RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

State of California; California; Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 107,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pay differential 412

Ten percent recruitment pay

Job summary

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is seeking a Forecasting Specialist to assist in developing estimated Medi-Cal caseloads and expenditures and to estimate statewide, managed care, and fee-for-service members for the Medi-Cal Budget Estimate.

The role supports the Fiscal Forecasting Division, works in a hybrid telework environment, and offers permanent, full-time employment with a salary range of $7,640.00 to $9,561.00 per month.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of research, statistical, and forecasting methods.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Continuous and ongoing training in relevant skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in development and support of estimated Medi-Cal caseloads and expenditures.
• Estimate statewide, managed care, and fee-for-service members and expenditures for the Medi-Cal Budget Estimate.

Skills

Forecasting methods

Research analysis

Statistical analysis

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Forecasting Specialist
RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

$7,640.00 - $9,561.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 11/13/2026

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

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST II

# 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 every day 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.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of research, statistical, and forecasting methods
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Continuous and ongoing training
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program activities
• Medical, including health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid Holidays and vacation/leave
• Medical/Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts

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.

Contact Information

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

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

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.

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.