Manager of Innovation & Data-WRO - FT

Public Strategies Overview

Public Strategies (PS) is a nationally respected consulting, project management, and marketing firm based in Oklahoma City. We provide innovative solutions for federal, state, and local clients, including project and program management, training and technical assistance, technology, event management, research and evaluation, video production, and strategic communications. We also deliver research-informed direct services to financially vulnerable Oklahomans, with a focus on strengthening families and improving employment opportunities.

We are a collaborative team of thinkers, creatives, strategists, communicators, builders, researchers, and change agents committed to touching lives, driving change, and doing good well.

Position Summary

The Manager of Innovation & Data - Work Ready Oklahoma (WRO) will possess a unique combination of skills as a subject matter expert and practitioner with an acumen to evaluate and drive success and growth within the division. Essential to the position is the ability to provide meaningful information and insights through high-quality, engaging reports so practitioners, program teams, partners and leaders can explore and collaborate to advance system innovation and growth.

With a focus on research policy and consulting in self-sufficiency, asset-building, community development and workforce development, the Manager will lead cross-functionally in partnership with directors, peers, and support team members to ensure strong practices and performance in the delivery of the Work Ready model. Accountable for accurate collection (as needed), reporting and analyses of results, the Manager will develop a systematic approach to support data-based decision making for program improvement and communication of successes.

This position aids the Work Ready division in gauging progress against key performance measures (KPI's); researching key topics as they emerge, and bringing innovative thinking and approaches to measurement, learning and evaluation (MLE). Serving as the division's representative for impact and implementation measurement, this individual is a key collaborator and subject matter expert, working with Senior Managers on program innovation, research, strategy, planning and management.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide high-quality oversight and leadership to projects, including management of priorities, timelines, and objectives.
• Must demonstrate experience in designing and testing valid survey instruments on various platforms, including paper and electronic with efficient collection and transmission to data systems for rapid and efficient analysis and reporting.
• Report MLE findings concisely to key stakeholders to improve program and participant outcomes across twenty-one sites statewide.
• Able to interpret primary, secondary, and tertiary research and evaluate innovations and research comparators to support executive leadership inquiries.
• In collaboration with other divisions, establish and maintain a regular system of collection, analysis and reporting of results customized for diverse areas of interest including but not limited to research advisory groups, grantors, clients, corporate leadership and WRO practitioners.
• Drive effective use of data and insights to support strategy development, regional and future expansion investments, and outcomes tracking and analysis systems.
• Lead the division's efforts to establish and execute impact tracking (such as economic and individual impacts). Based on tracking results, lead impact modeling at the division level for baseline research programs and understanding of the innovative model and its various results.
• Develop effective systems and strategies to achieve client objectives, collaborating with teams in brainstorming, conceptualizing, and executing thoughtful processes and practices for training, technical assistance (TTA), or product development.
• Supports business development and proposal development initiatives, contributing to the projects responsively -- often within short timeframes -- through the creation of proposals, data visualization and innovative program designs.
• Responsible for hiring, guidance, coaching, mentorship, and supervision of the team; ensuring the successful and efficient execution of priorities and fostering conditions for talent to thrive and be accountable for an inclusive team culture.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education/Training

• Master's Degree, required.
• Doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D or ABD) in evaluation-related field, preferred.
• Applicable fields and disciplines include Economics, Social Sciences or Education.
• Trained in IMPLAN or other economic impact analyses tools, preferred.

Experience

• Experience in economic stability, workforce readiness, job training, and employment coaching, with a focus on disadvantaged and low-income populations.
• Experience Ain progressively increasing leadership jobs, including positions that formally lead people and teams.
• Experience with statistical analysis and data visualization tools, required.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Demonstrated proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to motivate and mentor a geographically dispersed team.
• Demonstrated leadership and keen interpersonal and organizational skills, an unwavering commitment to excellence and evidence-based design, the ability to manage projects on time and within budget, and the proven ability to excel.
• Acumen in data visualization to support white papers, presentations, grant proposals and business development initiatives.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategy development and implementation, design of performance management system of goals, KPI's, program evaluation and implementation monitoring.
• Collaborator and relationship builder with experience working in a matrixed organization.
• Evidence of ability to effectively articulate complex data results, summarize analyses and present results for decision-making to teams consisting of peers and senior leadership.
• Technical skills in monitoring and evaluation theories, methodologies, and tools.
• Technical skills in data visualization; guiding teams who assist in communicating information from paper to portals to PowerPoints.
• Mastery of all statistical analyses and ability to translate to practical interpretation.
• Demonstrated proficiency in various quantitative and qualitative data collection methodologies and tools, cleaning of data, and experience with data, statistical analysis and data visualization tools with preference for SPSS, SQL and Power BI.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and communicate complex ideas through various means (PowerPoint, data visualization, research briefs and white papers) for practical application for use in the field.
• Reflects an ability and demeanor to pivot in provision of priority changes.
• Strong organizational skills, able to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Must be able to travel overnight out of state as needed.
• Must maintain a valid Driver's License.
• Must be able to drive to statewide in Oklahoma as needed.

Public Strategies is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs, not on classifications protected by law, including but not limited to: race, color, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identify, and pregnancy), religion, national origin, age (40 and older), disability, genetic information, military service, or any other classification protected by law.