Data Management Specialist

Who We Are

Children’s Law Center is a mission-driven organization focused on providing high-quality legal services to children and families in DC. As an organization, we envision a world in which all children have a strong foundation of family, health and education and are free from poverty, trauma, racism and other forms of oppression. Our mission is to do this work together with DC children and families, Children’s Law Center uses the law to solve children’s urgent problems today, improve the systems that will affect their lives tomorrow and strengthen our community so that change endures. A key part of our mission is to challenge and reduce ways in which racism and other biases – structural and interpersonal – prevent each of us, our organization and the systems in which we work from providing children a strong foundation from which to thrive.

Our greatest assets are our people. We recognize that people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives fuel our ability to provide the best outcomes for our clients and our community. Staff members at Children’s Law Center advance the organization’s mission through their leadership, result-orientated mindset and commitment to cultural humility. We are looking for individuals who like to be challenged to grow both personally and professionally and value the opportunity to make a difference in their community. Children's Law Center's continued success depends on recruiting and retaining individuals who possess and exemplify these attributes.

Program Description

The Evaluation and Learning (E&L) team at the Children’s Law Center (CLC) is responsible for leading and overseeing all activities related to data collection, reporting and research and evaluation for the organization. The analytical work of this team is unique in that it directly informs CLC’s programs serving children and families in DC. The E&L team works with program leadership to mold data collection processes and use findings to illustrate outcomes. Through the collection, analysis and reporting of quality data, the E&L team is an essential part of the organization’s ability to make data-informed decisions and to utilize data storytelling to improve outcomes for our clients and our community. Specifically, the E&L team manages and supports the case management system used by legal program staff, works with program staff and leadership to ensure data quality and report on program performance, and leads research and evaluation efforts to document program implementation and outcomes.

Job Summary

The Data Management Specialist (DMS) role helps to foster the highest quality data collection across all teams at CLC by monitoring data entry, performing analyses and facilitating data interpretation for continuous improvement. As such, this position is responsible for day-to-day data management, including data cleaning, compliance and quality control, report generation and management of dashboards. This role serves as the lead administrator of CLC’s case management system, Legal Server, and is the first point of contact for staff inquiries and requests for technical assistance. The DMS trains staff members on data entry in the case management system and is responsible for creating and maintaining all documentation related to system administration. The DMS also supports the execution of the E&L team’s research and evaluation projects.

In addition to the technical aspects, this role will support training efforts to elevate organizational understanding and utilization of data. The DMS plays a key role in promoting a data-driven culture by providing training and resources to staff members on data collection best practices, data literacy and data storytelling. The DMS is responsible for developing tools, processes and strategies to address common barriers staff face related to being able to report timely, quality data.

Role Responsibilities

Case Management System Administration

• Serve as the main administrator of the case management system, Legal Server.
• Support comprehensive technical and administrative guidance of all systems for staff. This includes support related to both back and front-end administrative functions and application operating policies and procedures.
• Serve as the first point of contact for Legal Server helpdesk and technical support.
• Identify patterns in help requests and discuss issues with E&L team for resolution.
• Leading onboarding and ongoing Legal Server training for staff, as well as training on data collection processes and requirements.
• Develop, update and review training materials, such as frequently asked questions, microlearning videos and tip sheets.
• Lead the mockup, testing and implementation of Legal Server modifications.
• Developing and maintaining project work plans as they pertain to Legal Server modifications and data collection processes.
• Review Legal Server product developments, enhancements, modules and features with E&L team.
• Ensure data integrity by conducting frequent data compliance checks against data collection protocols, correct and update data in Legal Server, and follow up with staff as necessary.

Supporting Organizational Data Literacy and Compliance

• Support staff in interpreting data and utilizing data analyses in support of their work by delivering trainings, providing consultations to program staff and creating educational resources and guides for staff across all levels of data literacy.
• Act as an ambassador of data and reporting across organization by modeling effective use of data analysis in storytelling and presentations, identifying opportunities for staff to use data to support their work and effectively communicating to all staff the impact that timely, quality data collection and analysis can have upon client outcomes and progress towards programmatic and organizational goals.
• Monitor staff engagement and compliance with data collection processes.
• Designing communications to increase organizational understanding and utilization of data.
• Design and lead trainings and experiences to increase capacity around data, evaluation, and application of best practices to provide actionable insights to staff.

Reporting and Analytics

• Generate all required grant, funder and court reports (e.g., court contract reporting, grant reporting, etc.).
• Develop and improve complex reports in Legal Server that meet stakeholder requirements, with a focus on solutions that can be consistently produced on demand and that can track key metrics over time.
• Partner with program leadership to routinely review and code data appropriately for different funding sources.
• Compile and clean data for analysis.
• Analyze data to measure program outputs and outcomes.
• Maintain and update data collection protocols, reporting instructions and instructions on updating dashboards.
• Translate data into data visualizations, reports and dashboards using Excel and PowerBI.
• Routinely update program dashboards in PowerBI with performance metrics and trends.
• Identify and implement changes to the dashboards and explain changes to staff.
• Identify and lead opportunities for strengthening existing data collection processes, protocols and systems at Children’s Law Center.
• Support management of program activities related to funding requirements and achieving organizational evaluation and learning goals.

Research and Evaluation

• Support research and evaluation projects led by the E&L team and led by external partners.
• Use data collection and analysis methods to support evaluation projects, as needed (e.g., interviews, focus groups, surveys, observations, etc.).
• Assist with summarizing and writing evaluation findings for staff, clients, and stakeholders.
• Attend and represent E&L team at internal and external meetings with program leadership and partners.

Qualifications

• Excellent attention to detail, organizational, time management and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to easily adapt to changes in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to effectively communicate results verbally and in writing to audiences of various levels and backgrounds.
• Experience drafting written communications, such as process documents, talking points and reports.
• Experience presenting and translating data findings verbally.
• Project management experience.
• Knowledge of program evaluation methodologies (e.g., developing surveys, analyzing survey responses).
• Experience in customer service, client management or related roles.
• Prior experience conducting program evaluation or applied research, preferred.
• Experience with visual basic for applications (VBA) and macros in Excel, preferred.
• Experience with case management systems preferred.
• Prior experience working with communities with limited financial resources preferred.
• Experience using project management software or tools (e.g., Asana, Tello, Microsoft Project), preferred.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree or certification in relevant field (e.g., sociology, psychology, public health, political science, economics, policy, etc.) with coursework in data analysis, performance monitoring and evaluation, and/or applied research, for example, preferred.
• Experience with no-code and low-code systems (e.g., Efforts to Outcomes, Apricot), strongly preferred.

Required Skills and Experience

• 3-6 years’ relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation, data analysis, applied research and/or related field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficiency with data visualization software, such as PowerBI or Tableau.
• Advanced data analysis skills in Excel, including generating pivot tables and writing complex formulas.
• Experience customizing, developing and/or managing data collection systems (e.g. customer/client relationship management systems or management information systems).
• Experience developing and/or facilitating trainings.

Organizational Competencies

Cultural Humility – an openness to self-reflection and to understanding and respecting other cultural experiences and points of view and viewing individuals as experts in their own culture and experiences.

Giving and Receiving Feedback – the ability to be self-reflective, give and receive appreciative, coaching, constructive, interpersonal and evaluative feedback.

Conflict Management – a process which is designed to guide individuals and groups from the moment of conflict to the implementation of an identified solution. This process incorporates skills and techniques, including recognizing points of conflict, identifying the facts and feelings involved to get to the root of the issue, investigating equitable solutions, implementing and evaluating solutions, and supporting and guiding others throughout the process.

Hybrid Working Conditions

Children’s Law Center is currently operating on a hybrid work schedule. Employees are required to work in-person from Children’s Law Center’s office a minimum of two days per week. At least one of these days must be either Tuesday or Wednesday. The hybrid work schedule is subject to change based on organizational needs and/or best practices for health and safety. Hybrid work expectations may vary depending upon role responsibilities.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. Children’s Law Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Background Checks

Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a background check.

EEO

Children’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and existing employees. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our company and our career opportunities (https://childrenslawcenter.org/get-involved/careers/).

DEI Statement

Children’s Law Center is dedicated to building a world that is inclusive in approach and has equal opportunities and equitable outcomes for all. Our organization is committed to developing and supporting a robustly diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist community, where all members can create and feel a sense of belonging. Through our collective deliberate efforts, we work toward racial and social justice for children and families in DC.