Research Data Specialist II

Job Description and Duties

THIS POSITION MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE. THE AMOUNT OF TELEWORK IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS BUSINESS NEEDS ARISE.

The Labor Market Information Division is seeking a self-motivated team player and problem-solving Specialist to independently perform a variety of complex research and analysis and provide support to internal and external customers related to labor market data.

Under the general direction of the Research Data Manager, the Research Data Specialist II (RDSp II), through the advanced use of statistical software (including SAS, Microsoft Excel, R, Stata, and/or Python) and EDD administrative datasets responds to complex research and policy questions. The RDSp II produces tables, charts, dashboards, and reports to display labor market information and economic data. The RDSp II also uses various data sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, to fulfill data requests from both internal and external customers while maintaining a professional demeanor.

This position is headquartered in Sacramento and may be eligible for telework under EDD's telework policy. California Government Code Section 14200 requires employees to reside in California to telecommute. Employees are required to report to their headquarters office, as needed. Travel expenses to and from the assigned headquarters are the responsibility of the employee.

Position located at 9323 Tech Center Dr., STE 1000, Sacramento, CA 95826.

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click  here to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Visa Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings, trainings, conferences, and to provide presentations.

Special Requirements

It is strongly encouraged to apply through your CalCareer Account at  .

Please only submit ONE application.  Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended and will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing.

If you are unable to apply electronically through your CalCareer account, please mail a completed and signed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 and application package to the mailing address provided in the “Application Instructions’ section below and ensure the following:

• Clearly indicate the Job Code #, Position Number and the Classification Title of this position in the “Examination or Job Title(s) For Which You Are Applying” section located on Page 3 of your State Examination/Employment STD Form 678.

• Clearly indicate the basis of your eligibility (list, transfer, reinstatement, etc.) in the “Explanations” section located on Page 3 of your State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.

• Remove and do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (Page 10) with your completed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.  This page is for examination use only.

• Do not include your full Social Security Number on your documents and/or do not provide any LEAP information.

Examination/Assessment

If selected for hire , you must obtain list eligibility by taking and passing the examination. If you already have list eligibility for this classification, you do not need to retake the examination unless your list eligibility has expired.

Click the examination link below for more information and to take the exam:

For more information about the State hiring process,  click here . To watch tutorials on how to apply for a State job,  click here .

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:

• Knowledge of statistical software and programming language such as SAS, R, Python, and Stata.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ability to communicate research findings and general effective communication skills both verbally, and in writing to groups and or individuals.
• Experience interpreting research data to provide recommendations to stakeholders.
• Ability to work with internal and external stakeholders to better understand project objectives and identify effective methodologies to reach those objectives.
• Ability to gather, compile, and analyze data; prepare research and statistical reports; manage a workload consisting of multiple projects and assignments.

Benefits

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

Statement of Qualifications Requirements

A  Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is Required . The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.  The SOQ is not a resume or cover letter. Resumes and/or Cover Letters  DO NOT take the place of the SOQ. Applications received without an SOQ or an SOQ submitted without following instructions may not receive further consideration and may be excluded from the hiring process.

On a single page, write the following two questions and your response. Title the page "Statement of Qualifications".

1. Describe how your experience and/or education makes you the best candidate for this position.
2. Describe your knowledge and experience in conducting and presenting data research and analysis.

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 optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• School Transcripts
• Statement of Qualifications - A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is Required.  Please see “Statement of Qualifications Requirements” section for more information about the SOQ.