Research Specialist I

Research Specialist I

Salary

$73,214.95 - $98,780.30 Annually

Location

Riverside

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

26-79837-EM

Department

Behavioral Health

Division

Research

Opening Date

07/01/2026

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Riverside University Health System - Behavioral Health is recruiting for a Research Specialist I to support its Research division in Riverside, CA.

This position will support Behavioral Health programs with data analysis and reporting, developing evaluation designs, developing program indicators, identifying or developing data sources, assisting with survey design, and identifying areas of greatest need. Staff will write queries to produce ongoing and ad hoc reports. Incumbents will develop written and oral presentations that will be tailored to its intended audience such as the general public, department leadership, funders, vendors, or stakeholders. Duties are performed with instruction and guidance and require the utilization of initiative and judgment in problem solving activities. Positions in this class are distinguished from the Research Specialist II class in that the former is subject to closer supervision and may perform subordinate research responsibilities when the latter is the project lead over more highly complex research studies and program evaluations.

The most competitive candidates will have a Masters or Ph.D. with graduate-level work in psychology, behavioral health, evaluation, or social sciences with a strong emphasis in statistics and research design desired. The ideal candidate will have experience in research and/or evaluation activities, including statistical analysis and interpretation, and proficiency with statistical software such as Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and/ or R programing language (SPSS and/or R). Additionally, competitive candidates will have experience in report design in Structured Query Language Server Reporting Services (SSRS), Power BI, and/or Crystal Reports. Structured Query Language (SQL) skills are highly desired. Experience in behavioral health and using electronic health record data is also a plus.

Schedule: This position offers a 5/8 or 9/80 schedule with opportunities for a hybrid schedule.

Meet the Team!

Riverside University Health System - Behavioral Health is a leading provider of mental health and substance use services in Riverside County. With a dedicated team of professionals, including psychiatrists, clinicians, peer specialists, and paraprofessionals, RUHS-BH serves over 45,000 individuals annually.

We are committed to delivering culturally competent, evidence-based care across all ages. Our programs, including Mental Health Services, Substance Use Services, and the Public Guardian's Office, address the diverse needs of our community.

At RUHS Behavioral Health, you'll join a compassionate, innovative team where your skills make a real difference. We offer opportunities for growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact.

If you're passionate about advancing your career while improving mental health in Riverside County, RUHS Behavioral Health is the place for you!

For more information, please visit www.ruhealth.org/behavioral-health

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Initiates research and statistical investigations and recognize the need for research and statistical investigations in the areas of behavioral health or social service delivery and program planning and evaluation.
• Assists in the coordination with staff and outside agencies to obtain data; designs, organizes and develops research plans and evaluation designs.
• May assist in defining study populations and sample selection criteria; generating databases and writing queries and computer programs to produce ongoing and ad hoc reports; conducts surveys and interviews and administers questionnaire forms; collects and analyzes baseline and administrative data; performs random assignment of study subjects; and, periodically posts reports to the web site.
• Advises administrators of research findings and/or procedures; prepares narrative reports of findings with valid conclusions, projects program impacts, and predicts trends.
• Assists in conducting research to identify needs for new programs, identifies appropriate sources of funding to support new programs and prepares funding applications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from a recognized college with a Bachelors degree in social science, statistics, mathematics, economics, business/public administration, public health, data processing, or any of the natural sciences. While a Bachelors degree is preferred, additional qualifying experience may be substituted for up to two years of education on the basis of 30 semester or 45 quarter units equaling one year of experience.

Experience:

OPTION I

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 II

Two years as an employment, eligibility, social service, or accounting supervisor with responsibilities that include the development or use of personal computer programs to compute or analyze benefits or the delivery of services.

Knowledge of: policies, procedures, practices and legislation governing the provision of social service delivery systems; advanced research and statistical methods including data collection and analysis; computer programming and processing methods; principles of management including planning, organizing and evaluating programs; social service concepts and issues.

Ability to: develop and prepare concise and coherent oral and written reports and recommendations; analyze, 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.

Other Requirements

License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Application Status: To confirm your application was received or check on the status of your application, log-in towww.GovernmentJobs.com, click on your name in the upper right corner, and click on "Applications & Status."

Sign Up for Job Alerts: Go towww.RC-HR.com, click on "Careers," click on "County Job Openings," and click on "Subscribe to Job Alerts" icon.

For questions regarding this recruitment:

Please contact Edgar Manzo at (951) 955 - 0951 or EMCardenas@rivco.org.

Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.

____

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veterans Preference

The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouses) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouses death certificate, a letter of spouses disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veterans Administration. 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. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies

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: https://rc-hr.com/disability

Proof of Education

If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. 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).

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Pre-Employment

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period

As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

General Information

Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.

Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the Apply link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veterans preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com.

If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.

BENEFIT PROGRAM: SEI

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:

• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
• A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

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 theres 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:

Employees contribute to State Disability Insurance (SDI), which provides wage replacement benefits for individuals who are unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. SDI also includes Paid Family Leave Benefits. The wage replacement rate is determined by current law, offering 60-70% of the wages earned during the SDI eligibility period.

Additionally, employees receive employer-paid Long-Term Disability Benefits, which cover 66.67% of pre-disability earnings, up to a maximum of $10,000 per month. There is a 365-day waiting period before these benefits become active. Employees may coordinate these benefits with other available leave balances to receive up to 100% of their regular pay.

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.

01

Do you possess a valid California Drivers License?

• Yes
• No

02

Please indicate your educational level in social science, statistics, mathematics, economics, business/public administration, public health, data processing, or any of the natural sciences (additional qualifying experience may be substituted for up to two years of education on the basis of 30 semester or 45 quarter units equaling one year of experience).

• None
• Less than 30/45 semester/quarter units
• at least 30/45 semester/quarter units
• at least 60/90 semester/quarter units
• at least 90/135 semester/quarter units
• a least 120/180 semester/quarter units
• I have an Associates degree
• I have a Bachelors degree
• I have a Masters degree
• I have a Doctorate degree

03

Please indicate your field of study and any educational emphasis if applicable. (EX: Business with an emphasis in statistics)

04

I have included my transcripts for verification (failure to provide this information may result in delays and possible disqualification from being considered for this position).

• Yes
• No

05

How many 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 do you have?

• None.
• Less than one year.
• One year or more, but less than two.
• Two years or more, but less than three.
• Three years or more, but less than four.
• Four years or more, but less than five.
• Five years or more, but less than six
• Six years or more.

06

How many years of experience do you have as an employment, eligibility, social service, or accounting supervisor with responsibilities that include the development or use of personal computer programs to compute or analyze benefits or the delivery of services?

• None.
• Less than one year.
• One year or more, but less than two.
• Two years or more, but less than three.
• Three years or more, but less than four.
• Four years or more, but less than five.
• Five years or more, but less than six.
• Six years or more.

07

Please indicate your knowledge in statistical analysis

• None, I have not worked or utilized statistical data for review or presentational use.
• Beginner, less than half of my work experience is in statistical analysis and I would need supervision in order to properly review and prepare data for presentation.
• Intermediate, about half of my work is in statistical analysis and I can manage reviewing and preparing data for presentational use with limited supervision.
• Advanced, I work with statistical analysis on a daily basis and I am comfortable reviewing and preparing data for presentational use without supervision .

08

Please indicate your knowledge with Structured Query Language (SQL)

• None, I have not used SQL before.
• Beginner, I am somewhat familiar with SQL, but have limited use.
• Intermediate, I am familiar with SQL and have used it occasionally.
• Advanced, I am completely familiar with SQL and use it daily.

09

Please indicate any experience that applies to you below;

• Data Analysis and reporting
• Developing Evaluation Designs
• Developing Program Indicators
• Identifying or developing data sources
• Survey Design
• Electronic Health Record Data
• Statistical Package for the Social Services Program
• R Programming
• Power BI
• Crystal Reports
• Structured Query Language Server Reporting Services

Required Question

Employer County of Riverside

Address County Admin. Center P.O. Box 1569

4080 Lemon St., 7th floor

Riverside, California, 92502-1569

Phone Contact Recruiter for Job Information

Website http://www.rc-hr.com