Statistical and Research Analyst III - 61166966

The mission of the South Carolina Department of Education is to serve students, support teachers, empower parents, and engage the community so that every student graduates prepared to reach their full potential.

Job Purpose: The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) seeks a curious, technically skilled analyst to join the Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF), established under Title 59, Chapter 8 of the South Carolina Code. As ESTF grows, the Data Solutions Analyst will strengthen and expand the program’s data and analytics, streamlining operations, supporting reporting to the General Assembly and oversight bodies, and helping leadership understand how participating students are served. This high-visibility role offers ownership and opportunities to design new tools and analyses and is ideal for a driven analyst who enjoys turning complex data into clear insight and shaping a research-driven program.

Job Functions:

• Manage and Improve Program Data: Build, maintain an integrated data model linking applications, awards, enrollment, providers, expenditures, and assessments, using unique student identifiers and consistent data standards to keep datasets reliable and reusable. Help design clear templates and submission tools for schools, providers, and families that capture complete, standardized data at the source.

• Streamline Data Processes: Automate routine data tasks, including ingestion, validation, and matching of data from the scholarship account platform, Salesforce, education service providers, and state systems.

• Develop Reports and Analytic Tools: Create reports, visualizations, and tools that give leadership and program staff timely views of participation, funding, provider activity, and student outcomes.

• Support Statutory and Public Reporting: Prepare report-ready datasets and documentation for reports to the General Assembly, Education Oversight Committee submissions, and the annual public report.

• Analyze outcomes and program impact: Analyze state and nationally norm-referenced assessment results, support linking and concordance work, and study participation, retention, and student outcomes over time. Design evaluations that measure program impact, inform policy, and benchmark South Carolina against other education savings account programs, in partnership with the Office of Research.

• Protect Student Data: Apply FERPA and agency data governance standards to safeguard student and family information.

• Translate Data into Insight: Communicate findings to leadership, legislators, and the public through clear visualizations, briefs, and presentations. Collaborate with IT, Finance, and staff on shared data solutions.

• Other Duties as Assigned.

This position is located in the Office of Education Choice and Family Engagement. A bachelor's degree and professional experience involving the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of quantified data. A master's degree in statistics may be substituted for the required work experience.

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, data science, economics, computer science, mathematics, public policy, or a related field.
• Experience with data analysis through coursework, internships, research, or prior employment, including cleaning, standardizing, and combining data from multiple sources.
• Working knowledge of Python or R and SQL.
• Experience using AI coding and analysis tools (e.g., Claude Code, Codex, GitHub Copilot) to write code, automate tasks, and accelerate analysis.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to document data sources, methods, and limitations clearly.
• Ability to explain findings clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Interest in education policy and in using data to improve services for SC Families.

As a part of a generous compensation package, we offer comprehensive benefits that include generous paid time off, preeminent health care benefits, professional development opportunities, pension, and 401(k). The South Carolina Department of Education offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year.
• 15 days sick leave per year.
• 13 paid holidays.
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs.

ONLY THOSE APPLICANTS CHOSEN FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE NOTIFIED BY LETTER THAT THE POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED http://www.ed.sc.gov/jobs/human-resources/title-ix-nondiscrimination/