Research Specialist II - DPSS - County of Riverside
Riverside, CA 92501
About the Job
The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) seeks a Research Specialist II. The position will be assigned to the Administrative Services Division's Research, Analysis, and Decision Support (RADS) unit located in Riverside, CA.
Currently, the position offers hybrid telecommuting options. However, the individual in this role will need to be present at the office twice a month. Please note that the telecommuting arrangement is subject to change, and you may be required to report to the office as needed.
The selected candidate will lead critical and state-mandated reports and projects, including survey development. Responsibilities include overseeing database design, query development, and programming, as well as managing data collection and cleaning processes including validation and re-coding. The position also involves conducting data and statistical analysis, program evaluations, and generating comprehensive written reports. Additionally, the Research Specialist II will present findings and recommendations orally and in writing to management and other team members.
Competitive candidates will possess:
- Experience with relational databases, SQL, data processing, data analysis and statistical analysis.
- Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Knowledge of SAS, SPSS, ArcGIS, and/or Power BI is highly desired.
- Experience with data querying and/or data processing through tools such as Microsoft Excel (VBA or pivot table).
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Initiate research and statistical investigations and plan, design, and conduct the activities of such investigations; recognize the need for research and statistical investigations in the delivery of services and program planning and evaluation.
• Coordinate with staff and outside agencies to obtain data; design, organize and develop research evaluation plans; develop regulatory waiver requests, prepare budgets and submit grant proposals.
• Define sample populations and selection criteria; design, develop and maintain databases; write queries to extract data for ongoing and unexpected management reports; create, test and administer surveys and questionnaires; conduct focus and personal interviews; develop forms, procedures, schedules and sampling criteria for field data collection; perform random assignments.
• Advise research specialists and administrators of research findings and/or procedures; prepare narrative reports of findings with valid conclusions and statistical significance; project program impacts and provide trend analysis.
• Identify problems in inter-organizational operations and procedures with implications for plan development and implementation and recommend alternative solutions for use in management decision-making.
• Conduct research to identify community needs for new and changes to existing programs; identify appropriate sources of funding to support new programs and prepare funding applications.
• Assist the supervisor in developing and coordinating planning activities and in directing assigned project staff; prepare annual budgets for research projects
• Participate in clinical trials or multi-institutional studies that require staff education and interaction with other agencies and partners.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
OPTION I Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in social science, statistics, mathematics, economics, business/public administration, public health, data processing, or any of the natural sciences, which included graduate level courses in research design, data collection methods, and advanced statistical analysis. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for up to two years of the required education, on the basis of 10 semester or 15-quarter units of graduate level course work equaling 6 months.)
Experience: Two years of progressively responsible experience in administrative, professional, investigative, technical, or other responsible work, which included statistical analysis, research or program design and data collection, and electronic data storage and report generation or grant writing.
OPTION IIEducation: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in social science, statistics, mathematics, economics, business/public administration, public health, data processing, or any of the natural sciences, which included graduate level courses in research design, data collection methods, and advanced statistical analysis. (Additional qualifying experience may substitute for up to two years of the required education, on the basis of 10 semester or 15-quarter units of graduate level course work equaling six months.)
Experience: Two years as a Research Specialist I in Riverside County in a Department of Public Social Services, Public Health, Behavioral Health, Emergency Management, Probation, hospital, or clinical research center.
OPTION IIIEducation: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Ph.D. in social science, statistics, mathematics, economics, business/public administration, public health, data processing, or any of the natural sciences, which included graduate level courses in research design, data collection methods, and advanced statistical analysis.
ALL OPTIONSKnowledge of: policies, procedures, practices and legislation governing the provision of social service delivery systems; policies, procedures, practices, and legislation governing clinical trials; advanced research methods including data collection, sampling and analysis; computer programming and processing methods; principles of management including planning, organizing and evaluating programs; social service concepts and issues; principles of planning, organizing and evaluating ongoing studies.
Ability to: Develop and prepare concise and coherent oral and written reports and recommendations; analyze, perform data queries and write executable computer programs; interpret and evaluate statistical data and research findings; use statistical software packages on personal computers; maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; design and carry out research topics related to social service.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Veterans' Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 (or NGB-22) indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application.
For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. See the policy here .
What's Next?
Open to All Applicants
This recruitment is open to all applicants.
Applicants who are current County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.
Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: http://dao.rc-hr.com/ .
Application Period
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted. Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. All applicants must submit a complete application by the close date of the recruitment. No late applications will be permitted.
Include relevant work experience details on resume and/or application.
Proof of Education
All applicants are required to provide a copy of their degree or transcripts as verification of the education listed on their resume/application. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.
If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).
Applicants who fail to provide information demonstrating they possess the position requirements may not be considered further in the application process. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account.
For questions regarding this recruitment
Contact Vanessa Diaz-Beaird at VDBeaird@rivco.org with any questions regarding this recruitment.
GENERAL APPLICATION INFORMATION:
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com . A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.
Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here .
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).
- Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
- Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
- Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.
A new member is defined as any of the following:
CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".
Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.
Note:
This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.
If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.
VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):
0< 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4< 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)
Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.
SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.
HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance).
BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.
DISABILITY: Short-term Disability benefit pays up to a maximum of $461.54 weekly, payable up to a maximum of 52 weeks.
POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.
OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.
