Social Sciences Research Specialist

About the role

This position is required to report in office Monday - Friday. DYS is seeking a Social Sciences Research Specialist in the Office of Best Practices Institute. The role involves conducting research studies on various DYS-related issues, supporting the agency's mission to save and transform the lives of youth throughout Ohio. The Ohio Department of Youth Services works to provide safe environments, support youth and families, and advance inclusion and collaboration across its facilities and community programs.

Work location: DYS William Green Building, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio.

Responsibilities

• Independently reviews, designs and plans social sciences research projects that include project definition, statistical and sampling techniques using tools required to analyze and interpret data provided by stakeholders.
• Utilize advanced skills in descriptive and quantitative statistical concepts including central tendency, variability & standard error comparisons, correlational and predictive measures, regression analysis, and Bayesian analysis.
• Provides information and technical assistance to agency staff on research and evaluation issues.
• Conducts qualitative interviews onsite or virtually and completes written thematic content analysis as required.
• Contributes to the Department's internal and external publications.
• Develops social sciences statistical and conceptual models for social science research and evaluation projects.
• Develops graphic presentations.
• Utilizes software including Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Excel, Tableau, SAS, PowerBI, Google, and others to test hypotheses.
• Prepares records and reports related to research projects that concisely articulate analysis and interpretation of research projects.
• Acts as liaison with Information Technology Systems (ITS) to develop and identify expanded data system requirements and inter-dependency between data networks.

Requirements

• 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.
• 18 months of experience in research and/or social science policy analysis using advanced statistics & statistical analysis & research theory, design & methodology.
• 12 months of training or experience in use of computer hardware, software for spreadsheets, statistical analysis, graphics presentation, and word processing.
• Or 6 months of experience as a Social Sciences Research Analyst (class 65261).
• Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment.

Skills

• Technical Skills: Data Analytics, Data Modeling, Statistics/Mathematics.
• Professional Skills: Analyzation, Critical Thinking, Interpreting Data.
• Software proficiency: SPSS, Excel, Tableau, SAS, PowerBI, Google suite, and related tools.

Pay

$34.53 - $50.66 per hour.

Schedule

Full-time.