Research Specialist II



Research Specialist II

Salary

$69,576.00 - $92,396.51 Annually

Location

Riverside

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

21-79838-06

Department

Public Health

Opening Date

12/28/2021

Closing Date

1/11/2022 11:59 PM Pacific

ABOUT THE POSITION


Riverside University Health System – Public Health – Epidemiology & Program Evaluation is currently seeking a candidate for the position of Research Specialist II, located in Riverside.

The incumbent in this position will be responsible for supporting Public Health programs and branches with data analysis and reporting, developing evaluation designs, developing program indicators, identifying, or developing data sources, assisting with survey design, as well as identifying areas of greatest need through health profiles. The Research Specialist II will have experience with the following statistical software programs: SPSS, Stata, and R-programming to assist with advanced research and statistical methods including data collection and analysis and research design. Riverside University Health System – Public Health – Epidemiology & Program Evaluation desires candidates who have the ability to write scientific and/or health related data briefs, reports, or profiles. 

Meet the Team

Riverside University Health System – Public Health promotes and protects the health of all County residents and visitors in service of the well-being of the community. Can you see yourself here?

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

(Depending on the area of assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following)

• Initiates research and statistical investigations and plans, designs, and conducts the activities of such investigations; recognizes the need for research and statistical investigations in the delivery of services and program planning and evaluation.

• Coordinates with staff and outside agencies to obtain data; designs, organizes and develops research evaluation plans, develops regulatory waiver requests, prepares budgets, and submits grant proposals.

• Defines sample populations and selection criteria; designs, develops and maintains databases; writes queries to extract data for ongoing and unexpected management reports; creates, tests and administers surveys and questionnaires; conducts focus and personal interviews; develops forms, procedures, schedules and sampling criteria for field data collection; and, performs random assignments.

• Advises research specialists and administrators of research findings and/or procedures; prepares narrative reports of findings with valid conclusions and statistical significance, projects program impacts, and provides trend analysis.

• Identifies problems in inter-organizational operations and procedures with implications for plan development and implementation and recommends alternative solutions for use in management decision-making.

• Conducts research to identify community needs for new and changes to existing programs, identifying appropriate sources of funding to support new programs and preparing funding applications.

• Assists the supervisor in developing and coordinating planning activities and in directing assigned project staff; and preparing annual budgets for research projects.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

OPTION I

Graduation from a recognized college with a Master's degree with a major in social science, statistics, mathematics, economics, business/public administration, public health, data processing, or any of the natural sciences, which included graduate level courses in research design, data collection methods, and advanced statistical analysis. While a Master's degree is preferred, additional qualifying experience may be substituted for up to two years of the required education, on the basis of 10 semester or 15-quarter units of graduate level course work in the areas previously cited equaling 6 months.

OPTION II

Additional qualifying education may be substituted for up to two years of the required work experience such that a Ph.D. degree, with qualifying course work, meets the minimum education and experience requirement.

Experience:

OPTION I

Two years of progressively responsible experience in administrative, professional, investigative, technical or other responsible work, which included statistical analysis, research or program design and data collection, and electronic data storage and report generation or grant writing.

OPTION II

Experience: Two years equivalent to Research Specialist I in Riverside County in a Department of Public Social Services.

Knowledge of: policies, procedures, practices and legislation governing the provision of social service delivery systems; advanced research methods including data collection, sampling and analysis; computer programming and processing methods; principles of management including planning, organizing and evaluating programs; social service concepts and issues.

Ability to: Develop and prepare concise and coherent oral and written reports and recommendations; analyze, perform data queries and write executable computer programs; interpret and evaluate statistical data and research findings; use statistical software packages on personal computers; maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; design and carry out research topics related to social service. 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Veterans’ Preference

The County has a Veterans Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse’s) Member-4 Form DD-214 (or NGB-22) indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse’s letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans’ preference. See the policy here (Download PDF reader).

Reasonable Accommodations

The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: http://dao.rc-hr.com/.

Other Requirements 

License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver’s License may be required.

What’s Next?

This recruitment is open to all applicants.

Applicants who are current County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of the Riverside University Health System may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.

Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.

Application Period

BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.

Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted.   Changes or alterations cannot be accepted.  No late applications will be permitted.

Include relevant work experience details on resume and/or application. 

Applicants who fail to provide information demonstrating they possess the position requirements may not be considered further in the application process. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

All applicants are required to provide a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account, prior to the closing date of the job posting. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

GENERAL APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com. A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here.

MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT:  County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

  • Tier I (Classic Member – Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
  • Tier II (Classic Member – Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
  • Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2020, the employee contribution is 7.25% and subject to change annually.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

  1. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
  2. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
  3. A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

 

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law.  The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change.  If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0 < 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)

4 < 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)

10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance).

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

DISABILITY: Short-term Disability benefit pays up to a maximum of $461.54 weekly, payable up to a maximum of 52 weeks.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.

01
Do you possess a valid California's Driver License?
  • Yes
  • No
02
I understand that I must upload a copy of my transcript(s) as proof of education completed from an accredited college or university as an attachment to my governementjobs.com account. (Official and unofficial transcripts will be accepted. If your education was completed outside of the United States, provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation.)
  • Yes
  • No
03
What is your highest level of education from an accredited college or university with major course work in social science, statistics, mathematics, economics, business/public administration, public health, data processing, or any of the natural sciences?
  • None of these apply
  • I have my Associate's degree
  • I have my Bachelor's degree
  • I have my Master's degree
  • I have my Doctorate degree
04
While obtaining your degree from a recognized college did it include graduate level courses in research design, data collection methods, and advanced statistical analysis?
  • Yes
  • No
05
How many graduate level course work units have you completed from an accredited college or university in research design, data collection methods, and advanced statistical analysis?
  • None of these apply
  • At least 10 semester or 15 quarter units
  • At least 20 semester or 30 quarter units
06
How many years of experience do you have with progressively responsible experience in administrative, professional, investigative, technical, or other responsible work, which included statistical analysis, research or program design and data collection, and electronic data storage and report generation or grant writing?
  • None
  • Less than 12 months
  • 1 year or more, but less than 2
  • 2 years or more
07
How many years of experience do you have as a Research Specialist I with Riverside County in a Department of Public Social Services or equivalent?
  • None
  • Less than 12 months
  • 1 year or more, but less than 2
  • 2 years or more
08
How many years of experience do you have as a Research Specialist I with Riverside County or an equivalent position performing program studies involving research, statistical analyses, and related activities?
  • None
  • Less than 12 months
  • 1 year or more, but less than 2
  • 2 years or more, but less than 3
  • 3 years or more, but less than 4
  • 4 years or more, but less than 5
  • 5 years or more, but less than 6
  • 6 years or more
09
What is your level of experience with writing scientific and health related data briefs, reports, and profiles?
  • I have not had experience, education, or training in this area.
  • I have completed education or training in this subject but have not yet used this knowledge on the job.
  • I have performed this activity on the job under close supervision.
  • I have performed this activity on the job, independently on a regular basis.
  • In addition to independently performing this activity as a regular part of my job, I have supervised and/or trained others in this area.
10
What is your level of experience with program design and/or evaluation?
  • I have not had experience, education, or training in this area.
  • I have completed education or training in this subject but have not yet used this knowledge on the job.
  • I have performed this activity on the job under close supervision.
  • I have performed this activity on the job, independently on a regular basis.
  • In addition to independently performing this activity as a regular part of my job, I have supervised and/or trained others in this area.
11
What is your level of knowledge with statistical software programs, such as SPSS, Stata, R-programming or similar programs?
  • I have not had experience, education, or training in this area.
  • I have completed education or training in this subject but have not yet used this knowledge on the job.
  • I have performed this activity on the job under close supervision.
  • I have performed this activity on the job, independently on a regular basis.
  • In addition to independently performing this activity as a regular part of my job, I have supervised and/or trained others in this area.

Required Question

Agency
County of Riverside
Address
County Admin. Center P.O. Box 1569
4080 Lemon St., 7th floor
Riverside, California, 92502-1569
Phone
(951) 955-3500