Future Ready Data Specialist (30403)

This first review of applications will be July 1, 2026. Please submit the following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:

• Resume - Please include dates of employment and your supervisor's name/phone number for each position.

For a complete job description, please email opi.careers@mt.gov

To be considered for this position, you must reside in Montana.

Why you would enjoy working here; Office of Public Instruction employees are a passionate group of professionals dedicated to leading and supporting our education system. We house a diverse collection of experiences with the 200 unique individuals we employ. Our specialists further OPI's purpose with applicable knowledge in education, health, research and analysis, nutrition, finance, administration, human resources, licensing and regulation, information technology, and many others. We are proud to serve 149,000 students pre-K to grade 12, their parents and guardians, 400 school districts, 16,000 educational professionals, and 3,000 adult learners.

Benefits of working for OPI:

• Work/life balance
• Family friendly
• Dedicated and caring colleagues
• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
• Opportunities and room for professional growth

Public service loan forgiveness-Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF.

Job Overview:

The Research Analyst is responsible for data collections, district data entry support, and reporting for the STARS Act (2025) Future Ready program. As part of the EDUCATE team, this position will work with School Finance and Districts to ensure that the necessary data can be efficiently collected and utilized to determine and provide timely and accurate payments. The position will also work with other OPI divisions and external stakeholders to ensure changes to program collection requirements are updated within Infinite Campus and properly communicated to school districts. This position will help provide and facilitate training for districts, internal staff, and external stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):

• Knowledge of data gathering methods, procedures, and development of data

collection instruments.

• Knowledge of data cleaning, aggregation, and extraction methods utilizing SQL.
• Ability to understand and interpret policy and law to ensure compliance with privacy and security requirements
• Skilled in effective teamwork skills, maintaining working relationships with co-workers, program users, technical personnel, and the public.
• Skilled in the use of personal computers, Windows, database management systems, a variety of operations for data analysis and reporting, spreadsheets, use of query programs, multiple large databases and conversion of data formats and Microsoft Office programs.
• Ability to recognize sensitive areas and policy issues when gathering and analyzing data.
• Ability to analyze complex data for determination of accuracy and reliability.
• Ability to apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures to the analysis and evaluation of data.
• Ability to condense and translate complex databases into summaries and data presentations.
• Ability to maintain high level of skills, keeping abreast of developments and changes in statutes, rules and regulations pertaining to responsible areas of data collection, new developments in the technology for data collection and reporting, regular upgrading of technical skills.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, computer science, database administration, education or related degree.
• Two years of job-related experience in data quality control and analysis or related experience.
• Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Does this sound like you?

Please tell us how and why by submitting your resume online, including any veterans or disability preference documentation. When submitting the required documents, you must check the "relevant document" box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application for this position. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process.

OPI is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

This position is in the PERS retirement system.

This position may be eligible for a statutory $1.00 per hour or 2.5% base pay increase effective July 1, 2026.

SPECIAL INFORMATION: This position is dependent on continued position authorization and utilizes an employment contract. Position authorization for this position is anticipated to be available through June 30, 2027. If additional authorization becomes available, the contract may be renewed or extended. This position has the potential of becoming full time classified.