Manager of Data Services

About West Chester Area School District:

West Chester Area School District serves more than 12,000 students across 17 schools: 11 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The district covers a 75-square-mile area that includes West Chester Borough and surrounding townships in Chester and Delaware Counties. The district boasts strong academic outcomes, including a 95% graduation rate, placing it in the top 10–20 percent of Pennsylvania public school districts. To learn more about strategic initiatives WCASD is leading, please visit Our Initiatives - West Chester Area School District.

Summary:

The Manager of Data Services ensures the integrity, accuracy, security, and effective use of district data systems. This role establishes the vision, policies, and infrastructure necessary to ensure the integrity, security, accessibility, and strategic use of data across all district operations.

Serving as the district’s senior authority on data systems, the Manager oversees the full portfolio of enterprise platforms, including administrative systems and the Student Information System (SIS), and ensures alignment between technology infrastructure and instructional, operational, and compliance priorities. The role leads the development of a comprehensive data governance framework that promotes accuracy, interoperability, transparency, and risk mitigation.

The Manager directs all state and federal reporting functions, ensuring compliance while leveraging reporting processes to strengthen decision-making and organizational performance. This leader leads technology employees and others and works with Cabinet members and cross-functional departments to transform data from a compliance function into a strategic asset that informs resource allocation, student outcomes, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish and oversee enterprise data governance, including policies, standards, access controls, validation protocols, and security frameworks to ensure integrity, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance;
• Direct state and federal reporting functions, including PDE/PIMS submissions, ensuring accuracy, and alignment with evolving regulatory requirements;
• Develop strategies for accurate collection and maintenance of required reporting data;
• Oversee the full lifecycle of enterprise data systems, including SIS and administrative platforms—system implementation, integration, modernization, upgrades, data rollovers, and performance optimization;
• Lead enterprise data integration and automation efforts to improve interoperability, streamline workflows, and reduce manual processes across departments when possible;
• Manage vendor strategy and contracts related to data systems, licensing, and reporting infrastructure to ensure service continuity, cost-effectiveness, and scalability;
• Ensure data privacy and cybersecurity compliance, proactively mitigating risk related to student and employee data security and managing access to PDE and other regulatory systems;
• Build organizational capacity for data literacy, providing professional development, documentation, and tools that promote evidence-based decision-making across departments;
• Lead and develop the Data Services team, setting priorities, managing performance, allocating resources, and ensuring high-quality project execution and service delivery;
• Oversee budget planning and resource allocation for data systems and strategic initiatives; and
• Perform additional duties as assigned in support of district priorities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience with relational database management systems;
• Proven experience managing state and federal reporting requirements, including familiarity with Pennsylvania PDE/PIMS processes;
• Experience advising executive leadership and presenting complex data concepts to non-technical stakeholders preferred;
• Valid driver’s license;
• 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in data systems, enterprise applications, or information services leadership preferred; and
• Experience overseeing Student Information Systems (SIS) and administrative platforms in a K–12 environment strongly preferred.

Reporting Relationships:

This employee will report directly to the Assistant Director of Technology and will need to work effectively and collaboratively with other members of the Technology team, Management Team members, and individuals working in schools and the central office. This individual will directly manage the Data Services team.

Terms of Employment:

• This position is a 12 month position.
• Starting salaries are determined based on relevant experience, education, and internal equity, and are generally set below the midpoint of the salary range.

Representation:

West Chester Area School District employees fall into the following groups:

• West Chester Area Education Association (Teachers, Instructional Coaches, and Long-Term Substitutes)
• West Chester Area Education Support Professionals Association (Paraprofessionals, Secretaries, Clerks, Technicians, and Specialists)
• West Chester Area School District Act 93 Administrators’ Compensation Plan
• West Chester Service Support Professionals (Facilities and Operations Staff Members)
• Non-Bargaining Members (Supervisory, Technical, and Confidential Employees)

This position is considered to be a Non-Bargaining position.

Disclaimers and Affirmations

The West Chester Area School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 104 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified