Social Sciences Research Specialist

Office of Workforce Development

The Office of Workforce Development (OWD) administers several federal workforce programs and oversees a network of local OhioMeansJobs centers, which provide free job training and other services for Ohioans looking for work and employers seeking workers. OWD also assists job seekers through OhioMeansJobs.com, an online job matching system that brings both employers and job seekers to one easy-to-use website. Learn more about the office by visiting the ODJFS OWD webpage.

What You Will Do:

In this role with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), you will work on a team that tracks, analyzes, and reports data for several state and federal workforce programs, including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Combined Case Management and Employment Program (CCMEP). These programs help job seekers, youth, and displaced workers find jobs and training, and they help employers connect with workers.

Your team is responsible for reporting program results to the U.S. Department of Labor and helping state and local workforce partners understand how their programs are performing. You will regularly create data reports and share insights with program leaders and other stakeholders.

• Serve as a data and reporting expert within the Office of Workforce Development. Provide leadership and staff with clear reports, data analysis, and summaries to support decisions.
• Offer data-based recommendations related to program operations, performance, and policy.
• Complete required federal reports for multiple grants, including managing and cleaning very large data files with millions of participant records.
• Work closely with program staff, system vendors, and monitoring teams to check data accuracy and improve program results.
• Help develop statistical models and tools that fairly measure how well workforce programs are performing.

Recommended Skills:

• Knowledge of data analytics/data science
• Knowledge of government systems and associated processes
• Research methodology and statistics
• Communication (communicating complex information clearly)
• Problem solving, decision making, and process improvement

Schedule: Full-time

Hours: Standard workdays are Monday through Friday. Hours are between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Location: James A. Rhodes State Office Tower 30 East Broad St., Floor 37, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Travel:

• In-state trainings and all-staff meetings occur approximately three to four times a year.
• Travel to out-of-state training or conferences may occur.

PN(s): 20042047

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

• Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

The ideal candidate, at minimum, must have the following:

OPTION 1 :

• Completion of graduate core coursework in social science or public administration with at least 6 courses in advanced statistics & statistical analysis & research theory, design & methodology, (i.e. earned an undergraduate or graduate level).

AND

• 18 mos. exp. in application of advanced statistics & statistical analysis & research theory, design & methodology.

AND

• 12 mos. exp. in use of computer hardware, software used for spreadsheets, statistical analysis & graphics presentation & work processing.

OR

Option 2 :

• 6 mos. exp. as Social Sciences Research Analyst, 65261.

OR

Option 3:

• Equivalent of minimum class qualifications for employment noted above.

OPTION 1 :

Tips For Your Application

When completing the different sections of this application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this job posting. We cannot give you credit for your Work Experience and Education & Certifications if you do not provide that information in your online application. Information in attached resumes or cover letters must be entered into your application in the appropriate Work Experience or Education & Certification sections to be considered.

Pay Information

This position is in the State of Ohio’s OCSEA Pay Schedule, Pay Range 33. Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of that pay range (step 1, currently $33.52 per hour). These ranges provide a standardized pathway for pay increases. With continued employment, new hires move to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. Cost of Living Adjustments increase wages in these ranges each fiscal year. The current step progression wages are in the table below.

Pay Range 33

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Step 9

Hourly

$33.52

$35.15

$36.90

$38.70

$40.59

$42.62

$44.66

$46.87

$49.18

Annual

$69,722

$73,112

$76,752

$80,496

$84,427

$88,650

$92,893

$97,490

$102,294

Months of Employment

At Hire

6 Months

18 Months

30 Months

42 Months

54 Months

66 Months

78 Months

90 Months

ADA Notice

If you require an accommodation based on a disability for any step of the selection process, please contact [email protected]

Selection Priority Notice OCSEA

Current employees of ODJFS in the OCSEA union have selection rights before all other applicants. Applications from all other candidates will only be considered if an internal OCSEA applicant is not selected for this position.

Background check information

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Some positions may require drug testing and/or fingerprinting. Criminal convictions do not necessarily disqualify candidates from consideration.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.