RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

Job Posting: Research Data Specialist II

Employment Development Department

JC-532987

• Research Data Specialist II

RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

$7,640.00 - $9,561.00 per Month

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/2/2026

Application Methods:

Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)

By Mail

Drop-off

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Job Description and Duties

THIS POSITION MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE. THE AMOUNT OF TELEWORK IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS BUSINESS NEEDS ARISE.

The Employment Development Department (EDD), Unemployment Insurance Support Division is seeking a motivated, analytical, and collaborative Research Data Specialist II (RDS II) to join the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Branch's Unemployment Insurance Support Division (UISD). This is an exciting opportunity to use data and research to improve one of California's largest public benefit programs.

Under the general direction of the Manager II, the RDS II leads complex research and data analysis projects that support program performance, federal reporting, modernization efforts, and executive decision-making. The incumbent analyzes large datasets, identifies trends and opportunities for improvement, develops reports, dashboards, and data visualizations, and provides recommendations that help improve operations and ensure accurate reporting.

The RDS II works closely with program staff, executive leadership, and Information Technology teams to improve data quality, support system modernization efforts, validate reporting, and develop innovative business intelligence solutions. This position also serves as a technical resource by providing guidance on research methods, data analysis, and reporting practices.

If you enjoy solving complex problems, working with data, and making a meaningful impact through research and analytics, we encourage you to apply and become part of a team committed to innovation, continuous improvement, and excellent public service.

EDD employees will be required to report to their headquarters office on their assigned in-office days. California Government Code Section 14200 requires employees to reside in California to telecommute. Travel expenses to and from the assigned headquarters are the responsibility of the employee.

Position is located in Sacramento County.

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click here to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Visa Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

Employees are required to report to their regular EDD headquarters four days a week.

Will consider candidates who are located throughout the state of California.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-532987

Position #(s):

280-379-5758-002

Working Title:

Research Data Specialist II

Classification:

RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

$7,640.00 - $9,561.00 A

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

1

Work Location:

United States

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Work Shift:

8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Work Week:

Monday - Friday

Department Information

The Employment Development Department (EDD) is one of the largest State departments with employees at hundreds of service locations. For more than 70 years, the EDD has connected millions of job seekers and employers in an effort to build the economy of the Golden State. In order to continue our mission, we are constantly looking for the best and the brightest to join our ranks. Working at EDD presents many opportunities. If you strive to make a difference, we invite you to seek a career with EDD.

Department Website: http://www.edd.ca.gov

Special Requirements

It is strongly encouraged to apply through your CalCareer Account at www.calcareers.ca.gov.

Please only submit ONE application. Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended and will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing.

If you are unable to apply electronically through your CalCareer account, please mail a completed and signed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 and application package to the mailing address provided in the "Application Instructions' section below and ensure the following:

• Clearly indicate the Job Code #, Position Number and the Classification Title of this position in the "Examination or Job Title(s) For Which You Are Applying" section located on Page 3 of your State Examination/Employment STD Form 678.

• Clearly indicate the basis of your eligibility (list, transfer, reinstatement, etc.) in the "Explanations" section located on Page 3 of your State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.

• Remove and do not submit the "Equal Employment Opportunity" questionnaire (Page 10) with your completed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678. This page is for examination use only.

• Do not include your full Social Security Number on your documents and/or do not provide any LEAP information.

Examination/Assessment

If selected for hire, you must obtain list eligibility by taking and passing the examination. If you already have list eligibility for this classification, you do not need to retake the examination unless your list eligibility has expired.

Click the examination link below for more information and to take the exam:

RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

For more information about the State hiring process, click here. To watch tutorials on how to apply for a State job, click here.

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: 10/2/2026

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. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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:

Employment Development Department

Mail In Address

Attn: Job Control #532987

Human Resource Services Division, MIC 54

PO Box 826880

Sacramento, CA 94280-0001

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Employment Development Department

Drop Off Address

Attn: Job Control #532987

EDD/Human Resource Services Division

1416 9th Street, 1st floor lobby

Sacramento, CA 95814

08:00 AM - 04:30 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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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 - A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is Required. Please see "Statement of Qualifications Requirements" section for more information about the SOQ.

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.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Working knowledge of relational database management tools and statistical software such as Snowflake, SAS Enterprise Guide, SQL, DB2, QMF, and advanced Microsoft Excel.
• Knowledge of data analysis techniques.
• Ability to conduct complex research and analysis with attention to detail.
• Ability to define and create new data models and visualization methodologies, and report on research findings.
• Ability to analyze data, prepare and clearly present technical reports, recommendations and information.
• Ability to draft, review, and edit written reports.
• Ability to reason logically and creatively.
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and take effective action.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and harmonious relationships with professional, technical and support personnel individually and in group settings.
• Knowledge of the Unemployment Insurance program is desired.
• Note: The above desirable qualifications must be addressed in the Statement of Qualifications.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website, www.calhr.ca.gov, and the CalPERS website, www.calpers.ca.gov.

Contact Information

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

Department Website: http://www.edd.ca.gov

Hiring Unit Contact:

Brian Tanimoto

(916) 216-4732

Brian.Tanimoto@edd.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

(916) 654-8434

Accessibility@edd.ca.gov

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.

Statement of Qualifications Requirements

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is Required. The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. The SOQ is not a resume or cover letter. Resumes and/or Cover Letters DO NOT take the place of the SOQ. Applications received without an SOQ or an SOQ submitted without following instructions may not receive further consideration and may be excluded from the hiring process.

Please provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring manager's review. Applications received without a SOQ or those that do not respond to the specific questions below will not be considered. Please do not use Artificial Intelligence for your SOQ.

Within the response, include specific information and examples as to how your experience, education, and training qualify you for the position based on the desirable qualifications outlined in this job announcement. Please number your responses in the same order as listed below and provide specific examples. The SOQ should have a title of "Statement of Qualifications, Your Name," be no more than two pages in length with no smaller than size 11 font, and address the following:

• Research and Data Analysis: Describe your education, training, and professional experience performing quantitative and qualitative research, statistical analysis, or business intelligence. Explain how your work has been used to support program improvements, operational decisions, or executive leadership.
• Data Analytics and Reporting: Describe a project where you analyzed a large or complex dataset. Include the approximate size of the data, analytical methods used, software or programming languages (such as SQL, SAS, R, Python, Power BI, Tableau, or Excel), and how you communicated your findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Data Validation and Problem Solving: Describe a time when you identified a data quality issue, reporting discrepancy, or business problem. Explain how you investigated the issue, identified the root cause, and recommended or implemented a solution. What was the outcome?
• Collaboration: Describe your experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, or executive leadership to complete a complex project or implement a new process or system. Include your role, how you built effective working relationships, and the results achieved.
• Project Management: Describe how you manage multiple assignments with competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines. Provide a specific example demonstrating your organizational skills and ability to deliver high-quality work under pressure.

We ask that you not use Artificial Intelligence assistance when composing your written response. Written responses are an attempt to assess and gain an understanding of your personal writing and communication skills and abilities.

Background Investigation Requirement

The position(s) may require an applicant to pass a background investigation. However, applicants will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless they receive a conditional offer of employment.

The department will make an individualized assessment of whether the conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job and the work performed by the department. The department will consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency, nature and seriousness, and age at the time of the offense(s).

The investigation will consist of completion of a personal history statement and fingerprinting checks with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, and/or local law enforcement agencies. Anyone failing to pass the background investigation will be provided information on how to appeal the process. A criminal conviction may not result in an automatic determination of "Not Qualified."

ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

The Employment Development Department may require a new probation in accordance with applicable probationary period rules.

Click on the link to complete the Employment Development Department Recruitment Survey: EDD Recruitment Survey

Merit System Principles

Information regarding Merit System Principles provided to public employees by the State Civil Service Act can be found on the CalHR website at https://www.calhr.ca.gov/Training/Pages/performance-management-merit-system-principles.aspx

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.