Senior data operations manager (01403)

This first review of applications will be on November 2, 2026. Please submit the following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:

• Resume - Please include dates of employment and your supervisor’s name/phone number for each position.

For a complete job description, please email opi.careers@mt.gov

To be considered for this position, you must reside in Montana.

Why you would enjoy working here; Office of Public Instruction employees are a passionate group of professionals dedicated to leading and supporting our education system. We house a diverse collection of experiences with the 200+ unique individuals we employ. Our specialists further OPI’s purpose with applicable knowledge in education, health, research and analysis, nutrition, finance, administration, human resources, licensing and regulation, information technology, and many others. We are proud to serve 149,000+ students pre-K to grade 12, their parents and guardians, 400+ school districts, 16,000+ educational professionals, and 3,000+ adult learners.

Benefits of working for OPI:

• Work/life balance
• Family friendly
• Dedicated and caring colleagues
• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Public service loan forgiveness-Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF.

E-Verify: Effective October 1, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https://www.e-verify.gov/

Job Overview:

The Senior Data Operations Manager provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for OPI’s data operations employees and functions. This position supervises a team of data professionals responsible for accurate and timely collection, analysis, and reporting of state and federal education data. This position ensures that data systems, processes, and outputs are reliable, efficient, and aligned with evolving statutory, regulatory, and programmatic requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):

Required for the first day of work:

• Skilled in management and supervisory experience
• Skilled in project and operational management skills
• Knowledgeable in organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of data governance, data security, and sensitive information handling
• Ability to design and implement consistent, repeatable, and efficient processes and systems
• Ability to lead teams through change, improvement, and adaptation
• Ability to build consensus around shared goals across teams and programs
• Skilled in facilitation and conflict-resolution skills, with the ability to clearly articulate issues and guide stakeholders toward effective solutions
• Ability to learn and apply OPI data systems, data purposes, and programmatic contexts
• Ability to understand relational data concepts and complex data requirements
• Demonstrated capacity to implement practical change management strategies

§ Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field

§ Minimum of four (4) years of experience designing, maintaining, or administering data management systems and/or managing data or technology projects

§ Minimum of four (4) years of supervisory experience

§ Substitution: a equivalent combination of education, certification, and experience in business analytics, project management, data management, or related fields may be considered.