Assistant Secretary Jobs in Needham, MA (NOW HIRING)

An Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Job Description - Assistant Secretary for Data Strategy & Analytics (260005TW)

Job Description

Assistant Secretary for Data Strategy & Analytics - ( 260005TW )

Description

TheMassachusetts Executive Office of Education (EOE)works to connect all Massachusetts residents with an education that creates opportunities. While Massachusetts' students rank first in the nation on many educational measures, the Executive Office of Education strives to strengthen the foundations of education reform, empower schools and educators, and develop pathways to college and careers so all students in the Commonwealth can succeed, regardless of their zip code. EOE works with the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Department of Higher Education (DHE), Children’s Trust, and the state's 29 public colleges and universities to coordinate programs and policies across the entire public education system.

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.

The Executive Office of Education (EOE) seeks a strategic, collaborative, and mission-driven leader as the Assistant Secretary for Data Strategy and Analytics. This senior leadership role will collaborate directly with the Department of Early Education and Care, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Department of Higher Education, and Children’s Trust (collectively, “EOE agencies”) and other secretariats to further develop and implement an integrated data strategy that advances agency goals, as well as shared goals and strategic priorities. Reporting to the Undersecretary & Chief Operating Officer, the Assistant Secretary will play a crucial role in organizational performance in partnership with the EOE agencies to track and report on key data measures to ensure impactful programs, investments, and educational outcomes from birth through career. The Assistant Secretary will collaborate extensively with the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS), the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance (A&F), as well as partner with other secretariats and organizations to advance data sharing and data-informed decision-making.

In close collaboration with the EOE agencies and the secretariats, the Assistant Secretary and their team will be responsible for coordinating cross-agency data sharing and analytics efforts, including ensuring that data governance, policies, and practices facilitate effective data sharing and longitudinal data analysis, and respect agency data ownership, expertise, and legal obligations. The Assistant Secretary will lead the Commonwealth’s Education-to-Career Research and Data Hub (E2C Data Hub). The E2C Data Hub is supported by a dedicated multidisciplinary team to be managed by the Assistant Secretary that securely integrates education and workforce data, maintains public data tools, facilitates research, and provides analysis and reports, governance policies, and technical expertise to inform policy and improve outcomes for learners. The Assistant Secretary will facilitate meetings of a cross-agency council of leaders, and the team’s work will be informed by that council.

The position emphasizes cross-secretariat and inter-agency collaboration, as well as programmatic strategy, analytics, organizational performance, and policy development. The Assistant Secretary will partner closely with EOE’s Information Technology department (“EOE-IT”) and EOTSS to ensure data strategy and technical requirements are aligned.

Establish, implement, and continuously refine a secretariat-wide data strategy, governance framework, program evaluation approach, and organizational performance model aligned with agency practices, supporting agency initiatives, centering equity, informing policy, and driving impact for all learners.

Foster a culture of data-informed, evidence-based decision-making by partnering with agencies, institutions, and external stakeholders to identify data needs, define strategic priorities, and provide executive leadership with actionable insights to support policy implementation and strategic planning.

Manage a high-performing team, including one Director at EOE who will support the Assistant Secretary across the range of duties and the E2C Data Hub staff, which includes individuals embedded at each of the secretariat’s agencies.

Support agency data initiatives and facilitate cross-agency and cross-secretariat data sharing and analytics to answer key policy questions.

Lead the E2C Data Hub

• Set the strategic direction and governance framework for the E2C Data Hub, ensuring that approved priorities expand authorized internal, cross-agency, and public-facing access to data and analytics that inform equitable policy, practice, program improvement, and education-to-career decision-making.
• Lead the strategic direction and operational effectiveness of the E2C Data Hub to expand internal and external data access and use and to inform equitable policy, practice, and individual education decision-making.
• Convene education agencies, workforce partners, institutions, researchers, policymakers, and other interested parties to advance shared data priorities, coordinated research agendas, and responsible use of integrated education and workforce data.
• Advance the use of longitudinal data systems, integrated datasets and analytics to better understand education, workforce, and economic outcomes across the education-to-career continuum.
• Promote responsible, secure, and legally compliant access to approved integrated data for research, policy analysis, performance management, and program evaluation, in coordination with agency data leaders, legal counsel, and technology partners.
• Support initiatives that strengthen alignment among education, workforce development, economic development, and other cross-government strategies, while adhering to approved governance processes and respecting agency autonomy, data ownership, expertise, and statutory responsibilities.
• Represent EOE and the E2C Data Hub in statewide initiatives, legislative discussions, national forums, and consortia focused on education data, workforce data, longitudinal data systems, and evidence-based policymaking; serve as EOE’s representative to external data coalitions, initiatives, and organizations.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, grant funding, research partnerships, and strategic collaborations that strengthen the E2C Data Hub’s value, sustainability, and impact.
• Ensure the effective and accountable use of budgeted funds, grants, and other resources to sustain, grow, and continuously improve the E2C Data Hub.
• As needed, support agencies with the collection, interpretation, analysis, and reporting of education- and workforce-related data in close coordination with agency data leaders, while partnering with agencies and EOE-IT to strengthen the systems and processes that support data collection.
• Serve as the lead EOE liaison to the Data Leadership Council (DLC), convened by EOTSS, and be an active member of the Commonwealth Analytics Network (CAN), seeking opportunities to align across the state and to provide leadership for cross-secretariat initiatives.
• Lead efforts in collaboration with the agencies to track metrics and performance indicators that measure program and organizational effectiveness, and provide executive leadership with actionable insights to support policy implementation and strategic planning.
• In partnership with EOE-IT and the agencies, drive responsible innovation through the strategic deployment and evaluation of emerging tools and methodologies, including artificial intelligence.
• In collaboration with agency counsels and chief data officers, develop and oversee data-sharing agreements, collaborative partnerships, and governance practices that promote transparency, accountability, compliance, and responsible data use.
• Work closely with EOE and agency legal counsel to ensure data access and use comply with applicable federal and state legal and privacy requirements.
• In collaboration with the agencies, EOTSS, and EOE-IT, oversee modernization of the state’s education data infrastructure, including data lakes, warehouses, cloud-based platforms, and other scalable and secure technical solutions.

At least 10 years of experience leading data strategy, analytics, program evaluation, organizational performance, research, or other complex cross-agency initiatives, preferably in the public sector. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.

Experience managing large-scale, cross-functional, and cross-agency initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and shared governance structures.

Excellent collaboration, communication, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and organizational leadership skills.

Demonstrated experience using data, analytics, and evidence to inform organizational strategy, improve programs, and support executive decision-making.

Strong understanding of birth-through-postsecondary education policy, workforce systems, longitudinal data systems, and evidence-based policymaking.

Experience developing and implementing data governance frameworks, data-sharing agreements, stewardship models, and policies that support responsible and compliant data use.

Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including supervising staff, setting strategic priorities, managing cross-functional collaboration, and fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.

Experience establishing performance measures, outcome frameworks, dashboards, or accountability structures that support organizational effectiveness and continuous improvement.

Experience leading or supporting longitudinal data systems, integrated data environments, research data platforms, or other large-scale data integration initiatives.

Demonstrated ability to influence executive leaders, build consensus across organizations, and navigate complex governance and policy environments.

Demonstrated ability to prepare and deliver clear, compelling briefings for executive leadership, boards, legislators, and public audiences, translating complex data, policy, and strategic issues into actionable recommendations.

Experience developing data products, dashboards, performance reporting, or analytic services that support policy, operational, and strategic decision-making.

Ability to partner effectively with technology teams to translate business, policy, research, and governance needs into technical requirements and scalable data solutions.

Operational experience with modern cloud and data-visualization (e.g., AWS, Azure, Snowflake, Tableau, Power BI) or comparable tools with a willingness to build deeper technical fluency, including artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and related technologies.

Familiarity with applicable legal and regulatory frameworks governing education and workforce data, including FERPA, data privacy requirements, and data-sharing regulations.

Experience planning and managing operating and capital budgets, grants, contracts, and other resources to support strategic priorities and long-term sustainability.

Experience securing, managing, or overseeing grant-funded initiatives, research partnerships, or other externally funded programs is preferred.

One Ashburton Place, Boston, Massachusetts,and 135 Santilli Hwy, Everett, Massachusetts.

In-state hybrid work, with a minimum of 3 days in the office.

Questions regarding this position should be directed to Taina.Noelsaint@mass.gov

Applicants must have at least (A) seven (7) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least four (4) years must have been in a managerial capacity.

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC)may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.