Mitigation Research Specialist (Research Data Specialist I)

Job Description and Duties **This is a 12 month Limited-Term position that may be extended up to 24 months and/or with the possibility of becoming permanent.** Are you looking for an exciting and fast-paced career? Join the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and be part of an organization that serves as a leader in emergency management and homeland security through dedicated service to all. We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our team. If you are interested in a challenging opportunity in a high-energy, team-oriented environment, you are encouraged to apply. From wildfires to pandemics, the State of California is experiencing an unprecedented number of emergencies. If you are looking for a career path where you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of vulnerable Californians, consider joining the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). This organization, guided by the goals of resilience, sustainability, climate adaptation, and equity, serves as a trusted leader in emergency management and has come to be depended on by communities throughout California. To expand our capabilities, we are looking for collaborative individuals devoted to developing innovative solutions that empower the residents of our state. The Research Data Specialist I, as part of the Hazard Mitigation Assessment Unit will design studies and undertake geospatial, statistical, and qualitative analysis on program interventions to measure success. The incumbent will write reports and studies, recommend the adoption of applications, and determine authoritative data services. The incumbent plans for and performs data creation, preparation and modeling for loss avoidance studies, risk assessment, disaster recovery and other products as necessary. This is an integral role in ensuring that Cal OES is accurately measuring the success of disaster recovery and mitigation actions, continuously updating best practices, and ensuring communities are employing the most effective actions toward building resiliency. This Team is responsible for identifying and resolving database-related issues, providing enhancements to applications and dashboard products, making recommendations for process improvements and new solutions for effective program management, and delivers analytical products for both program-specific areas and general emergency response and recovery. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. Special Requirements Application Package RequirementsTo have your application considered for this job opportunity: • List the Job Code (JC) and Position Number for this position in the “EXAMINATION(S) OR JOB TITLE(S) FOR WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING” section on the State Application, STD. 678. • List your most current employment history first in the “EMPLOYMENT HISTORY” section on the STD. 678. • Provide the “From” and “To” dates with the month, day and year, the “Hours Per Week” that you worked and the Total Worked (Years/Months). You may include overtime hours. • You must complete the “DUTIES PERFORMED” on the State Application (do not note “see attached resume” in this section). Failure to comply and your application is considered incomplete. • SROA and Surplus are encouraged to apply and must submit a copy of their letter. Please note consideration shall be given to work experience gained in a part-time or full-time job, regardless of whether the job was a paid or a volunteer position or was within, or outside of, state service. If using education to qualify please submit a copy of your transcripts. If selected, official transcripts will be required. Foreign education must obtain and submit verification of United States course/degree equivalency. NOTE: Incomplete applications received may not be considered. Resumes are welcomed but do not take the place of the completed State Application STD 678. Applications received via fax or email will NOT be accepted. If you would like confirmation of receipt, please send certified mail. **A candidate pool may be established for subsequent vacancies.****All hires may be subject to a criminal background check.****We encourage applicants to apply electronically.** 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: • Knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware, and software, including but not limited: • Geospatial Software: ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, QGIS, and other ESRI platforms for mapping, spatial analysis, and geodatabase management. • Data Analysis Tools: Python (including Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib libraries), R, and SQL for data processing, modeling, and statistical analysis. • Visualization Platforms: Tableau, Power BI, and ArcGIS Dashboards for creating interactive dashboards, heatmaps, and data visualizations to aid in decision-making. • Hazard and Emergency-Specific Software: FEMA’s Hazus, CALAdapt, and flood risk modeling tools to assess impacts, model secondary hazards, and evaluate progress. • Remote Sensing and Imagery Tools: Satellite imagery processing via Google Earth Engine or other platforms for burn area mapping, vegetation analysis, and change detection. • Knowledge of data management and data governance principles. • Knowledge/understanding of data concepts and ability to develop queries for statistical analyses; understanding of data limitations and research methods. • Analytical skills and the ability to think strategically while remaining focused on goals and objectives. • Demonstrated ability to work with diverse stakeholders from a wide variety of professional backgrounds and experiences. • Ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, be persistent, work in a team, and solve problems as they arise. • Background in statistics and technical/academic writing. • Experience working in focus groups and analyzing qualitative data. • Experience in supporting conducting research independently within or in partnership with other organizations and coworkers. • Experience designing and coordinating the implementation of research projects within organizational constraints and resource limitations. • Experience supporting and training staff and community partners that are unfamiliar with research, to collect, manage, and analyze data. Statement of Qualifications All applicants must provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring manager’s review. Failure to include an SOQ may disqualify an applicant from consideration. A resume in lieu of the SOQ responses may disqualify an applicant from consideration. A standard or generic SOQ may disqualify an applicant from consideration. Please review the Duty Statement and the Desirable Qualifications for this position. The SOQ should specifically outline how you meet any or all of the desirable qualifications outlined in the Job Posting and Duty Statement. SOQ Format Instructions: A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is Required. The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. The SOQ is not a resume or cover letter. It should be: • Typed, single-spaced & single-sided • No more than two (2) page in length • Arial 12 point font • Margins not less than one inch • First and last name at the top of the page PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING: 1. After reading the duty statement, describe your education and professional experience that makes you a strong candidate for the RDS I position in the Hazard Mitigation Assessment Unit. 2. Describe a project where you independently gathered, compiled and interpreted data. Specifically mention tools you use to ensure the precision of the data and numerical accuracy and any reports you may have created to answer specific questions or identify a trend. For assistance in uploading documents, including the SOQ, you may want to consider watching the following video from CalHR's Training Catalog: Upload SOQ to your Application Package