WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
At IPS, we believe in the transformative power of education. We work collectively every day to prepare our students for success in the classroom and in life by providing equitable, high-quality educational experiences across our family of schools. IPS is a place to make an impact, grow your career, and ensure every student has access to a high quality education, all while earning a good living in a district on the move. While the work is challenging, it is deeply meaningful and impactful. We seek innovators and trailblazers who bring varying experiences and expertise and share our belief that every child deserves access to an exceptional education. As part of TeamIPS, you’ll create lasting connections, find a sense of belonging, and feel supported to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives.
In return, no matter your role here, we expect a commitment to excellence and accountability. You’ll be held to high standards. Resilience and passion are key—you must be adaptable, handling adversity with flexibility while putting students at the heart of everything you do. Ethical conduct, clear communication, and mutual respect are fundamental. Being a dependable, collaborative team player who builds meaningful relationships is essential.
Together, we are Proving What’s Possible by building a community where everyone belongs and each student has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
A Career in IPS Offers…
Purpose and Impact:
- Essential Contributions: In every non-teaching and non-leadership role, your work directly supports the success of IPS students and schools. Whether you’re maintaining facilities, providing student services, or managing administrative operations, you play a key part in ensuring an equitable and high-quality educational environment.
- Belonging and Community: IPS is a place where every employee is valued. You’ll join a supportive community that promotes respect, teamwork, and a shared commitment to serving students and families.
Professional and Personal Growth:
- Training and Development Opportunities: IPS offers a variety of training programs to help staff build new skills and grow professionally. This includes access to development opportunities for administrative, technical, and operational roles, as well as pathways to becoming a certified teacher.
- Skill Enhancement: Whether you’re new to your role or seeking to deepen your expertise, IPS provides resources and support for continuous improvement.
Comprehensive Compensation and Benefits:
- Fair Compensation: IPS ensures competitive wages and regularly reviews pay structures to maintain equity.
- Extensive Benefits Package: Employees enjoy comprehensive health coverage, dental and vision plans, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement plans. Additional financial benefits include flexible spending accounts and eligibility for federal loan forgiveness programs.
Work-Life Balance and Well-being:
- Generous Leave Policies: IPS offers vacation, personal, and sick leave, along with paid holidays. Twelve-month employees benefit from floating holidays, and unused personal leave rolls into the sick leave balance.
- Wellness Programs: IPS prioritizes staff well-being with access to wellness initiatives, including health screenings and an employee assistance program for confidential support and counseling.
What We Expect:
- Professionalism and Reliability: Every role at IPS is vital to the district’s success. We expect staff to demonstrate professionalism, dependability, and a commitment to providing excellent service to students, educators, and families.
- Collaboration and Communication: IPS values teamwork. Working collaboratively with your colleagues ensures a supportive environment for all. Clear communication and mutual respect are key to maintaining this culture.
- Flexibility and Problem-Solving: As a large, dynamic district, IPS needs staff who are adaptable and proactive in solving problems to meet the ever-changing needs of students and schools.
JOIN US!
Indianapolis Public Schools is more than a workplace; it’s a community where purpose, impact, and belonging come together to help Prove What’s Possible – in your career and in your school. If you’re ready to embrace challenges, strive for excellence, and make a meaningful impact, IPS is the place for you.
SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY:
Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is seeking an innovative, strategic, detail-oriented, and results-driven leader to serve as Director of Data Science. The Director of Data Science will be responsible for leading a team to apply advanced analytics and predictive modeling to address complex educational challenges. This role will lead a team to develop predictive models for student outcomes, identify patterns to inform interventions and resource allocation, and lead cross-departmental collaboration to research initiatives to improve education practices. This role reports to the Executive Director of Enterprise Data Strategy.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
The following outlines this position's core duties and responsibilities and provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.
Core Responsibilities:
- Team Leadership & Strategy: Manage a team of data analysts, business intelligence developers, and data scientists toward a vision and strategic direction for how advanced analytics and predictive modeling support district goals
- Strategic Data Vision: Support the ED to develop and execute a district-wide data strategy that aligns with IPS’s academic and operational objectives.
- Advanced Analytics & Predictive Modeling: Oversee a team to design and implement models to forecast student outcomes and apply machine learning and statistical techniques to uncover insights and inform proactive interventions.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: At the direction of the ED, partner with academic leaders to develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and dashboards that inform instructional and operational strategies.
- Data Democratization: Implement user-friendly tools and training programs that empower educators and administrators to leverage data effectively.
- Cross-Departmental Collaboration: At the direction of the ED, work closely with IT, curriculum, finance, and operations teams to ensure a holistic approach to data-driven improvements.
- Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Stay ahead of emerging trends in data science, AI, and K-12 analytics to enhance district capabilities.
- Stakeholder Engagement: With the ED, communicate complex data insights to senior leadership, policymakers, and community stakeholders in a clear, actionable manner.
- Performance Monitoring, Project Managing, & Reporting:
- Monitor key performance indicators related to academic and business performance, operational efficiency, and strategic initiatives.
- Lead the project management team to determine priorities, deadlines, and support needs for the Systems Division and cross-functional partners throughout the project lifecycle.
- Present data findings and recommendations to the IPS Executive Leadership Team, Board of School Commissioners, and other stakeholders.
Lead efforts to measure the impact of data-driven initiatives on student achievement and organizational performance.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS
As an ideal candidate for this role, you will be able to achieve the following:
- Be a strong strategic and analytical thinker. You are a natural problem solver who can efficiently grasp and act on a big picture, quickly analyze the root causes, and define new ways forward. Your ability to chart a clear course, juggle many tasks and priorities, and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment will bring clarity to the complex projects you lead.
- Embrace a fast-moving organization. Deadlines, changing priorities, and new projects don’t overwhelm you or the quality of your work. Instead, they inspire you to rise to the occasion. Your planning will be the backbone of an efficient and productive team. The team will look to you to establish systems, develop project plans, and support implementation. You will manage up and across different pieces of work to ensure the team meets goals.
- Deliver crisp, clean messages. Whether in writing or on the phone, your communications are articulate and concise. You understand your audience and know how to deliver inspiring messages and tough news with ease and tactful finesse.
- Partner with education leaders. You’ll regularly interact with stakeholders, motivating them to make incremental changes and take quantum leaps.
- Be willing to step up to the plate. You’re eager to contribute and learn, and willing to help identify solutions independently
QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
- Knowledge of the district landscape and efforts to expand school-based autonomy
- Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Management, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent experience
- 6+ years of experience in data infrastructure, governance, or enterprise data management, preferably in K-12 education.
- Expertise in data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI), statistical modeling (R, Python), and AI-driven analytics.
- Strong background in using data to inform policy and instructional decisions.
- Demonstrated leadership in implementing large-scale data initiatives in complex organizations.
- Strong understanding of data privacy laws and best practices, including FERPA and HIPAA.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to translate complex data insights into actionable strategies.
- Passion for educational equity and a commitment to improving outcomes for all students.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply in Nimble HERE.
FLSA CLASSIFICATION:
Non-Exempt
ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK:
Hybrid and virtual work are possibilities and at the discretion of the Chief Systems Officer.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and walk; use hands to manipulate, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will need to be able to legally operate a motor vehicle safely and responsibly.
EEOC STATEMENT:
Indianapolis Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, will not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, homelessness or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations, or ordinances. Indianapolis Public Schools does not tolerate any form of retaliation or bias-based intimidation, threat, or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.
DISCLAIMER:
Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the above representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This job description is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive list of all essential functions and duties performed by the occupant of this position. Factors such as regular and punctual attendance are not routinely listed in job descriptions but are an essential function.
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