RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction of the Workforce Data Officer, the Research Data Specialist II designs, organizes, and conducts independent and objective statistical analyses that can serve as evidence of discrimination and identify potential systemic violations of civil rights laws enforced by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD). The incumbent provides advice and guidance to attorneys, subject matter experts, and other staff on collecting data, designing studies, and interpreting statistical analyses for the investigation or litigation of matters involving discrimination in employment, housing, and other areas to support CRD’s mission. The incumbent serves as an internal statistical expert in employment and housing discrimination cases and may be called upon to testify in court on behalf of CRD.

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Special Requirements

We review your job application to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications. Please ensure to provide detailed information in your application.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 10/23/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

California Civil Rights Department

Human Resources

Attn: Kathleen Vang

651 Bannon Street

Sacramento , CA 95811

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

California Civil Rights Department

Human Resources

Kathleen Vang

651 Bannon Street

Sacramento , CA 95811

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

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 - A Statement of Qualifications (SOA) is required and must be submitted with your application. Resumes and cover letters DOES NOT take the place of the SOQ. Applications without the SOQ will not be considered. Please see the instrctions below for content and formating information. 
• Other - Cover Letter
• Other - Writing Sample

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

There are many benefits to joining our team!We offer competitive pay, advancement opportunities, upward mobility, work-life-balance, and for many positions, flexible hours and remote work options. The State of California offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, subject to eligibility, such as:

• Medical Benefits, including  ,  , and insurance
• Deferred Compensation options: 
• (Vacation/Sick or Annual Leave)
• Paid Holidays
• (College Saving Account)
• School Loan forgiveness under the federal 

Statement of Qualifications

Statement of Qualifications
A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required and must be submitted with your application. Applications packets received without an SOQ will not be considered. The SOQ is a narrative description of how an applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities meet the qualifications for the position. The SOQ serves as documentation of an applicant’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.

1. Describe how your education, training, skills, and experience uniquely qualify you for this position. 
2. Describe your experience and approach to translating broad, ambiguous policy questions or legal theories into testable quantitative hypotheses. Provide examples. 
3. Describe your experience designing an empirical strategy to produce objective statistical evidence of discrimination that withstood cross-examination, adversarial critique, or rigorous review. Provide examples. 
4. Describe your experience and protocol for working with flawed, incomplete, or unstandardized administrative data provided by adversarial parties (e.g., defendants in litigation). How do you handle and validate the data to ensure resulting estimates were robust and bias-free? Provide examples. 
5. Describe your experience and approach to translating complex statistical modeling into clear, credible, and actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders. Provide examples.