Data Scientist (Data Science & Informatics Specialist 2)

State-of-Washington; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board) in Washington State seeks a Data Scientist to independently design and execute statewide research projects informing policymaking and funding decisions. You will drive performance evaluation, survey design, and data sharing agreements, presenting findings to executives and stakeholders.

You will lead cross-disciplinary teams, translate analyses into actionable recommendations, and ensure regulatory compliance while

Qualifications

• Eight (8) years of combined related education and/or experience in social science research or quantitative methods.
• Two (2) years of professional experience using statistical software like SAS, SPSS, STATA, or R.
• One (1) year of experience using relational databases like Access, Oracle, or SQL.
• Experience leading project teams and managing multidisciplinary research initiatives.
• Experience with complex administrative, demographic, and multi-source longitudinal databases.
• Experience applying advanced statistical methods, including linear and logistic regression.
• Ability to present complex findings clearly to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Design advanced statistical models for performance management, program evaluation, and survey design to inform state policymaking.
• Lead multidisciplinary research projects and teams from conception to presentation.
• Translate data analyses into strategic findings and recommendations for executive leadership and stakeholders.
• Develop statistical procedures and ensure data compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Present results through data visualizations to executives and board members.
• Maintain and manage DSAs and coordinate data sharing with partners while ensuring confidentiality.
• Represent the agency in cross-agency workgroups on data integration.

Skills

Statistical analysis

Leadership

Data visualization

SQL

SAS

SPSS

STATA

R

Education

Quantitative social science

Tools

Relational databases

Job description

Data Scientist

(Data Science & Informatics Specialist 2)

Monday - Friday | 8AM - 5PM | HYBRID

NOTE: The hiring authority reserves the right to offer the position at any time after the required posting period, and during the recruitment process. It is to the applicant's advantage to apply as early as possible.

Who We Are:

The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board) is a tri-partite board (business, labor, and government), and cabinet agency created to provide objective planning, coordination, evaluation, monitoring, policy analysis and advocacy across Washington’s comprehensive workforce development system in support of Washington’s workers, jobseekers, businesses, and communities. The Workforce Board engages a wide range of state, local, and federal agencies, business, labor, community-based organizations, and others representing system customers to inform our work. Board and agency staff maintain a laser focus on the state’s economic strength, the availability of a strong and responsive talent pipeline, and on equitable access to that pipeline for every Washingtonian. For more information about the Workforce Board, you can access the website at www.wtb.wa.gov.

About the Opportunity:

As a Data Scientist, you will independently design and execute complex, statewide research projects that directly inform state policymaking and impact critical state and federal funding streams. Utilizing advanced statistical techniques, sophisticated systems, and rigorous analytical models, you will drive performance management, program evaluation, and survey design, translating data into actionable findings and strategic recommendations for executive leadership, board members, and external stakeholders. Beyond research execution, you will serve as the primary lead for agency data sharing agreements (DSAs), represent the agency on cross-agency data integration workgroups, and present findings at conferences and partner networks to foster collaboration and continuous process improvement.

Some of What You’ll Enjoy Doing Includes:

• Serve as one of the agency's Data Scientists, designing advanced statistical models for performance management, program evaluation, and survey design to inform state policymaking.
• Direct multidisciplinary project teams and lead comprehensive economic and statistical research initiatives.
• Translate complex data analyses into strategic findings and actionable recommendations for executive management and board members.
• Develop statistical business procedures while ensuring agency databases and policies comply with state and federal regulations.
• Lead multidisciplinary research teams as the primary researcher, overseeing projects from execution to final presentation.
• Translate complex results into data visualizations and present key findings and recommendations to executive leadership, board members, and stakeholders.
• Manage and maintain compliant agency data sharing agreements (DSAs) by identifying research data needs and collaborating with partners to ensure strict confidentiality and security.
• Represent the agency on cross-agency workgroups to drive data integration solutions and streamline DSA processes.
• Other duties as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Eight (8) years of combined related education and/or experience.
  • Related experience includes experience as a researcher in the social science field, and/or experience using quantitative research methods which include multivariate regression analysis.
  • Related education includes education in quantitative social science, or related field.
• Two (2) years of professional experience using statistical software like SAS, SPSS, STATA, or R.
• One (1) year of experience using relational databases like Access, Oracle, or SQL.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in team and project management.
• Experience designing, managing, and working with complex administrative, demographic, and multi-source longitudinal databases.
• Experience with applying advanced statistical methods, including linear and logistic regression models, to analyze complex data sets.
• Experience communicating complex findings clearly through concise summaries and data-focused presentations for diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications:

• One (1) year of experience analyzing aggregate employment or training data.
• Experience with design and analysis of survey data.
• Experience in cost estimation for research projects and activities.

Union Inclusion:

This position is in a bargaining unit and falls under the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the state of Washington and the Washington Federation of State Employees.

The Workforce Board is a small agency with a big mission! Its success is a critical component of our state’s economic recovery and the future success of Washington’s businesses and workers. Every position is necessary, and every employee is expected to meet very high standards of performance and productivity in order to fulfill the Board's obligations to the state's citizens and employers. We aim to be the workplace of choice for professionals in our fields of practice. Additionally, all Workforce Board employees are stewards of the public trust and are expected to model this behavior and attitude, and work to ensure that the public trust in the Workforce Board never falls into question.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by law.

To take advantage of veterans' preference

please include your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from USDVA in your online application.

Contact Information:

For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact George Deguzman via email at [e-mail]. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388