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| Position Principal Consultant (Principal Consultant#1824) Location Springfield or Chicago Anticipated Starting Salary Range $64,322 - $81,284 Full Salary Range $64,322 - $109,467 Office Hours Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Posted Date August 13, 2026 Closing Date Open Until Filled Reporting to the Director, will conceptualize, design, conduct, and collaborate on quantitative and qualitative analyses as needed to annually generate and report school summative designations and school level reports. Will support schools and districts in understanding their data and develop reports and other data visualizations or tools to assist in data analyses. Will identify methods and rationale for the selection of approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of the system and to show the impact of potential changes to indicators or scoring rules. Will write and review business rules, address policy-related issues, projects and studies that assist agency decision making. This includes theory, design, implementation, analysis, communication of results and other assignments required to comply with state and federal accountability requirements.
Duties and Responsibilities - Writes SQL code and/or performs computer statistical analysis of large complex data sets and databases using both the data warehouse and using statistical packages (SAS enterprise, Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, or other software or statistical packages as needed by industry standard).
- Oversees and advises on selection of and the design for quantitative and qualitative data collections related to the accountability system (e.g., summative designations and school level reports).
- Applies complex statistical methods for analysis.
- Sets standards for analysis protocols and procedures in collaboration with the Director, as well as collaboratively with staff and stakeholders.
- Contributes to the technical analysis and evaluation of assessment data quality and results, and data quality for all other indicators in the accountability system.
- Serves on and leads accountability advisory committees as needed.
- Identifies policy or technical issues or questions and recommends qualitative and quantitative methodologies for research studies to clarify identified or emergent issues, implements the studies, and analyzes and reports the results.
- Conducts and supports the necessary research and analysis for any relevant Agency initiative, particularly relating to the accountability system and its indicators.
- Reviews existing research and methodologies to inform Agency policy and practice.
- Documents research and synthesizes findings in reports and presentations.
- Responds to technical and practical issues or questions raised by assessment professionals and educators who do not have statistical or measurement expertise.
- Provides technical information to questioners in ways that they can understand and find the information meaningful and useful.
- Conducts independent research or analyses for special assignments on an as needed basis as assigned by the Director, Senior Leadership, or the State Superintendent.
- Produces ad hoc data requests as necessary.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications - Master's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Data Science, Research Methodologies, Statistics, Economics, Public Policy, Public Administration, Psychology or Education (with substantial coursework in computer science, data science, mathematics or statistics), or, Bachelor's degree in one of these fields plus one year of relevant and evidence for successful professional experience required. (COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION)
- One year of experience computing and cleaning data from databases.
- Experience developing research project plans inclusive of identification of and rationale for methodological approach.
- Experience writing reports and developing presentations describing and showing the results of data analysis and/or experience through quantitative and qualitative data presentations.
- Proficiency in SQL and excel.
- Ability to identify issues with data completeness and quality.
- Superior writing skills and communication skills, including through presentations.
- Excellent critical thinking, problem solving and organizational skills.
- Creativity and ability to work collaboratively with others.
Preferred Qualifications - Experience working with large data sets.
- Experience developing linear and multi-level models.
- Proficiency in ArcGIS/SAS/R/other quantitative and qualitative statistical software or other mapping software.
- Knowledge of any of the following areas: early childhood education, English language learning, teacher and leader effectiveness, assessment, accountability, demographics, post-secondary readiness, gifted and talented, or school performance.
- Familiarity with and appropriate use of artificial intelligence applications.
- Demonstration of required skills via published/available reports or presentations.
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