Program/Evaluation Specialist
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOP AND HEALTH BOARD
First Things First (Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board) is an essential leader and partner in creating a family‐centered, equitable, high‐quality early childhood system that supports the development, well‐being, health and early education of all Arizona’s children, birth to age 5. Created by voter initiative in 2006, First Things First is governed by a state Board with 28 regional partnership councils. First Things First is a decentralized organization that engages diverse constituencies to accomplish its mission. Organizational values include a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; a focus on accountability, transparency, coordination and collaboration; and an emphasis on the outcomes that will ensure young children start kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed in school and in life.
Program/Evaluation Specialist
4000 N Central Avenue, Suite 500, Phoenix AZ 85012
Salary: $78,600/annually
Grade: 23
The Program/Evaluation Specialist works under the direction of a Senior Director of Evaluation, and in collaboration with the Program & Data Unit, as well as with internal staff across goal areas to support the unit’s portfolio of work. This position affords the opportunity to lead the development of data requirements and their alignment to programmatic Theories of Change and Standards of Practice to evaluate strategy intent and outcomes in alignment with First Things First’s commitment to advance equitable outcomes for children and families. The Program/Evaluation Specialist leads and conducts grant partner training to support the successful submission of data required for program monitoring, inclusive of the ongoing provision of technical support/assistance and analysis of data to inform outcomes. This position is also responsible for creating report requirements in coordination with the First Things First (FTF) Information Technology (IT) team, Evaluation Senior Directors and other colleagues that inform implementation fidelity and outcomes of FTF’s funded programmatic activities.
This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.
The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.
Data Analysis and Report Development
● Lead data collection, management, cleaning, analysis, interpretation, and reporting activities to support agency initiatives and evaluation projects.
● Review and synthesize research and literature to identify appropriate evaluation methods and measurement tools.
● Collaborate with Program & Data staff, IT staff, regional staff, and other stakeholders to develop data requirements, submission templates, reporting logic, and reporting tools.
● Conduct user testing and quality assurance for data systems and templates.
● Produce quarterly, annual, and ad hoc reports, presentations, infographics, policy briefs, and other data products for internal and external audiences.
● Perform quality checks on data submitted by grant partners and coordinate corrections as needed.
● Support dissemination of research findings and implementation data to inform program improvement, strategic planning, and board/regional council decision-making.
● Identify opportunities to improve data systems, reporting processes, and data quality, including development of business requirements for IT staff and vendors.
● Contribute to the evaluation of systems change projects.
Training and Technical Assistance
● Develop training materials and deliver training to support accurate and timely grant partner data collection and submission.
● Provide technical assistance and data interpretation support to internal and external stakeholders.
● Assist with monitoring grant partner performance and outcomes.
● Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to provide data, reporting, and evaluation support.
● Contribute to a collaborative, respectful, and mission-driven organizational culture.
● Support additional Program & Data initiatives and projects as assigned.
Cross-Functional Team Support
● Serve as a subject matter expert on Cross-Functional Teams (CFTs), providing evaluation, reporting, and data expertise.
● Support regional councils and staff through tools, training, policy interpretation, and strategic data guidance.
● Master’s degree in early childhood development/education, developmental psychology, research methodology, data science, public health, social work, public policy, public administration, educational psychology, or a related field is required.
● Minimum of two (2) years of experience in research, evaluation, and/or data analysis.
● Knowledge of research design, evaluation methods, and data collection practices.
● Strong quantitative and qualitative research and analytical skills, including experience managing datasets, conducting analyses, and developing summary reports.
● Proficiency with statistical and analytical software such as SPSS, R, STATA, or similar tools.
● Experience extracting, cleaning, and managing data from multiple sources, including administrative databases and cloud-based storage systems.
● Experience documenting business requirements, report specifications, procedures, or related technical documentation for IT teams or database vendors.
● Experience developing surveys using platforms such as Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, or similar tools.
● Experience using data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms.
● Ability to communicate data findings and insights to non-technical audiences in a clear and actionable manner.
● Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing demands.
● Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively, exercise sound judgment, and contribute positively across teams.
If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.
All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.
Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page
ASRS
HR@FirstThingsFirst.org
