Forecasting Specialist

California Department of Health Care Services; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 107,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Continuous training

Diversity & Inclusion programs

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

California Department of Health Care Services is seeking a Forecasting Specialist to support estimated caseloads and expenditures for the Medi-Cal program. The role focuses on statewide, managed care, and fee-for-service projections and complex budget estimates.

The position offers hybrid telework, permanent full-time employment, and a robust benefits package including training and EAP. Applicants will need strong forecasting and Excel/SAS skills.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of research, statistical, and forecasting methods
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• SAS experience

Responsibilities

• Assist in development and support of estimated caseload and expenditures for Medi-Cal
• Estimate Medi-Cal statewide, managed care, and fee-for-service members and expenditures
• Prepare complex programmatic estimates for the Medi-Cal Budget Estimate

Skills

Research methods

Forecasting methods

Analytical thinking

Tools

SAS

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Work Location

Sacramento County

Job Description and Duties

Why Join DHCS?
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is the backbone of California’s health care safety net. Our success is made possible by the hard work of more than 4,800 DHCS team members and through collaboration with the federal government and other state agencies, counties, and partners for the care of low-income families, children, pregnant women, older adults, and persons with disabilities. This is an exciting opportunity to join our diverse team in the following role.

About this Role

The role of the Forecasting Specialist is to assist in the development and support of the estimated caseload and expenditures for the Medi-Cal Program and to estimate Medi-Cal Statewide, Managed Care, and Fee-For-Service members and expenditures, and completing various complex programmatic estimates for the Medi-Cal Budget Estimate.

Working Conditions

Please see the Telework Information section below for telework details.

Minimum Requirements

• RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

Position Details

Job Code # : JC-537367

Position #(s) : 808-810-5758-006

Working Title : Forecasting Specialist

Classification : RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

Salary : $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 : Multiple

Telework : Hybrid

Job Type : Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

DHCS’ purpose is to provide equitable access to quality health care leading to a healthy California for all. DHCS is a dynamic organization with ambitious goals and talented, committed employees. We work hard everyday to fulfill our vital responsibility to support the delivery of quality health care to Californians. DHCS is committed to addressing disparities within our organization and in our communities through efforts toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is accomplished, in part, by a commitment toward employing a diverse workforce that reflects the many communities we serve, and by promoting and enforcing equal employment opportunity.

Take a look at some of DHCS' recent projects and happenings that our Department has accomplished in the DHCS Newsroom.

The Fiscal Program’s Fiscal Forecasting Division (FFD) works to accomplish DHCS’s mission by preparing twice-annual caseload and funding projections for Medi-Cal, which provides health coverage to more than one in three Californians. These projections, encompassing more than $196.7 billion annually, play an important role in the state’s annual budget process. FFD also produces a twice-annual Family Health Estimate that covers certain state programs outside of Medi-Cal, prepares requests for federal funds for Medi-Cal, and is also responsible for fiscal analyses used for policy decisions, legislation, and regulations.

Eligibility and Deadline

Final Filing Date: 11/13/2026

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.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of research, statistical, and forecasting methods
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• SAS experience

Benefits

• Continuous and ongoing training
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program activities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Additionally, as a team member of the State of California, you may be eligible for many benefits, such as:

• Medical, including health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid Holidays and vacation/leave
• Defined retirement program
• Savings Plus Program (401(k), 457)
• Medical/Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts

Full benefits information can be found on CalHR's California State Civil Service Employee Benefits Summary.

Pay Differential

Pay Differential 412 - Additional compensation each month for employees who are qualified in critically and legislatively mandated functions of developing the local assistance portion of the State budget for all state welfare programs. The pay differential shall apply only to those employees within California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHSA) departments who are directly involved in the preparation of their respective local assistance cost and caseload estimates and estimate methodologies submitted as part of the Governor’s Budget and May revision.

Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025 agreement

Effective July 1, 2025, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the temporary Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 directs that each employee receive a temporary reduction in pay in exchange for PLP 2025 leave credits. The temporary salary reduction percentage and the number of PLP 2025 leave credits are based on the position’s associated bargaining unit. The salary range(s) included in this job advertisement do not include the temporary salary reduction. Please reach out to the hiring unit contact listed on this job advertisement for details.

This position may qualify for a ten percent recruitment and retention pay differential that is added on top of the base salary.

Telework and Salary Information

Telework: This position is currently eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change consistent with DHCS’ Telework Program and Government Code sections 14200 – 14203. Telework is available to California residents, and proof of residency may be required.

All commute expenses to the reporting location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The DHCS office location for this position is: 1501 Capitol Ave. Sacramento, CA 95814

Contact Information

Hiring Unit Contact: Michael Eakins
[phone]
[e-mail]

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.

EEO Contact:
EEO Officer
[phone]
[e-mail]

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.

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.