Research Data Specialist II

Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced remote centered environment with variety in your work? The California Department of Insurance (CDI) is seeking a dynamic Research Data Specialist II with experience planning and executing large scale research and data projects. If this is you, then CDI may be the employer for you!

Under the direction of the Chief and Data Analytics & Reporting (DAR) Supervisor, the Research Data Specialist II (RDS II) is responsible for project management duties on all mandated research projects and special executive assignments. The RDS II will be responsible for all aspects of a research project from start to finish. The RDS II will serve as the senior analyst on Property & Casualty related research projects and special executive assignments. The RDS II will be required to effectively use project management skills, strong organizational and planning skills, multi tasking techniques, problem solving skills, team building skills, and communication skills in a highly complex environment requiring his/her attention on several concurrent projects with multiple deadlines. The RDS II will work with senior-level staff in the continuous development and improvement of data collection techniques, project tracking tools, data validation tools, and existing reports. This may require the innovative and/or original development of complex data reports, validation tools, and templates. Additional responsibilities include assisting DAR staff, and team leads on complex data validation issues, master table development, and report development.

Effective July 1, 2025, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025 and related Pay Differential 386. PLP 2025 requires employees to receive a reduction in pay in exchange for monthly hours of PLP 2025 leave credits. The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay. For more information, visit the CalHR website (www.calhr.ca.gov)., * The incumbent must be able to work in a high-rise building and/or shared office environment (e-i., artificial lighting, controlled temperature, etc.).

• The incumbent must be able to use of computer keyboard, mouse, camera for virtual meetings, office equipment, telephone, and related software applications at a work station, daily.
• The incumbent may telework in accordance with CDI's Telework Policy. Teleworking employees may be required to report to their headquarters office location on designated telework days. Travel expenses are not reimbursed, however other authorized transit subsidies do exist for those who qualify., As a Research Data Specialist II, you will be held to a high standard of quality with regards to your conduct, as well as, your work procedures and product quality. In order to help us know more about your attitude towards quality and accuracy, please answer the following questions:
• What constitutes quality for you?
• How do you measure quality?
• Give an example of when you had to produce high quality work. Why did the work have to be of such a high standard? How did you ensure that these standards were met? What would you do to improve the quality of your work?
• Describe a time when you did not meet your usual standards for work. What alerted you to this? How did you overcome the problem? What were the long-term consequences?

2. As the Research Data Specialist II, you will be responsible for the collection of data from units within the California Department of Insurance (CDI), as well as, organizations outside the CDI (e.g. - CDI licensed insurance companies, other in-state/out-of-state departments and Federal agencies), your ability to establish cooperation and form relationships with these stakeholders is critical to the position. In order to help us know more about your ability to communicate and maintain relationships with stakeholders, please answer the following questions:

• Tell us about a time when you needed to build credibility and trust with a colleague or manager in order to develop a relationship with him/her. What was your approach to earning his/her trust and confidence?
• Think of a time when you were leading a meeting and there were issues that lead to conflict, how did you handle this conflict and what was the outcome?
• Can you think of a time when you needed to confront others about non delivery that affected a key project of yours, this non delivery meant that your own time and efforts would have to change to achieve the outcomes.
• When someone is speaking to you how do you ensure that you understand what they are saying?
• What do you look for in a good listener?

3. As the Research Data Specialist II, part of your time will include the development of projects (data calls/surveys) for release, designing and implementing supporting systems such as tracking, editing, validating, and report generation, creating logs for data collection studies, and producing summary or detailed level reports for validation purposes or management needs.

• Provide in detail a project that required your knowledge from beginning to end. What steps did you take to develop the data call/survey? What validation processes did you implement on the data collected in order to determine reasonableness/accuracy? What were the challenges and what did you learn from that experience?

4. As a Research Data Specialist II, you will be working on multiple tasks with different priority levels. In order to help us know more about your ability to communicate and maintain relationships with stakeholders, please answer the following questions:

• Outline an example of a situation when you had a particularly challenging day ahead of you and something unexpected came up which was also a priority. How did you handle the situation?
• Give us an example of a time when you have followed a task from beginning to end and what steps did you put in place to ensure this was successful.
• How do you make sure you meet your deadlines? Can you give us an example?

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:

• Upper division coursework in applied mathematics or bachelors degree in Mathematics.
• Strong background and/or work experience related data analytics, technical research experience engaged in the collection, compilation, analysis, and interpretation of data.
• Experience with the understanding and application of complex research methods and principles to research problems of an applied practical nature.
• Work experience involving planning and executing large scale research and data projects, and preparation and presentation of reports and data models.
• Knowledge of software/applications used to access and process data on large databases, servers and/or cloud based environments.
• Experience identifying root causes of data quality issues, and developing data quality checks and procedures.
• Experience collaborating and working with stakeholders to resolve data collection and quality issues.

Please attach (upload) all the required documents to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications for this position (i.e., degree, transcript, license, certificate). If you fail to provide the required documentation, your application package will be marked as incomplete and not considered for an interview.

• Exam list eligibility - refer to exam link below.
• Transfer eligibility, if applicable, for current/former civil service employees
• Supplemental Questionnaire
• Degree and/or School Transcripts
• Resume, * Flexible work hours
• Remote work options
• Medical Benefits - including health, dental, and vision insurance
• Employee Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• On the Job Training
• Career Services Program
• Recognition Program
• Paid Holidays and leave
• Defined benefit retirement program
• Savings Plus Program (401 (k), 457)
• Every 12 months, based on performance evaluation, employees may receive a 5% salary increase until they reach the maximum salary for the position.

The CDI is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state's consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. With annual direct premiums of $340 billion, California is the largest insurance market in the United States and the fourth largest insurance market in the world. Nearly 1,400 dedicated employees work at CDI to oversee more than 1,400 insurance companies and license more than 425,000 agents, brokers, adjusters, and business entities. Climate & Sustainability Branch Data Analytics and Reporting Unit (This position is available to be headquartered in Los Angeles, Oakland, or Sacramento) Department Website: http://www.insurance.ca.gov