Job Description

Job Description and Duties

California’s long-awaited statewide Cradle-to-Career Data System has launched. You can help build a statewide system that brings together existing data with an aim of addressing barriers to opportunity from early learning, through K-12, college, and career.

We are hiring a Research Data Specialist to support the development and maintenance of the C2C Data System focusing on data visualization, system enhancements, and stakeholder collaboration.

We are looking for a technical expert who is excited to build something new with a small, entrepreneurial team. Our ideal candidate is passionate about protecting data integrity and mitigating bias in data use, facilitating user-centered design, and conducting research to inform decision-making.

The Office of Cradle-to-Career Data (C2C) is a new state investment working to build a statewide data system that will provide tools to help students reach their goals and deliver reliable and actionable information on education and workforce outcomes.

California’s information on early education, K-12 schools, colleges, social services, and employment is currently separate and disconnected. That’s why California authorized the creation of the Cradle-to-Career Data System. Through a collaborative 18-month planning process, we designed a data system to be a suite of user-friendly resources focused on early learning through K-12 and higher education, as well as on the financial aid and social services that help students reach their goals. It will include:

• Planning and application tools for students, families, and educators to streamline the college and financial aid processes and monitor student progress,
• Dashboards, query tools, and an analytical data set for researchers, policymakers, educators, and community members to inform research, advocacy, and policy analysis, and
• Community engagement and training to raise awareness of the data system and ensure it can be used by students, families, educators, researchers, and policymakers.

Our vision is to foster evidence-based decision-making to help Californians build more equitable futures and empower individuals to reach their full potential. This is your chance to join a brand-new office to build a transformative set of services to help Californians successfully navigate life from cradle to career.

As the Research Data Specialist, your work will help to ensure the data system's user-centered design, accuracy, relevance, and the secure handling of sensitive and confidential data. This includes:

• Designing and maintaining data dashboards and query tools
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, including data architects and design specialists, to enhance the system's capabilities
• Conducting regular data audits to ensure data integrity, accuracy, and compliance with data protection regulations
• Generating insights from community engagement that lead to actionable changes in user experience, design, and planning processes

Your work will be challenging, fun, and focused on enabling Californians to build a more equitable future.

We are a remote-centric team, and this position can be primarily remote for California residents.

The following captures your approach:

• You have innovative ideas for informing data visualization and stakeholder collaboration with values like equity, transparency, collaboration, accountability, and curiosity
• You have a passion for improving the lives of young people, including empowering students, community members, researchers, and policy makers with actionable information and data systems 
• You have practical experience using tools and technologies such as but not limited to, R, Python, Stata, Structured Query Language (SQL), Tableau and Geographic Information System (GIS) software
• You are highly organized and skilled at project managing multiple workstreams at the same time
• You have a track record of effective project or program leadership and working collaboratively within an organization and across organizations

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This position provides telework opportunities, including the ability to work partially remote.

Special Requirements

You must submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ). You need to provide direct responses to each of the numbered items. You must include the numbered item followed by your response. Include specific examples of your education, training, and/or experience. Limit your SOQ to two (2) pages, single-spaced, twelve-point Arial font.

1. Please describe your experience (including number of years, in what role, and for what employer) building data products or maintaining data dashboards or query tools aimed at understanding and promoting equity. Highlight the tools and technologies used.
2. What is your approach to sharing highly technical data analysis results for the following audiences: technical teams, decision makers, and community members.  
3. Provide specific examples of your experience evaluating the viability, feasibility, and potential impact of research proposals.

Note: If you do not follow the instructions, you may not move forward in this recruitment. Cover letters and resumes do not take the place of the SOQ.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Experience with project management and leadership
• Proficient in reproducible data analysis using a statistical programming language like R or Python
• Effectively communicates the results of data analysis and research to technical and non-technical staff, both verbally and in writing
• Experience collaborating with technical teams
• Familiarity with State and Federal Data Systems (e.g. CALPADS, NCES, IPEDS)
• Experience working in a secure data room
• Experience working with Tableau
• Current on the latest best practices for research methodology

The successful candidate will be required to pass a criminal background check (see Education Code 10873)

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Additional Application Information

When completing the State application, STD 678, you must include a description of the duties performed for each position held. You may not move forward in this recruitment if you write “See Resume."

Redact confidential information from all documents you submit for this position. Confidential information includes, but is not limited to:

• Social security number (CalCareers removes this from the first page of the State application, STD. 678, upon submission)
• Birthdate
• Student identification number
• Driver license number (unless required)
• Basis of eligibility
• Examination results
• LEAP status
• Marital status
• Age

You can apply in one of three ways:

• Online (preferred),
• U.S. mail, parcel deliver or courier service, or
• In person

We may fill additional positions from this recruitment.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  You must submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ). See the Special Requirements section for instructions.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Remote job,

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