Data, Evaluation & Learning Specialist (Program Specialist)

IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT
This position, within the City Manager’s Office of Youth Development, will have the working title of Data, Evaluation & Learning Specialist and will broadly support the design and application of evaluation and learning strategies across all aspects of implementing the Citywide Youth Development “Plan.”
 
This position is part of the new and innovative Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) for Youth Investments Unit (“CQI Team”). The CQI Team will be responsible for building, refining, operationalizing, and maintaining the City’s evaluation, learning and continuous improvement system to be applied across all City-run and City-funded children and youth programs and investments. This comprehensive CQI system operates on multiple levels - participant, program, and systems – working in all three areas to increase the City’s capacity to make strategic program decisions and investments in equitable, research-based supports, opportunities, and pathways for young people to succeed. Under the direction of the Youth Development Policy Manager (YDPM) and in accord with the Plan, the CQI Team will broadly oversee the following areas related to the City’s overall youth investments: Research, Data, Evaluation & Learning, Program Quality Assessment, Grant-Making/ Management & Fund Development, Organizational & Practitioner Development, and Field Building & Strategic Partnerships.

The Data, Evaluation & Learning Specialist will lead applied research and evaluation of programs, policies, and initiatives designed to support the wellbeing and healthy development of children and youth, especially the most vulnerable, with a focus on promoting social justice and equity. The successful candidate will use their expertise in research and evaluation, and knowledge of child or youth development to lead all aspects of the evaluation processes including, evaluation design and methodology, data collection and management, data analysis, interpretation and storytelling, preparation of impact reports, trainings, and presentations, and will develop and manage new and responsive citywide programs/projects based on insights generated. Additionally, this individual will supervise and coach the CQI Team and oversee its essential functions including measuring, monitoring, and assessing program quality and outcomes; practitioner development both internally and externally; grant-making/management; fund development; and strategic collaborations/partnerships.

The Data, Evaluation & Learning Specialist will serve in a leadership role as the Office of Youth Development’s resident expert and consultative resource for internal and external citywide youth development evaluation activities and will assist the YDPM in developing and promoting the overall strategic vision and direction of the Office to achieve citywide youth development goals. This individual will have experience building a culture of learning that embraces continuous improvement to create impact by leveraging insights from research and evaluation. The successful candidate will work seamlessly with a variety of stakeholders (e.g. elected officials, City leadership and staff, community partners) and demonstrate the ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, start-up environment.

DEFINITION
Under general direction the Program Specialist plans, directs, and supervises all of the activities of a major department or Citywide program or project with moderate visibility and impact; conducts studies and makes recommendations; monitors program compliance; represents the department in contacts with media, internal and external agencies, and organizations.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This advanced journey level class in the professional series is populated with multiple incumbents. The Program Specialist is distinguished from the next lower class of Program Analyst in that the Program Specialist manages multiple programs or moderately visible programs with greater department or Citywide impact. This class is distinguished from the next higher classification of Program Manager in that the Manager is responsible for administration and management of programs and projects with high visibility and substantial Citywide impact.

This class is distinguished from the class of Administrative Officer in that the latter is responsible for all internal administrative functions for a department.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
General direction is provided by a department or division head. Some assignments require responsibility for direct or indirect supervision of lower level professional, technical, and clerical personnel. Some positions function as internal consultants and require coordination among multiple divisions in a department.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plans, coordinates, and administers, a project or program with department or Citywide impact; supervises, trains and evaluates the work of professional, technical and clerical staff.
   
• Confers with department heads, division managers, members of professional staff, and other officials concerning the administrative needs and requirements related to the program or project; represents the program in contacts with news media, business and civic organizations, other City departments, and various outside public and private agencies.
   
• Interprets new policies, procedures, and regulations, and develops new or amended programs or projects as need dictates, monitors program objectives to assure compliance with State and administrative regulations and program guidelines.
   
• Conducts studies and surveys, performs research and analysis and prepares recommendations for department management; monitors and evaluates program effectiveness and outcomes; creates and implements program policies and procedures; develops guidelines, forms and related documents.
   
• Reviews grant opportunities; compiles and analyzes information for preparation of grants, contracts and agreements; negotiates terms; implements, monitors and prepares reports on conduct and performance of grants.
   
• Identifies program, project or system enhancements; selects and coordinates installation of new and revised programs and systems.
   
• Provides exceptional customer service to those contacted in the course of work.
   
• Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual holding this classification.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public administration and governmental finance, budgeting, and accounting.
   
• Procurement methods.
   
• Research techniques, methods and procedures.
   
• Methods and practices of modern office management.
   
• Principles and practices of program management and administration.
   
• Technical report writing.
   
• Methods of analysis.
   
• Principles and practices of supervision.

Skill in:

• Managing multiple tasks and deadlines.
   
• Customer service, including dealing with people under stress, and problem solving.
   
• Use of computers, computer applications, and software.

Ability to:

• Effectively plan, develop, and implement a comprehensive program with a broad scope and high degree of complexity.
   
• Supervise and direct professional, technical, and clerical staff.
   
• Analyze fiscal problems and make sound policy and procedural recommendations.
   
• Make effective presentations to public officials, committees, and outside agencies.
   
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the general public.
   
• Prepare technical and analytic reports.
   
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
   
• Make program or project changes based on analysis of results, new legislation, or departmental changes.
   
• Meet multiple deadlines.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Experience:

Four years of progressively responsible professional-level administrative experience.

-AND-

Education:

A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration or a closely related field.

Note:  It is highly desirable the required years of professional-level experience be attained in a governmental jurisdiction. 

Substitution:

Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the required education on a year for year basis.

PROOF OF EDUCATION
 
Should education be used to qualify for this position, then proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment. Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable. 
 
An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service.  Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.

For full job description and application instructions, please see link below. 

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/saccity/jobs/3175297/program-specialist-data-evaluation-learning-specialist