Research Associate II-Child Welfare Data Expert, Workforce Analytics

The child welfare data expert in workforce analytics functions in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary team with a shared continued commitment to excellence. The child welfare data expert in workforce analytics has specialized knowledge and experience in the data, systems, policies, and practices that shape the child welfare workforce, including analyzing and interpreting workforce-related data to identify trends and inform decision-making. This role serves as the primary point of contact for data-related tasks and information for jurisdictions and assists with the development and implementation of quality assurance and continuous quality improvement (CQI) protocols and activities, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Supporting and advising jurisdictions on root-cause analysis and data-driven strategies focused on the workforce to support performance improvement plans
• Linking quality-relevant findings to plan data collection processes focused on child welfare workforce data (e.g., human resources data; workload measurement and monitoring; workforce characteristics and competencies; recruitment, hiring, and onboarding; training and professional development; employee performance; exit interviews; and organizational factors)
• Supporting jurisdictions in engagement and data collection with workforce members, including survey development and focus groups
• Supporting and advising jurisdictions on connecting data and deriving meaningful insights across workforce-related domains (e.g., child welfare administrative data; human resources data; and safety, permanency and well-being outcomes)
• Supporting the implementation of improved data collection processes based upon performance improvement plans and Federal review findings

PROJECT-SPECIFIC JOB FUNCTIONS

• Distills complex information into key ideas and concepts and makes information easily accessible to child welfare professionals for the purpose of program improvement and systems change
• Leads and supports jurisdictions in identifying, analyzing, visualizing, sharing, and gaining insights from a range of child welfare workforce-related data

• Designs data analytic tools, data visualization reports, presentations, dashboards, and data-driven assistance workplans
• Leads and or/supports the internal project team in exploring jurisdictional data to understand challenges, assess and address data quality concerns, and make data-driven decisions
• Leads and or/supports the project team in responding to jurisdictional needs regarding CQI frameworks (e.g., plan-do -study act [PDSA]; results-based accountability [RBA]; define, asses, plan, implement, monitor [DAPIM]; and define measure, analyze, improve, control [DMAIC])
• Provides consultation and support to public child welfare agencies (jurisdictions) in understanding, analyzing, visualizing, using, and sharing their child welfare and other workforce-related data with a range of partners to inform decision-making and strategy selection
• Contributes to tracking key performance metrics relevant to child welfare (e.g., safety, permanency, and well-being)
• Identifies trends, patterns, and correlations in child welfare and workforce data to inform technical assistance development and delivery
• Develops and provides training to child welfare staff on data literacy, interpretation, root-cause analysis, and application to daily workflows, with an emphasis on child welfare workforce data
• Provides consultation and support to public child welfare agencies to more deeply explore performance using available quantitative and qualitative data and identifies areas for additional data collection (i.e., using data to test theories/hypotheses, training and coaching, and review of the completeness of problem exploration)
• Supports connecting CQI activities with data collection processes and findings
• Supports the development of jurisdictional improvement plans and implementation of improved processes based upon Federal review findings

• Manages tasks and deliverables for contract compliance with minimal supervision

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education and experience:

Education:

• A master's degree and 6 years of experience, including 3 years of focused experience (focused experience may vary based upon assignment), are required.

Experience:

• Experience in child welfare with demonstrated expertise in workforce data analytics and quality improvement
• Experience analyzing child welfare workforce data (e.g., human resource data, training and professional development data, workload data)
• Experience analyzing and visualizing child welfare administrative data sets, including State administrative data and/or Federal child welfare reporting such as the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) and the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)
• Experience with child welfare Federal reporting processes such as Child and Family Services Plans (CFSP) and Annual Progress and Services Reports (APSRs); Child and Family Services Review (CFSR)-related documents and reports, including the statewide data indicators (SWDI); Family First Prevention Services Act prevention plans; materials related to other Federal reviews (e.g., National Youth in Transition Database); formula grant plans (e.g., Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and Children's Justice Act); demonstration grants reports; discretionary grant work plans and reports; Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) applications; Court Improvement Program (CIP) plans; and other sources to systematically assess the needs of State and Territorial public child welfare agencies
• Familiarity with Comprehensive Child Welfare Information Systems (CCWIS) requirements
• Experience working in and/or providing consultation and support to public child welfare agencies to select, implement, and monitor the use of risk and safety assessment tools and protocols (i.e., assessment selection or protocol development, implementation, training, coaching, and examination of assessment reliability/validity)
• Experience interpreting and communicating jurisdictions' needs and strengths through the use of data

Software proficiency:

• Expert knowledge in Microsoft Office (e.g., Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Proficient in using Tableau and PowerBi independently
• Proficient in project management/CRM software (e.g., Monday.com, Smartsheet, Salesforce)
• Experience with one or more statistical packages, such as SPSS, SAS, R, or other statistical packages
• (Preferred) Proficient in Python, SQL, and cloud-based data management platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks)

Competencies:

• Ability to work with jurisdictions, including agency leadership and program manager staff
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, to interact effectively with the project team and jurisdiction, specifically the ability to communicate data results effectively to any audience and confidently make data-informed decisions
• Strong knowledge of child welfare Federal reviews and child welfare data systems
• Creative and innovative thinking to design and deliver data-driven solutions that increase efficiencies and reduce burden for jurisdictions and within the project team
• Analytical skills to extract data insights, trends, and outcomes
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to conduct advanced statistical analyses with minimal supervision preferred
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to write clear and concise copy with attention to detail and target audience focus with minimal supervision
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills
• Self-motivated and proactive to work independently and collaboratively with minimal supervision and guidance; adaptable and flexible to cope with changing requirements and technologies
• Leadership and management skills to initiate, plan, execute, and deliver data-driven projects with a growth mindset

Language:

• English fluency (oral and written)
• (Preferred) Spanish fluency (oral and written)

Location:

• Remote

Security clearance:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust Clearance (Federal Government background check)

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit for prolonged periods at a desk or computer workstation
• Regularly uses a computer, keyboard, and mouse
• Normal or corrected vision to read documents, view computer screens, and perform tasks that require visual accuracy
• Ability to hear and understand spoken information in person and over the phone
• Minimal lifting and carrying may be required, typically light office supplies or documents
• Ability to move within the office environment to access equipment, files, and interact with colleagues
• Ability to handle occasional stress related to deadlines, workloads, or challenging tasks
• Ability to travel 10-20 percent, on average, based on the project needs

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

This position description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position, nor will it be the sole basis for any subsequent employee evaluations. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor.