Director of Data Services (DIRDATA) Closing 4/25/2026

Title: Director of Data Services 

Employee Group & Grade: Professional/Exempt

Reports To: Director of Application Services

Starting Salary Scale: $100,000-$112,000

Calendar Year: 220 days

Must work all scheduled calendar days in Colorado 

Date Written/Revised: April 2026  

*All applications must be complete to be reviewed*  

Why Work at GOAL High School?  

• Great Mission and Great Culture.  

• Recognized as an Award-winning High School that serves at-risk students throughout Colorado.  

• Recognized as 1 of 3 schools worldwide to receive the distinction of “Biggest Impact School” in technology from Microsoft.  

• Our staff can plan vacations with one 14-day break, two 1-week breaks, and additional weeks off in the summer.  

• Competitive starting salary based on years of experience and qualifications.   

• Potential to earn Pay-for-Performance incentives as a member of the GOAL Team.  

• Competitive Benefits include an emphasis on Wellness in the workplace.  

• The ability to continue contributing to the Colorado Public Schools Retirement System PERA.  

• PERA 401K or Roth 401K with a 5% Match after one year  

• Medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance and AD&D plans.  

• Health Savings Accounts (HSA).  

• Voluntary life insurance for employees and dependents.  

• Short-and Long-Term Disability Insurance.  

• Optional additional insurance that includes accident, critical illness, and hospital plans.  

• Employee Assistance Program.  

• The school provides a laptop, cell phone and additional equipment, as needed.  

• Robust Professional Development and opportunity to work with passionate, mission-driven colleagues who are invested in your personal and professional growth.  

• GOAL High School is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).  

Purpose of Job:

The Director of Data Services provides strategic, operational, and technical leadership for GOAL Academy High School’s data ecosystem and Academic platform services. This role is responsible for establishing and executing the organization’s data strategy to ensure that accurate, secure, and timely data supports academic success, school operational effectiveness, compliance, and executive decision-making. 

As the school’s senior data leader, the Director of Data Services owns the design, modernization, governance, and sustainability of GOAL Academy’s data platforms, pipelines, models, and reporting environments. The role balances hands-on technical leadership with director-level accountability, aligning data initiatives with school priorities, and ensuring data is treated as a critical institutional asset. 

The Director of Data Services partners closely with Information Services leadership, Academic Leadership, and operational stakeholders while directly supporting the CIO with insights, risk awareness, and roadmap execution. 

Essential Duties/ Major Accountabilities:

Show Up: Be ACCOUNTABLE for our students, ourselves, and our team

Connect: Develop and maintain TRANSPARENT and HONEST relationships with our students and team

Succeed: Become a STRONG unified team providing students with an INNOVATIVE environment to become productive members of society

Languages/Tools:  

• SQL Server and Azure SQL 

• Power BI (datasets, semantic models, DAX) 

• Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Microsoft Fabric 

• Azure cloud services and data storage solutions 

• Git-based source control (pipelines, scripts, datasets) 

• Microsoft Excel 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Strategic & Leadership Responsibilities 

• Responsible for GOAL Academy’s school data strategy, roadmap, and operating model in alignment with school goals. 

• Serves as the authoritative leader for all data-related architecture, standards, and practices across the school. 

• Advises leadership on data capabilities, risks, limitations, and opportunities for improvement. 

• Establishes and enforces data governance, quality standards, documentation, and lifecycle management practices. 

• Partners with academic and operational leadership to translate institutional needs into scalable, sustainable data solutions. 

Organizational & Team Leadership 

• Leads and develops the Data Services and Academic Platforms function, providing clear direction, prioritization, and accountability. 

• Directly supervises data team and platforms team staff, fostering skill development, performance excellence, and professional growth. 

• Defines roles, responsibilities, and workflows to ensure efficient execution and clear ownership across the data and platforms team. 

• Models professionalism and promotes a collaborative, accountable culture within Information Services. 

Technical Oversight & Execution 

• Responsible for the architecture and modernization of GOAL Academy’s data environment, including pipelines, integrations, models, and reporting layers. 

• Ensures reliable, scalable, and well-documented automated data pipelines across academic and operational systems. 

• Oversee the design and maintenance of reusable Power BI datasets and semantic models that support consistent reporting and analytics. 

• Guides technical decision-making related to Azure data services, tooling selection, and architectural patterns. 

• Partners with application development, infrastructure, cloud, and cybersecurity teams to deliver secure, production-ready solutions. 

Governance, Security & Compliance 

• Works closely with cybersecurity leadership to ensure data security, role-based access, auditability, and regulatory compliance. 

• Ensures sensitive student, staff, and institutional data is protected according to policy and legal requirements. 

• Establishes monitoring, validation, and exception-handling practices to ensure data accuracy and reliability. 

CIO Partnership & Organizational Reporting 

• Reports directly to the Chief Information Officer, providing regular updates on data initiatives, risks, performance, and roadmap progress. 

• Supports CIO-led initiatives by supplying actionable data, dashboards, and insights for executive and board-level decision-making. 

• Participates in cross-functional planning and school strategy discussions as a data subject-matter expert. 

Additional Duties and Responsibilities 

• Handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion 

• Complete additional reporting or analysis as requested by the CIO 

• Approximately 10% travel as required 

• Other duties as assigned 

Accountability Standards for all GOAL Academy High School Staff:

• Love for children and ability to work enthusiastically on their behalf
• Actively and enthusiastically recruit new students through community partnerships and community events
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, time-management, verbal, and written communication skills
• Knowledgeable and comfortable working with technology
• Able to competently and persistently apply problem solving skills towards technology issues  
• Proven ability to serve on teams and participate in a collaborative decision-making process
• Strong work ethic to achieve both school and personal goals
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Willingness to travel regionally and transport students as required
• Ethical, honest, and good-humored
• Must work all scheduled calendar days in Colorado 

Minimum Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must possess a valid Driver's License
• Must reside in Colorado

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, Data Analytics, or a related field 

• 7 years of progressively responsible experience in data engineering, analytics, or data platform leadership 

• Demonstrated experience designing and owning production-grade data systems and pipelines 

• Advanced proficiency with SQL Server, relational data modeling, and ETL processes 

• Strong Power BI experience, including semantic models and DAX 

• Experience with Azure data services and cloud-based architectures 

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage technical professionals 

• Strong understanding of data governance, quality management, and security best practices 

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences 

Preferred 

• 10 years of experience in enterprise-scale data environments 

• Experience with Microsoft Fabric, Azure Synapse Analytics, or advanced Azure data platforms 

• Experience developing organizational data governance frameworks 

• Background in K–12, higher education, or public sector environments 

• Azure certifications (e.g., Azure Data Engineer Associate) 

• Experience partnering directly with executive leadership on strategy and execution 

Physical Requirements of this position include:

Seldom

Cold-50 F or less/Heat- 90 F or more/Gases-Fumes/ Heights/Climbing/ Crawling-Kneeling/ Bending/ Walking on Uneven Surfaces/Chemical-Solvents/ Travel-National or International

Over 30 Pounds: Lifting-Lowering-Reaching Over Shoulders-Reaching Forward-Pushing-Pulling-Carrying

Occasional

Noise/Working Alone/ Local Travel/ Visual Acuity-Far/ Color Discrimination

Over 20 Pounds: Lifting-Lowering-Reaching Over Shoulders-Reaching Forward-Pushing-Pulling-Carrying

Frequent

Driving/ Work with Others/ Visual Acuity-Near/ Hearing/ Speech/ Manual Dexterity/ Eye-Hand Coordination/ Computer/ Mouse/ Copier/ Scanner/ Printer/ Telephone

Under 20 Pounds: Lifting-Lowering-Reaching Over Shoulders-Reaching Forward-Pushing-Pulling-Carrying

Colorado Public High Schools are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. We welcome applications from qualified foreign teachers and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse educational environment. All hiring decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and the needs of the school district. Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.  

In compliance with federal and state laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Immigration and Nationality Act, we ensure that all employment practices are conducted without discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status. However, as a recipient of federal funding, we must adhere to specific regulations regarding the employment of foreign nationals.  

Salary : $100,000 - $112,000