and diverse characteristics and experiences of every member of its workforce. We encourage an authentic workplace where colleagues show up as their full selves, where collaboration, innovation, and connections are key to realizing our mission that all children, youth, and families thrive socially, academically, and economically. We seek teammates who are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, where everyone is valued and engaged. We encourage you to apply and identify your strengths in these areas.

In January 2017, the boards of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education jointly launched a statewide initiative intended to support Early College programming by establishing an Early College Designation. The boards also created an Early College Joint Committee (ECJC), charged with guiding the Early College Designation Process for the Commonwealth.  In 2023 an Office of Early College was established at DESE.  Working in collaboration with DHE and EOE, the Office is currently drafting a strategic plan with recommendations on how to guide the statewide initiative for the next five years.

Early College programs are intentionally designed to empower students traditionally underrepresented in higher education towards degree completion. MA Early College Designated Programs work to blend elements of high school and college to provide students with the opportunity to experience and complete college-level academic coursework on a clearly articulated pathway and simultaneously gain exposure to a variety of career opportunities. Early college programs also reduce the time and expense of earning a college credential while increasing the likelihood of completion.  Currently the Office of Early College manages a public facing data dashboard to capture important data outcomes related to the initiative. 

The Contracted Early College (EC) Data Support Specialist will work under the direction of the Executive Director of Early College and in partnership with the Early College team to continue the development of a data and research infrastructure that supports the growth, development, and assessment of designated Early College partnerships in the Commonwealth. The Contracted Early Data and Research Support specialist will also work in tandem with the Early College Research Analyst as well as other colleagues at both the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Higher Education (DHE) to clean, process, and merge data, particularly in regards to maintaining and updating the Early College Dashboard,  coordinate data roles and processes, support more automated reporting and fulfill data requests as needed, , The Data Support Specialist will also assist in maintaining and updating documentation of both operational and technical governance and rules- regarding the EC dashboard..

This position has a limited (one-year) duration. The contracted Data Support Specialist will work a hybrid schedule, with an expectation of at least two days per week in the DESE offices (or more as needed) and other days remote, with other possible meetings in the Boston area or across the state as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Support and maintain the continued development of Power BI data dashboards, both internal and external facing, for program transparency, reporting, and accountability
• Support the imple