Program Director – Data Strategy, Policy & Advocacy

ACT

Program Director leading data strategy and advocacy initiatives to enhance education equity at ACT. Engaging in data storytelling, policy research, and partner evidence building.

Posted 7/22/2026full-timeRemote • Iowa • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $115,000 - $130,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in data analysis and visualization to inform strategic decision-making in education policy, with a strong focus on equity and actionable insights for stakeholders. Proficient in developing metrics and frameworks that evaluate policy outcomes and enhance program effectiveness.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Data AnalysisQuantitative AnalysisDashboard DevelopmentEducational Research MethodsProject Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Data VisualizationStatistical AnalysisSurvey DesignProgram EvaluationPolicy Report WritingData Tool DevelopmentMixed-Methods ResearchEquity AnalysisData ManagementLiterature Review

Soft Skills

Communication SkillsStrategic ThinkingCollaborationCapacity BuildingLeadership

Tools & Technologies

TableauMS Power BIData DashboardsData ToolsAnalytic Frameworks

Industry Keywords

Education PolicyGovernment RelationsSocial ImpactNonprofit SectorEducation Data

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Tableau

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Embed data-driven decision-making across ACT’s Government and Public Relations team and serve as a strategic thought partner to ACT leadership and customers.
Support leadership in using data to inform strategic planning and resource allocation.
Design and maintain data tools, dashboards, presentations, and visualizations that make key metrics accessible and actionable for internal and external stakeholders.
Proactively identify research questions and analytic opportunities aligned with ACT’s policy priorities.
Create feedback loops between research findings, program design, and partnership strategy.
Provide capacity-building support to colleagues: training staff on data tools, analytic frameworks, and evidence-based practices.
Maintain a pulse on external data trends, policy developments, and methodological advances relevant to ACT’s work.
Generate rigorous, policy-relevant analyses that inform ACT’s positions and contribute to national conversations about education equity, assessment, and college and career readiness.
Provide strategic input to inform quantitative and mixed-methods research studies to answer high-priority policy questions.
Conduct literature reviews and synthesize research on education policy topics, presenting findings in actionable formats for policy and program staff.
Analyze large-scale education datasets (assessment results, demographic trends, program outcomes) to identify patterns and inform strategic recommendations.
Develop and operationalize metrics and frameworks for evaluating policy-relevant outcomes.
Incorporate equity analysis to understand disparities in outcomes across student populations.
Identify relevant external data sources (federal, state, institutional) and build efficient workflows for data acquisition and management.
Translate complex analyses into clear written products (briefs, memos, reports) for non-technical audiences including policymakers and funders.
Design and implement data-sharing partnerships that build an evidence base for ACT programs, partnerships, and policy initiatives.
Systematize data-sharing agreements and data collection workflows with external partners (districts, states, institutions).
Support the development of reporting templates that can scale across partner engagements.
Analyze variation in stakeholder contexts and identify conditions associated with strong outcomes.
Support the development of clear metrics that define and operationalize success for ACT programs and partnerships.
Generate impact reports that translate research findings into actionable insights for internal teams and external stakeholders.

Requirements

What you’ll need

At least 7 years of experience using data and analysis at the district or state level to inform decision-making in education, government, nonprofit, or social impact contexts, including demonstrated experience working with education data, advising senior leaders and shaping organizational strategy
Strong quantitative analysis skills
Familiarity with educational research designs and methods
Experience producing external-facing policy reports, case studies, or thought leadership
Experience building dashboards and other data visualizations, e.g. Tableau, MS Power BI or similar software
Experience designing surveys, analyzing assessment data, or evaluating programs or policies
Ability to translate complex data and analyses into clear written reports and presentations for non-technical audiences
Proven project management skills and ability to independently lead and manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously, with minimal oversight
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrated commitment to improving educational outcomes and advancing equity
Ability to Travel approximately 10-15%
Bachelor's degree in education policy, public policy, economics, statistics, data science, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Company paid life insurance
Medical, dental, vision
Flexible health and dependent spending accounts
401(k) retirement savings with company match
Paid holidays
Paid time off