Data, Research, and Evaluation Specialist

Data, Research, and Evaluation Specialist

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

Salary
:
Target salary range $84,604-$112,100. Competitive salary commensurate with education and experience.

• A guaranteed lifelong monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work at a job site several days a week and off‑site as needed, but must work within the state of Colorado on their off‑site days.

At Denver Human Services (DHS), we envision a healthy community where people are connected, supported, safe, and well. This position supports evidence‑informed program practice by generating learning and data insights across internal programs, teams, and processes to inform policy, program, and operational decisions. The role applies advanced data extraction and analysis, research and evaluation methods, data mining protocols, and data visualization to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights and compelling stories for diverse audiences.

• Extract, manage, and analyze administrative and operational data using reporting tools and direct querying (e.g., SQL) to support evaluation, research, and performance analysis.
• Assess, collect, and monitor performance measures, including federal, state, and local requirements, to track progress toward division and departmental goals and inform improvement strategies.
• Design, build, and maintain data dashboards (Microsoft Power BI) and recurring reports for leadership audiences, including executive management, to support strategic oversight, performance monitoring, and decision‑making.
• Support the integration of data into decision‑making processes, helping staff across divisions interpret analysis, evaluate program outcomes, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Provide guidance and training to staff on data interpretation, visualization tools, and research methods to strengthen data literacy department‑wide.
• Develop training materials and learning resources for assigned divisions to strengthen data literacy, support interpretation of performance data, and expand the use of data in daily decision‑making.
• Support data dialogues as part of the performance management strategy.

• Design and lead program and initiative evaluations for a division or across divisions, focusing on learning, effectiveness, and operational impact.
• Provide technical expertise in evaluation design and analytics, including planning, data collection protocols, tool development, and application of qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Partner with leadership and stakeholders to assess readiness for evaluation, identify priorities, and develop learning and evaluation questions.
• Identify, synthesize, and apply best and promising practices using research, theory, and data to inform program design, implementation, and policy‑aligned decision‑making.
• Consult with division leaders and staff to ensure programs and initiatives are data‑driven, aligned with departmental goals, and measurable.
• Collaborate on strategic analyses that assess organizational performance, identify emerging trends, and inform long‑term planning; collaborate with the continuous improvement and strategy teams.
• Ensure evidence‑based recommendations are actionable and relevant, helping translate insights into operational or policy changes that improve outcomes.

• Five or more years of evaluation work experience.
• Strong leadership experience and the ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• History of providing…