RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST III

Job Description and Duties

The Healthcare Rights and Access Section (HRA)'s Competition Unit serves as the lead in proactive healthcare competition and antitrust work, representing the Attorney General in his independent capacity and coordinating this work with others in the Department of Justice (DOJ), other state agencies, and antitrust enforcers in other states or the federal government. HRA's Competition Unit investigates the competitive impact of healthcare mergers, including California specific effects, under federal land applicable state laws affecting this state and investigates the entire range of potential healthcare anticompetitive conduct affecting this state. That analysis involves market definition and analysis on the national, state, regional, and community level with the goal of protecting and increasing affordability, accessibility, and quality of healthcare in the State of California, including the quality and conditions of the healthcare workforce as appropriate. The Competition Unit is responsible for overseeing and leading all work involving  competition in such areas as healthcare mergers (including hospital and hospital systems), retail pharmacy acquisitions, pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical benefit manager mergers and acquisitions, and serial acquisitions, among other mergers, and investigating and prosecuting per se illegal conduct and exclusionary conduct, recovering illegal profits, and obtaining injunctive relief to restore and safeguard competition. The Section acts in the public interest under the direction of the Attorney General.

Under the general direction of the Deputy Attorney General Supervisor (SDAG) and working closely with the Deputy Attorneys General (DAG) in HRA, the Research Data Specialist III (RDS III) works on a variety of important, cutting-edge, and exciting healthcare related competition policy and enforcement issues. This economist position has a wide range of responsibilities including: utilizing economic theory and conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses to address competition issues and make policy recommendations; assisting attorneys in evaluating economic evidence during the course of an investigation, litigation or settlement; locating  and working with outside economic experts to conduct expert economic analysis; testifying on behalf of the Department (where appropriate); providing economic analysis of current and potential future legislation; and cooperating with and, in some cases, providing analyses to our partners in joint investigations and litigation. The RDS III prepares a variety of reports and memoranda; advises and consults on legislative or policy issues, and other duties as necessary. The RDS III queries, validates, formats, and organizes structured and unstructured data to forecast trends and assess potential impact on markets and industries. May function as a lead analyst on various research projects. May receive general direction from the Senior Assistant Attorney General (SAAG). 

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

• A fingerprint check will be required for those not currently employed with the Department of Justice.
• This position is located in the Healthcare Rights and Access Section and may be filled in Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, or San Diego. However, only one (1) STD 678 State Application is needed. Please clearly indicate your preferred city or cities in the “Examination or Job Title(s) For Which You Are Applying” section of your State Application.

• If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcript or diploma. 

• Unofficial school transcripts may be accepted during the application process; however, submission of official transcripts or your diploma is required prior to appointment.

• Individuals who are new to state service must have list eligibility in order to gain employment with the California Office of the Attorney General. The process is described at  .

• To take the online Research Data Specialist III examination and establish list eligibility for appointment, please click the following link:  .

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: 10/28/2026

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 Justice

Public Rights Division, Executive Unit

Attn: Ashley Takano (JC-531588)

1300 I Street, Suite 1030

Sacramento , CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Department of Justice

Public Rights Division, Executive Unit

Ashley Takano (JC-531588)

1300 I Street, Suite 1030

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 required and must be included.

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

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:
Ashley Takano
View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov
View email address on calcareers.ca.gov

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 Officer
View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov
View email address on calcareers.ca.gov

California Relay Service: View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov (TTY), View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Additional Information on Application Filing

Please note, if using the United States Postal Service for delivery, there is no guarantee that your application will be date stamped and will arrive by the final filing date. If your application does not have a postmark or date stamp and arrives after the final filing date, your application will not be accepted. Therefore, to ensure timely delivery of your application, it is recommended that you use either electronic delivery, parcel service, or certified mail. Using one of these options will provide proof of delivery prior to the final filing date.