Salary: $57,700.00 - $103,900.00 Annually
Location : Richland County, SC
Job Type: FTE - Full-Time
Job Number: Agency: First Steps
Division: SC First Steps
Opening Date: 07/31/2025
Closing Date: 8/11/ :59 PM Eastern
Agency Specific Application Procedures:: All applicants must apply online.
Class Code:: BB40
Position Number:: Normal Work Schedule:: Monday - Friday (8:30 - 5:00)
Pay Grade: GEN10
Hiring Range - Min.: $57,700.00
Hiring Range - Max.: $75,000.00
Opening Date: 07/31/2025
EEO Statement: Equal Opportunity Employer
Veteran Preference Statement: South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.
Job Responsibilities Are you an experienced professional looking for new opportunities to further your career? South Carolina First Steps is seeking a hardworking and dependable candidate just like you to apply! This position will offer great benefits with the state, including 15 days of annual and sick leave per year or more depending on applicable state service. A cover letter and resume are required by the agency to be considered for this position. The Responsibilities of the Evaluation Coordinator: The Evaluation Coordinator plays a crucial role in advancing South Carolina's early childhood systems. Collaborating closely with the Research and Evaluation team, this individual will conduct studies that help SC First Steps achieve strategic priorities, support the documentation and implementation of data processes, and provide technical assistance and evaluation support across the agency. This position will act as team lead on program evaluation projects by managing planning and timelines, conducting analyses, and sharing actionable findings. Through this work, the Evaluation Coordinator will empower data-driven decisions, shape policies, and inform resource allocation. The Evaluation Coordinator will report to the Director of Research and Evaluation, and their physical office will be in Columbia, SC.
- PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Lead a portfolio of assigned evaluation projects; manage data requests with internal and external entities; develop project questions and appropriate evaluation methods; design and administer quantitative and qualitative data collection instruments. Identify stakeholders on projects and act as a liaison, incorporating key perspectives and input. Develop and implement workplans, with clear timelines for evaluation activities. Maintain documentation of planning, tasks, decisions, and materials. Provide updates to various audiences. Collaborate with external evaluators, as needed. Ensure all evaluation activities adhere to ethical guidelines and relevant mandates.
- DATA ANALYSIS AND DISSEMINATION: Utilize quantitative analysis tools to clean data sets and perform appropriate statistical analyses. Utilize software and best practices to interpret and visualize data. Use data to tell compelling stories about South Carolina's early education system to a variety of internal and external audiences. Collaborate across agency departments to disseminate results. Lead stakeholders through meaning making and taking action based on findings.
- SYSTEMS OPTIMIZATION AND COLLABORATION: Ensure the quality, accuracy, and consistency of the information stored in the agency's data systems. Conduct data validation and reliability testing, as needed. Offer technical assistance, consultation, and evaluation support to staff and partners. Track and gather documentation and approvals. Participate in data systems trainings and promote new data processes among agency staff, local partnerships, and various program providers. Collaborate on additional Research and Evaluation projects, as needed, including responding to ad-hoc data collection and analysis requests.
- OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.
Minimum and Additional Requirements - A bachelor's degree and relevant professional experience. A graduate-level degree in an analytic discipline may be substituted for the required work experience.
Additional Requirements:
- Knowledge of data collection, report writing, and technical documentation.
- Proficiency with quantitative research methods and inferential statistics.
- Ability to adjust to evolving project requirements and shifting priorities.
- Effective communication and the willingness to collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, at least one statistical software, and a data visualization platform (preferably Power BI).
- Eagerness for learning new software applications and an aptitude for identifying and implementing process improvements.
Additional Comments SC First Steps is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.
SC First Steps offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees: - Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click for additional information.
- 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
- 15 days sick leave per year
- 13 paid holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available
- Retirement benefit choices*
- State Retirement Plan
- State Optional Retirement Program
*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.
Benefits for State Employees The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.
Insurance Benefits Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.
Retirement Benefits State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.
Workplace Benefits State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.
Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.
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Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted or reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position. I have read and acknowledge the above statement.
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Do you possess at least a bachelor's degree and relevant professional experience?
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Please briefly describe your experience as it relates to this position.
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Do you have the ability to communicate effectively?
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I understand that a resume or curriculum vitae, and a cover letter are required by the agency to be considered for this position. By selecting "yes" I am confirming that I have attached all of the required documents to this application.
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How did you hear about this position?
- SC State Jobs Website - jobs.sc.gov
- Indeed.com
- LinkedIn.com
- A current employee
- A former employee
- Other (please specify below)
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If you answered "other" to the question above, please specify where you heard about this position below.
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