RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

Job Description and Duties

Are you ready to champion data that drives real change for California families? Join the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) as a Research Data Specialist II, where you’ll transform raw data into accurate, timely data products that influence policy decisions, support budget development, and inform how counties deliver critical services. As part of the Research, Automation & Data Division (RADD), and the Research & Data Insights (RDI) Branch, you will contribute to CDSS’s mission of building a sustainable, data-driven culture. You’ll play a pivotal role in producing accurate data required for State and Federal reporting, supporting program partners, and improving outcomes for vulnerable families statewide.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as a technical lead for advanced data engineering, data management, and statistical analysis across major social service programs including child welfare, Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

• Build and maintain complex reporting pipelines in Snowflake, extracting, validating, and reconciling data from multiple systems to meet detailed State and Federal reporting requirements. Produce compliant, audit-ready reporting files with robust documentation of methodologies and transformations.

• Develop original statistical programming and analytical code using SQL (Snowflake), Python, and R. Design reusable datasets, views, and stored procedures; perform sophisticated joins, window functions, and semi-structured data processing. Produce high-quality insights for program oversight, evaluation, and policy development.

• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to Research Data Analysts II and Research Data Specialists I, supporting skill development in coding, analytics, and reporting standards. Lead limited-term projects with teams of up to six researchers.

Why Join Us?

• Play a key role in building CDSS’s modern, statewide data ecosystem.

• Influence high-visibility reporting and analytical work that shapes policy and funding decisions affecting millions.

• Collaborate in a mission-driven environment that values innovation, transparency, and human-centered design.

• Grow your technical and leadership impact while helping California deliver better services to its most vulnerable populations.

The Department of Social Services does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization purposes. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

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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

Please Note: A Statement of Qualifications or Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted along with your application to be considered for this position. Applications submitted without an SOQ may be disqualified for this position.

Do not include any confidential information in any documents (i.e., application, resume, or transcripts) you submit for this job vacancy. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents include but is not limited to: Social Security Number (SSN), birthday and/or age, photos, student/other ID number, driver’s license number (unless required), basis of eligibility, exam results, LEAP status, and marital status. Confidential information submitted via a CalCareer Account (electronic application) is automatically redacted upon submission.

The SOQ must be submitted along with the Application/Standard Form (STD) 678 in CalCareers. The SOQ should be typed, with a length of approximately one page, at Arial 12 pt. font. The response should be no more than 500 words. Application packages received without specific responses to the supplemental questionnaire will not be considered.

Your SOQ must specifically address the following questions to be considered for this position:

1. Please describe how your education, training, experience and skills make you an ideal candidate for this position.

2. Describe your experience creating data-processing workflows in a cloud data environment (such as Snowflake). Provide an example of a process you built or improved, the tools you used, and how you made sure the data was accurate and met required standards.

3. Describe your experience leading analytical or data-focused projects and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Include an example of how you guided or supported other analysts, coordinated with program or technical partners, and helped ensure the success of a shared project or data initiative.

You are required to complete employment history on the application form (STD 678). You may be disqualified from the hiring and selection process if the employment history is inaccurate or incomplete. Resumes will not take the place of employment history.

If you are meeting minimum qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts for verification. If selected, you may be required to provide official transcripts at the time of hire.

Candidates who reside outside of the State of California may be admitted to the job interview, but they must provide proof of residence in California prior to being eligible for appointment.

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: 10/8/2026

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:

Department of Social Services

California Department of Social Services

Attn: Classification & Pay Unit

P. O. Box 944243 - MS 8-15-58

Sacramento , CA 94244-2430

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Department of Social Services

California Department of Social Services

Classification & Pay Unit

744 P Street, MS 8-15-58

Sacramento , CA 95814

08:00 AM - 05:00 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 optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications - (SOQ) Please see the Special Requirements section of this job advertisement for detailed instructions for the SOQ submission.

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! The State of California has a generous benefits package that includes medical coverage, CalPERS pension upon retirement, two weeks paid vacation per year, two weeks paid sick leave per year, two paid Professional Development Days, one paid Personal Holiday, pre-tax parking fee program.

TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT

• Public transit (mass transit) passes.

o 100 percent discount on public transit passes sold by state agencies, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

o 100 percent reimbursement on public transit passes purchased by state employees, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS.

• Vanpool drivers and riders

o 100 percent reimbursement on the monthly fee, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS.

Click here to view all the attractive benefits available to state employees! Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:
Grayson Lenci
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Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Office
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California Relay Service: View phone number on us.fitly.work (TTY), View phone number on us.fitly.work (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025

Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025 - Salaries do not reflect reductions from the Personal Leave Program, please see the applicable Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for additional information on the length and percentage of reductions.