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 I, where you’ll work on projects that transform raw data into accurate, timely data products that influence policy decisions, support budget development, and inform how counties deliver critical services. Your work helps to ensure that the department’s most essential datasets are complete, reliable, and ready to meet federal standards and state priorities.
What You’ll Do
• Produce high quality data products that inform leaders across CDSS.
• Produce and analyze essential data for budgeting and forecasting, ensuring the accuracy of datasets that drive county allocations and feed directly into the Governor’s Budget.
• Manage federal data submissions, coordinating with state and federal partners to resolve data issues and to maintain compliance with strict reporting requirements.
• Use your analytical and programming skills to create custom analyses and reports and to provide actionable insights to internal and external stakeholders.
• Champion data quality and consistency, ensuring all analytical products meet professional standards and support the department’s larger data driven mission.
• Participate in large teams made up of analysts across the department to analyze and improve our social services programs.
• Improve your skills and confidence in SAS, R, Python and SQL.
Why This Role Matters
Your work ensures California’s social service programs have trustworthy data at their fingertips; data that affects policy decisions, funding, and services for millions of children, families, and adults statewide. You’ll be at the intersection of program expertise, research, and analytics, helping CDSS make smarter, more meaningful decisions.
Why Join Us?
• Play a key role in strengthening the statewide data ecosystem.
• Be a part of a team committed to accuracy, innovation, and public service.
• Influence high visibility reporting and analytical work across CDSS.
• Grow your analytical skills and impact vital social services programs in a collaborative, mission driven environment.
Ready to be a part of a team that powers data informed decision making across California? Step into a role where your contributions shape outcomes and your work truly makes a difference.
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 .
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.A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required and must be submitted with your application to be considered for this position. The SOQ is a narrative discussion prepared by the applicant describing how the applicant qualifies for the position. The SOQ serves as a documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. If your qualifications are competitive, you will be invited to participate in an interview.
An SOQ containing no more than 1,000 words highlighting your experience must accompany the application. Applications without SOQs will not be considered. Your SOQ must specifically address the following questions:
1. Your experience performing data analysis;
2. Your experience collaborating with other groups or people, especially in research projects;
3. Your experience learning new skills, especially as they relate to programming or software systems.
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.
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: 9/15/2026Who 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:
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.The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Hiring Unit Contact:
Grayson Lenci
(916) 955-4023
grayson.lenci@dss.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:California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (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 - 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.
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