Program Evaluation Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Position Announcement: Program Evaluator

The Legislative Budget Office (LBO) is seeking to fill one program evaluator position. The position is a limited term, two-year appointment. This is a full-time position. The program evaluator will lead efforts for the LBO to administer a survey to Minnesota School Districts and Charter Schools related to their employer-provided health plans and report on the survey findings to the Minnesota Legislature. Additionally, this position will support the LBO in applying program evaluation methods to assist the Minnesota Legislature in evaluating tax expenditure policies including tax incentives, tax credits, and tax exemptions.

To ensure consideration, applications should be received by July 23, 2026. For information on the application process and to see a complete position description, please go to: https://www.lcc.mn.gov/jobs/ . If you have specific questions, please contact Christian Larson at Christian.Larson@lbo.mn.gov.

The LBO program evaluator supports the Minnesota Legislature by contributing as an essential member of the LBO team through:

• Overseeing the collection of survey data from Minnesota School Districts and Charter Schools related to employer provided health plans and developing a report for the Minnesota Legislature based on survey results.

• Providing quantitative and qualitative analysis to perform evaluations of tax expenditures.

• Presenting research and analysis developed by the LBO to the Minnesota Legislature.

The LBO will determine the starting salary based on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience. The recruitment range for the position is $81,166 to $85,000. The full salary range for the position is $81,166 to $146,251. The salary offered will be based upon an assessment of the candidate’s level of experience.

For more information regarding the LBO, visit the LBO website: https://www.lbo.mn.gov/

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree

• Two years of experience applying survey methods or in a program evaluation or policy analysis role. A graduate level degree in a relevant field may substitute for the two-year experience requirement

• High-level analytical skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Non-partisan background and ability to act impartially in a politically neutral manner

• Ability to present survey and research findings in a public setting

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in public policy, public administration, program evaluation, statistics, or social sciences

• Experience working with group health plan data

• Knowledge of public school health plan management

• Experience with Qualtrics or similar survey applications

Why work for the LBO?

The LBO is committed to building a staff complement that includes diverse perspectives and backgrounds. The LBO plays a meaningful role in the legislative process and provides elected officials with objective and nonpartisan analysis needed to make informed decisions.

Comprehensive Benefit Package

The State of Minnesota offers exceptional benefits including low cost medical and dental insurance, employer paid life insurance, other optional insurance, optional pre-tax spending accounts, paid holidays, and paid sick leave. Paid vacation leave and floating holidays would be accrued upon completion of six months of service.

The LBO recognizes there are key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life balance. These benefits, in addition to your salary, make up your total compensation.

Health and Wellness

The state encourages wellness and promotes preventive care, offering many benefits and resources to help employees and their families lead healthy, balanced lives. These include:

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance packages, including prescription drug coverage, to fit your needs to ensure you are happy and healthy

• Free, confidential help through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Wellness programs and resources to help you reach your wellness goals

Financial Well-Being

The state offers insurance and pre-tax spending account options to help employees meet their financial goals. These include:

• Basic life insurance at no cost to you. Additionally, you have the option of choosing supplemental life insurance (including spouse and child life options), short- and long-term disability, and accident insurance

• Pre-tax benefits, including dependent day care, medical/dental spending accounts (MDEA), and parking and public transit options

Professional Development

Professional development that empowers employees to do the work they love and reach their career goals is encouraged. This includes:

• Training and development courses

• Leadership institutes and programs

• Coaching and mentoring

• Career planning

Work/Life Balance

Work/life balance is supported through:

• The potential for flexible work schedules during the interim when the legislature is not in session

• Compensatory time options

• 13 days of paid sick leave each year based on a 4-hour accrual rate

• 11 paid holidays

• Paid vacation leave accrued at a rate of 5 hours per pay period, starting after 6 months in a full-time schedule

During peak periods, LBO staff may experience long work hours and deadlines requiring the ability to stay composed under pressure.

The LBO values the unique contributions that candidates with diverse experiences, knowledge, and backgrounds can bring to our work. The State of Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility at our workplace.

An Equal Opportunity/ADA employer

Position Description  

Job Title: Budget Analyst I (Program Evaluator)

Career Track: Temporary position; 2-year appointment

Agency/Department: Legislative Budget Office (LBO)

Reporting to: LBO director

Primary Objectives: To lead the Legislative Budget Office (LBO) in the collection and analysis of Minnesota public school and charter school group health insurance data collected through a survey as described in Laws of Minnesota 2026, Chapter 127, Section 7. Additionally, this position will support the LBO in evaluating tax expenditures on behalf of the Tax Expenditure Review Commission as described in Minnesota Statutes 3.8855. This position will operate in a non-partisan manner in all aspects of work in order to retain the highest level of trust and confidence from members and staff. The primary objectives of the position are accomplished under the general supervision of the LBO director.

Responsibilities & Tasks:

1. (40% time) Survey of Public School Districts and Charter Schools Group Health Insurance. Develop and distribute an annual survey to Minnesota public school districts and charter schools related to their group health insurance plans.*

a. Develop survey questions and methodology and distribute surveys to Minnesota public school districts and charter schools

b. Act as main point of contact for LBO with representative organizations and schools

c. Respond to questions and provide support to school districts and charter schools related to the survey

d. Analyze data and develop report for Minnesota Legislature presenting survey results

e. Present results of the survey to legislative committees

f. Document survey process and maintain distribution list

g. Review relevant materials to maintain the necessary level of expertise on group health plan data and survey methodology

2. (40% time) Tax Expenditure Evaluations. Perform research, prepare background information, and develop and implement evaluation methods for tax expenditures. Specific tasks include:*

a. Perform review of legislative history of tax expenditures

b. Perform literature review for topics related to policy goals and impact of tax expenditures

c. Develop and perform evaluation methods for tax expenditures including quantitative and qualitative methods to determine effectiveness and efficiency of tax expenditures

3. (10% time) Meeting Support Services. Prepare materials, as assigned, for Commission meetings and, as needed, serve as presenter and resource during Commission meetings. Specific tasks include:

a. Assist with preparation of meeting materials

b. Present summaries of tax expenditure research at Commission meetings

c. Serve as a subject matter expert and resource during Commission meetings

4. (5% time) Participate in professional development activities that will advance the work of the LBO.

5. (5% time) Other duties as needed or as assigned by the LBO Director or Deputy Director.

Supervisor Responsibility: None

Scope of Relationships:

The position will need to work constructively with stakeholders including public school district and charter school staff, representative organizations for school business and human resource officials, Tax Expenditure Review Commission members, legislative staff, legislators, the Department of Revenue Tax Research Division, state agency officials and staff, and other interest groups. Must be credible and trustworthy in providing support to school districts and presenting findings to the legislature.

1. Will interact directly with public school district and charter school business and human resource staff and representative organizations for school districts and charter schools.

2. Contact with legislative staff, including:

a. Legislative fiscal analysts and research staff in the House and Senate

b. Legislative Coordinating Commission staff

c. LBO staff

3. Will interact directly with Tax Expenditure Review Commission members and their staff.

4. Will have contact with the Department of Revenue Tax Research Division.

5. Will have contact with other states that have variations of tax expenditure review or commissions in place.

6. Will have contact with state agency fiscal staff.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

Ability to work long hours during times of peak workload demands under tight timelines. In-person work is required. Telework may be permitted on a limited basis.

Appointment: Unclassified temporary 2-year non-partisan position.

Minimum Qualifications: 

1. Education: Bachelor’s degree.

2. Experience:

a. Two years in a program evaluation or policy analysis role; a graduate level degree in a relevant field will meet years of experience requirement.

3. Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

a. Survey methods

b. High-level analytical skills

c. Excellent written and oral communication skills to effectively communicate with school districts and charter schools and to report research findings to legislature

d. Non-partisan background and ability to act impartially, in a politically neutral manner

e. Ability to speak comfortably in a public setting such as before legislative committees, commission meetings, or other formal public meetings

Desired Qualifications:

1. Advanced degree in public policy, public administration, program evaluation, statistics, or social sciences.

2. Experience working with group health plan data.

3. Knowledge of public school health plan management.

4. Experience with Qualtrics or similar survey applications.

*All identified duties are essential under the Americans with Disabilities Act