DATA SCIENTIST / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT HOMELESSNESS

Salary : $113,103.36 - $152,409.84 Annually
Location : Los Angeles County, CA
Job Type: Full time
Job Number: PH1763C-EA
Department: PUBLIC HEALTH
Opening Date: 07/15/2025


Position/Program Information
EXAM NUMBER:

PH1763C-EA
TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY

FIRST DAY OF FILING:

The application filing period will begin on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. (PT) - Continuous.

We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently , and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Data Scientist vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Data Scientist.
The Data Scientist positions are located within the Evaluation Section of the Health Outcomes and Data Analytics (HODA) Division of the Substance Abuse Prevention & Control (SAPC) Bureau. The Data Scientist will support data collection and evaluation of services for the CalAIM JI Initiative. The Data Scientist will handle local and state data reports, evaluate program effectiveness (e.g., treatment linkage, timely access, care coordination), and collaborate closely with SAPC's System of Care, IT, Sage Management Divisions, and external stakeholders.
DEFINITION:

Under general supervision, develops and applies methods to identify, collect, process, organize, and analyze structured and unstructured data using statistical prediction, inference, and optimization; effectively communicates results to County, departmental, and divisional decision makers to support data-driven program design and management.
CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:

This is the second working level in the professional data science/analysis series. Positions allocable to this class work under the general direction of a Data Science Supervisor or supervisor or manager responsible for the data analytics, research, or statistical function of a department, independently performing duties of considerable difficulty to complete moderately complex projects or major aspects of large/complex projects that may be divisional, departmental, or Countywide in scope. Incumbents deploy techniques such as data extraction, transformation, and loading; classical statistical analysis and machine learning, including predictive and prescriptive modeling and optimization; and data visualization, to generate critical information and knowledge and effectively communicate findings to technical and nontechnical stakeholders to support data-driven program design, management, and decision-making. Incumbents work with data sets characterized by large volume, moderate complexity, and significant heterogeneity, integrating data from various sources, requiring direct collaboration with data engineers and other IT staff to design and provide feedback on data systems and processes necessary to support their work.
Data Scientist is distinguished from the Senior Data Scientist in that the latter applies subject-matter expertise to identify new and emerging business problems, whereas the Data Scientist works under general supervision to develop methods of interrogating data in order to solve previously identified business problems. The Data Scientist is distinguished from the Predictive Data Analyst in that the latter applies well-established analytic principles, methods, and procedures within existing data systems and architectures to complete well-defined, routine to moderately difficult functions and projects, whereas Data Scientists may develop or assist in developing new analytic methods, functions, and data architectures as necessary to complete complex projects, including those involving unstructured data.
Positions in this class differ from those that plan, design, conduct and evaluate research projects involving complex experimental designs and data analysis, programming, and processing of data, and preparing reports and recommendations based on research findings, in that these classes do not employ machine learning or big data as part of their analyses.

Essential Job Functions

• Handles data requests from California and Los Angeles County Correctional Facilities regarding individual's substance use disorder (SUD) treatment history by verifying Releases of Information (ROI) and conducting data mining and analysis across multiple datasets in Sage (e.g., screening/assessments, CalOMS, claims) to respond timely and effectively; maintains transparency through detailed records of all data requests, analyses, and outcomes.
• Develops and implement advanced data science projects to evaluate CalAIM JII's effectiveness by analyzing key metrics such as treatment linkage, timely access, professional-to-professional warm hand-off, and care coordination outcomes. Collaborates with SAPC divisions and stakeholders to provide data insights for strategic decisions, program improvement, and impact maximization.
• Contributes to the design and continuous improvement of data collection methods and performance indicators for pre-release and post-release services, ensuring effective coordination with Correctional Facility Pre and post-release Care Managers.
• Utilizes advanced statistical and machine learning methods to uncover trends, predict outcomes, and inform interventions. Develop and maintain dashboards and reports to present findings to stakeholders and program leadership.
• Uses analytical software (e.g., SAS, R, Python), other computer languages (e.g., SQL), data visualization tools (e.g., SAS Visual Analytics, Power BI, Tableau), and advanced data visualization techniques to develop and present data visualizations of findings and recommendations from evaluation and predictive modeling projects to support SAPC's data-driven policy and operational decisions for SAPC's CalAIM JII implementation.

Requirements
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

OPTION I: Two (2) years of experience applying advanced statistical analyses, including predictive analytics, to produce actionable recommendations to support data-driven program, policy, and operational decision-making, at a level equivalent to the Los Angeles County class of Predictive Data Analyst*.
OPTION II: A Bachelor's degree** from an accredited college in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health that included 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework in data science, predictive analytics, quantitative research methods, or statistical analysis.

-AND-

Four (4) years of experience applying machine learning, predictive analytics, data management, and hypothesis-driven data analysis to produce actionable recommendations to support data-driven program, policy, and operational decision-making.
A Master's or Doctoral degree*** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health may substitute for up to two (2) years of experience.
LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class II - Light : This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.


SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.
*Experience at the level of Predictive Data Analyst is defined as using machine learning techniques to analyze complex data sets and find statistically significant, meaningful predictive patterns, relevant to program goals, that human intelligence could not identify on its own.

**In order to receive credit for any type of college or university course work you must attach a legible copy of the Official Transcript(s) from the accredited institution, which shows the area of specialization and the date the degree was awarded, with Registrar's signature and school seal, with your application online at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission to View email address on click.appcast.io or your application may be rejected.

***To receive credit for your Master's or Doctorate degree, you must attach a legible copy of the Official Diploma, Official Transcript(s), or Official Letter from the accredited institution, which shows the area of specialization and the date the degree was awarded, with Registrar's signature and school seal, to the application or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission to . The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English; if it is in a foreign language, it must be translated and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards.

• For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: and
• Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national, or international accrediting agencies, which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources (DHR). Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE) . (see Employment Information under Accreditation Information).
• Official Transcript is defined as a transcript that bears the college seal and states "official and/or copy" issued by the school's registrar office. A printout of the transcript from the school's website is NOT considered official and will not be accepted and may result in your application being incomplete and rejected.
• We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT: During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

Application and Filing Information
HOW TO APPLY:

Applications must be filed ONLINE ONLY and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.
Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add as well as , and to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.
You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.
Plan to submit your online application well in advance as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Please note that ALL information supplied by applicants and included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made.
• Applications may be rejected at any stage of the examination and selection process.
• FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT .
• Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification(s) and/or Minimum Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. In doing so your application will be dispositioned as INCOMPLETE and will not be accepted.
• Comments such as "SEE RESUME" or "SEE APPLICATION" will not be considered a valid response; therefore, using such statements will also result in your application being rejected as INCOMPLETE .

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:

Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Check the website for updated information at
DO NOT SHARE USER ID AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Public Health is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the in equalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Department Contact Name: Exam Analyst

Department Contact Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io

Department Contact E-mail:

Exam Number: PH1763C-EA

California Relay Services Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io

ADA Coordinator Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io

Teletype Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io

Alternate Teletype Phone : View phone number on click.appcast.io
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement:
The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit:
Testing Accommodations for Applicants:
The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit:
Fair Chance:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).
Employment Eligibility:
Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.
Career PathFinder:
Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at
Veteran's Credit:
Pursuant to the County Charter and County policy, in all open competitive examinations (i.e., examinations open to everyone), the County of Los Angeles will add a credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examination to the final passing score of an honorably discharged veteran, as well as the spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under specific conditions.
For more information on veteran's credit, please visit:
Revised September 2025
For detailed information, please click
01


The information you provide on this supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and used to determine your eligibility to participate in the next phase of the examination process. Please be as specific as possible and include all information as requested. Please do not use "see resume and application", for this is not acceptable and credit will not be given. Please note that all information is subject to verification at any time in the examination and hiring process. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or dismissal.

• Yes, I understand the above information.

02


This position works directly with individuals experiencing homelessness.

• I understand and am willing to perform all necessary work duties.

03



Which of the following best describes your qualifications for this examination:

• Option I: Two (2) years of experience applying advanced statistical analyses, including predictive analytics, to produce actionable recommendations to support data-driven program, policy, and operational decision-making, at a level equivalent to the Los Angeles County class of Predictive Data Analyst*.
• Option II: A Bachelor's degree** from an accredited college in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health that included 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework in data science, predictive analytics, quantitative research methods, or statistical analysis. -AND- Four (4) years of experience applying machine learning, predictive analytics, data management, and hypothesis-driven data analysis to produce actionable recommendations to support data-driven program, policy, and operational decision-making. A Master's or Doctoral degree*** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health may substitute for up to two (2) years of experience.

04



OPTION I EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:

Please describe in detail your experience applying advanced statistical analyses, including predictive analytics, to produce actionable recommendations to support data-driven program, policy, and operational decision-making, at a level equivalent to the Los Angeles County class of Predictive Data Analyst*. *Experience at the level of Predictive Data Analyst is defined as using machine learning techniques to analyze complex data sets and find statistically significant, meaningful predictive patterns, relevant to program goals, that human intelligence could not identify on its own.

If you do not have experience please indicate "Not Applicable".
NOTE: For each experience please indicate the following information:
a) Employer's Name and Address
b) Position/Title held
c) Employment Period: From (MM/YYYY) To (MM/YYYY)
d) Hours Worked per Week
e) Describe experience/responsibilities in detail.


You will not receive credit for your response if you have missing requested information.
Comments such as "see resume or application" will not be considered a response.
05



OPTION II EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:
Do you have a Bachelor's degree** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health that included 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework in data science, predictive analytics, quantitative research methods, or statistical analysis?
*In order to receive credit for any type of college or university course work you must attach a legible copy of the Official Transcript(s) from the accredited institution, which shows the area of specialization and the date the degree was awarded, with Registrar's signature and school seal, with your application online at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission to View email address on click.appcast.io or your application may be rejected.

• Yes, I have attached a copy of my official transcripts with my application.
• Yes, I will email a copy of my official transcripts within 7 days of my application submission to View email address on click.appcast.io.
• No, I do not possess a Bachelor's degree in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health that included 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework in data science, predictive analytics, quantitative research methods, or statistical analysis.

06



OPTION II EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:

Please describe in detail your experience applying machine learning, predictive analytics, data management, and hypothesis-driven data analysis to produce actionable recommendations to support data-driven program, policy, and operational decision-making.


If you do not have experience please indicate "Not Applicable".
NOTE: For each experience please indicate the following information:
a) Employer's Name and Address
b) Position/Title held
c) Employment Period: From (MM/YYYY) To (MM/YYYY)
d) Hours Worked per Week
e) Describe experience/responsibilities in detail.


You will not receive credit for your response if you have missing requested information.
Comments such as "see resume or application" will not be considered a response.
07



OPTION II EDUCATION:
Do you have a Master's or Doctoral degree*** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health?
*In order to receive credit for any type of college or university course work you must attach a legible copy of the Official Diploma, Official Transcript(s), or Official Letter from the accredited institution, which shows the area of specialization and the date the degree was awarded, with Registrar's signature and school seal, with your application online at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission to View email address on click.appcast.io or your application may be rejected.

• Yes, I have attached a copy of my degree with my application.
• Yes, I will email a copy of my degree within 7 days of my application submission to View email address on click.appcast.io.
• No, I do not possess a Master's or Doctoral degree** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health.

Required Question