Social Sciences Research Specialist

Position:
Social Sciences Research Specialist (260004QD)

Agency:
Youth Services – Central Office

Work Location:

DYS William Green Building, 30 West Spring Street, 5th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215

Primary

Location:

United States of America – Ohio – Franklin County – Columbus

$34.53 - $50.66 per hour

Full-time, Monday - Friday

Research

The Ohio Department of Youth Services seeks a Social Sciences Research Specialist in the Office of Best Practices Institute. The position conducts research studies on a variety of DYS‑related issues, designing and analyzing projects, and providing technical assistance.

• Independently reviews, designs, and plans social science research projects, including project definition, statistical and sampling techniques, and interpretation of stakeholder data.
• Utilizes advanced statistical concepts such as central tendency, variability, standard error, correlations, predictive measures, regression, and Bayesian analysis.
• Provides information and technical assistance to agency staff on research and evaluation matters.
• Conducts qualitative interviews onsite or virtually and performs thematic content analysis.
• Contributes to internal and external departmental publications.
• Develops social science statistical and conceptual models for research and evaluation projects.
• Creates graphic presentations.
• Uses software including SPSS, Excel, Tableau, SAS, PowerBI, Google, and others to test hypotheses.
• Prepares records and reports presenting concise analysis and interpretation of research projects.
• Acts as liaison with Information Technology Systems (ITS) to develop expanded data system requirements and inter‑dependency among data networks.

Minimum of a graduate core coursework in social science or public administration with at least six courses in advanced statistics and research methodology.

• 18 months experience in research and/or social science policy analysis using advanced statistics and research methodology.
• 12 months experience or training using computer hardware, statistical software, spreadsheets, graphical presentation, and workflow processing.
• Or 6 months experience as a Social Sciences Research Analyst (Job Code 65261).
• Or equivalent to the minimum qualifications listed above.

Job

Skills:

Research

Selected candidates will undergo a criminal background check including results from BCI and FBI. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify applicants; each case is individually assessed.

All new hires must attend three weeks of mandatory, paid training at the Correctional Training Academy in Orient, Ohio (Monday to Thursday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM).

Ohio is a disability‑inclusion state committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug‑free workplace and prohibits recreational marijuana use. This position may be subject to additional restrictions under the State of Ohio Drug‑Free Workplace Policy (HR‑39).