Data Scientist - Research Analysis Spec Sr

State of Minnesota - Children Youth & Families Dept; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health coverage

Retirement benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Job summary

State of Minnesota - Children Youth & Families Dept. seeks a Senior Research Analysis Specialist to translate data strategy into dashboards, analytics, and technical guidance within OIG Analytics & Insights.

The role is hybrid in Saint Paul, MN with up to 50% telework eligibility and a focus on decision support, compliance, and fraud detection. Strong data and visualization skills are required.

Qualifications

• Three years of data analysis and reporting experience.
• Experience with data collection, transformation, and interpretation.
• SQL proficiency.
• Data visualization experience with Tableau, Power BI, Looker or Qlik.
• Experience with analytics tools such as Alteryx, R Studio, SAS, Databricks, or Anaconda.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field; Master’s may substitute for experience.

Responsibilities

• Implement the OIG data strategy and expand data-driven decision support.
• Create dashboards, visualizations, reports, and presentations for management.
• Respond to internal and external data requests for OIG.
• Provide technical consultation on analytics, modeling, and governance.
• Support program integrity, fraud detection, and compliance analytics.

Skills

Data analysis

Data visualization

SQL

Tableau

Power BI

Looker

R Studio

Python

Statistical analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in CS/Math/Statistics

Master’s Degree (substitutes 18 months exp)

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Looker

Qlik

Alteryx

R Studio

SAS

Databricks

Anaconda

Job description

Advance program integrity and accountability through data science work supporting the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (Children Youth & Families Dept). In this Research Analysis Specialist Senior role within OIG Analytics & Insights, you will help strengthen data and analytics capabilities for the Office of Inspector General by translating data strategy into dashboards, analytics, and technical guidance. The position is based in Saint Paul, MN (hybrid) with telework eligibility of up to 50% (within Minnesota or neighboring states) and weekday schedules.

You will be part of a mission-driven environment focused on decision support, compliance, and fraud detection. The agency offers a comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, health coverage, retirement benefits, and professional development support, along with options that support different life needs.

Responsibilities

• Implement the Office of Inspector General’s data strategy and expand how data supports better decision-making, program compliance, and program integrity in partnership with OIG business partners.
• Create dashboards, visualizations, reports, and presentations of data analyses to support management decision-making and strategic planning.
• Respond to internal and external requests for data and information related to OIG data.
• Provide technical consultation to OIG management and staff across data analyses and development, including analytic model development, payment methodologies, cost analyses, statistical and analytic techniques, research methodologies, survey design and evaluation, performance measurement, data governance, and OIG data systems and tools.

Requirements

• Three (3) years* of experience performing data analysis and reporting, conducting spatial or statistical analysis or modeling, programming to extract, manipulate, and analyze data, and developing data visualizations.
• Experience with data collection, data analysis, data manipulation, data transformation, and interpretation.
• SQL.
• Data visualization experience with Tableau, PowerBI, Looker, or Qlik.
• Experience with one or more analytic tools/platforms, including Alteryx, R Studio, SAS, Databricks, or Anaconda.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, or a related field (or substitution per experience). A Master’s Degree may substitute for eighteen months of experience; relevant education may substitute for one year of experience as determined by the agency.

Technologies

SQL, Tableau, PowerBI, Looker, Qlik, Alteryx, R Studio, SAS, Databricks, Anaconda, MMIS, MAXIS, MEC2, LIS/ELMS/Salesforce Hub, DEED, case tracking applications, NetStudy 2.0, SSIS, Python, R, HIPAA, and Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• Fertility care including IVF
• Diabetes care
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
• Employer paid life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
• Resources supporting physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being
• Training, classes, and professional development
• Tuition reimbursement
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (some positions may qualify)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support
• Daily Living/Convenience Services including chore services, home repair, trip planning, and child/elder care

Job Details

• Working Title: Data Scientist
• Job Class: Research Analysis Specialist Senior
• Location: St. Paul, MN (hybrid); telework eligible up to 50%*
• Schedule: Monday - Friday, Day Shift, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Travel Required: No
• Full/Part Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Unlimited
• Salary: $32.97 - $48.60 / hourly ($68,841 - $101,476 annually)
• Classified Status: Classified; Union: 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
• FLSA: Nonexempt
• Job ID: 98024
• Telework Eligibility: Yes*; within Minnesota or neighboring states
• Designated in Connect 700 Program: Yes
• Date Posted: 10/29/2026; Closing Date: 11/10/2026

Additional Requirements

• Background investigation prior to employment, which may include reference check, criminal background check, fingerprinting (MNJIS/CJIS), driver’s license check, and personnel file review; additional assessment may be required during the interview process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in fraud, oversight, licensing, compliance, audit, and/or compliance analytics.
• Experience implementing instrument-based program monitoring, key indicator systems, differential monitoring, risk assessments, weighting systems, outcome-based measurements, and fraud detection models in a large complex regulatory system.
• Experience using applications/data systems such as MMIS, MAXIS, MEC2, LIS/ELMS/Salesforce Hub, DEED, case tracking applications, NetStudy 2.0, and SSIS.
• Ability to synthesize and organize large volumes of complex information and present them clearly to key stakeholders.
• Proficiency in programming and statistical analysis using tools such as SAS, Python, or R, including multiple regression techniques.
• Experience with data privacy laws and rules, including the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and HIPAA.
• Experience working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.