Founder of Frances Strategies | Workforce Data Strategist | Organizational Performance Management Expert | Speaker | CHIEF Member
I ❤️ this Position Description! When building the Division of Data Analytics and Strategic Planning for the Employment and Training Administration, I realized that drafting data-related position descriptions (PDs) is both a science and an art, requiring deep domain-specific knowledge. This PD from the Texas Workforce Commission is exemplary and may provide inspiration for other state workforce agencies working to build data capacity. Here’s why it stands out to me: 🎯 1. Focuses on Data Products: Prioritizes experience developing data products over general IT solutions, highlighting specialized skills needed for the role. 📊 2. Lists Specific Technical Skills: Specifies desirable technical skills: in this case, SQL, Tableau, and data warehousing technologies. (Your priorities may differ. Be explicit!) 🚀 3. Emphasizes Leadership: Balances technical qualifications with critical leadership and management skills, including strategic planning, communication, and coordination. 🔧 4. Embodies Skills-Based Hiring: Values both education and experience for qualification. 💡 5. Appeals to Purpose: Targets candidates motivated by the agency's mission and the opportunity to be a model for other states. (Go Texas!) 🌱 6. Attracts a Growth Mindset: Seeks a demonstrated commitment to continuous self-improvement. This is critical for any hire and especially important for a role where technology is constantly changing. 📍 7. Provides Transparent Location Requirements and Telework Policy: Offers clear information about workplace flexibilities and limits, balancing team collaboration and agency policies with the need to attract a broad talent pool. This PD sets a high standard for technical roles in the public sector and serves as an example for other agencies. Would a library of position descriptions like this be helpful to you? Drop a comment or send me a DM. P.S. Adam Leonard, well done, and best of luck finding a fantastic person for this role! #DataStrategy #CDOs #publicsectorinnovation #FrancesStrategies
UPDATE: this position is now in the hiring process and I am not accepting new applicants. I very much appreciate everybody's engagement around this post/position, I have no doubt that your comments, reposts, and reactions helped get this in front of a lot of people. Thanks so much. ------------ Come work with me and my team! I have a director position posted for the department in my division responsible for designing and delivering cutting edge data products to ensure that the Texas Workforce Commission and its partners & stakeholders have the data they need to make informed and ultimately evidenced-based decisions. This is an opportunity to not only help people in Texas but to help people nationally (and even internationally) as much of what we do qualifies as best practices that we share with other states to help them use data to improve prosperity for employers, individuals, families, and communities. I posted this position once before but foolishly did so right before going on a jag of trips and events that prevented me from giving prompt attention to the applicants. This time, I'm operating on a more disciplined timeline with a goal of conducting interviews the week of 1/29 and hopefully finding an amazing person who brings, and wants to be part of, something special who I can select and get an offer to quickly. The position is primarily telework in nature but requires being located in the greater Austin area in order to be able attend occasional in-person meetings at our offices. Those currently living outside the Austin area would need to be prepared to move here within three months (with some negotiation wiggle room). If you're interested or know someone who might be, please use this link to apply: The posting is available here: https://lnkd.in/gDXmtBtR.
Erin O'Mara
7mo
It seems to me that you've mastered the tools to deliver both the science and the art, Sara Johnson!
Nicole Balderas
7mo
Interesting insight Sara, offering a library of JD's. No one likes starting from zero on these.
Melissa Cohen
7mo
Love this Sara- an art and a science indeed!
Chief Analytics Officer & Data Evangelist
7moSara Johnson: I can't tell you how much it means that you really took the time to analyze this posting and identify best practices. As an employer, I think it is critical that we sell our organization and our mission to the applicant just as much as as we need the applicant to express why they are the best choice for the position. This is a hiring process but what we're looking for is an employment connection between ourselves and the candidate we select. We want them excited to be part of what we're doing. Everything you said is exactly what I have been hoping would come through to potential applicants reading the posting.