Special Education Data & Accountability Specialist (00194)

This first review of applications will be August 17, 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: This role is responsible for executing the policies and standards of the Special Education Unit, ensuring full alignment with all federal and state reporting mandates. The position oversees complex, interconnected data collection and reporting infrastructure that integrates special education records directly into the Student Information System (SIS). A core responsibility for the role is managing, manipulating and retrieving data to satisfy reporting requirements for the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), including child count, procedural compliance, EDFacts, the State Performance Plan (SPP), and the Annual Performance Report (APR). The role also ensures that individual student records across public and private schools are structured to articulate seamlessly with one another while simultaneously facilitating procedural monitoring. It is an expectation that the position will work closely with the Data Operations team to conduct data mapping, ensure valid and timely data collection, and perform root cause analysis to drive improvements in student outcomes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):

• Knowledge and skills in data management, computer software development.
• Ability to use advanced problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of arithmetic, statistics, and analysis.
• Working knowledge of the logic and creation of SQL.
• Knowledge and skill in a variety of databases and spreadsheet operations for research, data analysis and reporting, including the use of complex queries.
• Knowledge of the theories, principles, and techniques of research, planning and organization, data collection strategies and procedures and data collection instruments.
• Ability to self-motivate and seek out creative solutions.
• Ability to plan and direct a data collection and reporting system.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Strong operational, project, and time management skills.
• Ability to multi-task, adapt to changing priorities, and meet deadlines while demonstrating accuracy, attention to detail, and perseverance.
• Ability to handle sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to use effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and supervisor.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team to ensure complex processes are followed.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• A bachelor's degree in computer science, statistics, or a related field.
• At least three years of demonstrated experience in; data administration, requirements analysis, metadata development and/or project analysis.
• Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Preferred:

• Experience using SQL (Structured Query Language) to manage, manipulate, and retrieve data stored in databases.

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.