Research Data Specialist

Cradle-to-Career; California; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Cradle-to-Career is hiring a Research Data Specialist III to support the California statewide Data System. You will lead the Career Passport design, develop data dashboards, and translate research into actionable changes for user experience and planning.

Collaborate across teams, work with partners, and help scale practical tools that improve opportunities for Californians. The role emphasizes user-centered design, data accuracy, and leadership in a small, entrepreneurial team, with in-person

Qualifications

• Experience with quantitative and qualitative research and analysis.
• Experience with data visualization tools and dashboards.
• Experience with large administrative data sets.
• Background check clearance and open science practices familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex data projects and facilitate meetings with senior leaders.
• Develop and scale the Career Passport and related tools.
• Design sessions input and requirements gathering with stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain data dashboards and produce actionable insights.

Skills

R

Python

SQL

Tableau

GIS

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Tools

Stata

GIS software

Job description

Job Description and Duties

California’s long-awaited statewide Cradle-to-Career Data System has launched. You can help build a statewide system that brings together existing data with an aim of addressing barriers to opportunity from early learning, through K-12, college, and career.

We are hiring a Research Data Specialist III to support the development of the C2C Data System and its tools that help students and individuals achieve their goals. The position will serve as the Career Passport Design Lead to provide technical capacity for the development and scaling of practical tools including the Career Passport.

We are looking for a leader who is excited to build something new with a small, entrepreneurial team. Our ideal candidate is passionate about working collaboratively and contributing to work that can improve the lives of many.

About the Role

As the Research Data Specialist, you will play a key role on the Data Programs team to support the data system’s user centered design, accuracy, and tools. This includes:

• Leading complex projects and facilitating meetings with senior leaders
• Facilitating stakeholder engagement and project management to develop the Career Passport as a shared tool
• Leading design and requirement input sessions
• Developing and maintaining data dashboards
• Generating insights from community engagement and research that lead to actionable changes to user experience, design, and planning processes
• Working with partners to advance our organizational goals and bring practical tools to scale

Your work will be challenging, fun, and focused on enabling Californians to build a more equitable future.

About You

The following captures your approach:

• You have innovative ideas for informing stakeholder collaboration and research with values like equity, transparency, collaboration, accountability, and curiosity
• You have a passion for improving the lives of young people, including empowering students, community members, researchers, and policy makers with actionable information and data systems
• You have practical experience in user research design and implementation, project planning, and stakeholder management
• You have experience using tools and languages such as but not limited to R, Python, Stata, Structured Query Language (SQL), Tableau and Geographic Information System (GIS) software
• You are highly organized and skilled at project managing multiple workstreams at the same time
• You have a track record of effective leadership and working collaboratively within an organization and across organizations

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This position may be eligible for a telework opportunity in accordance with departmental policies and operational needs. Employees are currently required to work in-person at least four (4) days per week in alignment with Executive Order N-22-25. Additional in-office days may be required based on operational needs.

Personal Leave Program

Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program. Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program: The successful candidate will be required to pass a criminal background check (see Education Code 10873).

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.

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:

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Experience with project management and leadership
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative research and analysis including programming languages such as Python, R, and SQL
• Experience with data visualization tools
• Experience working with large administrative data set
• Understanding of open science best practices
• Experience collaborating with both technical and non-technical teams
• Extensive knowledge of Learning and Employment Records, Skills-Based Hiring, and California education data
• The successful candidate will be required to pass a criminal background check (see Education Code 10873)

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.