Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Join the Covered California team!

Are you passionate about making a real-world impact through data science? Covered California invites you to apply for the Senior Research Data Scientist position. This role involves leading complex empirical studies to improve our marketplace operations, spearheading data science strategies for policy interventions, and offering statistical expertise in health care and enrollment data analysis. You'll drive innovative research, ensure rigorous project standards, develop data infrastructure, and present findings to various stakeholders. Join us to contribute to groundbreaking health policy research and help optimize services for millions of Californians.

At Covered California, we recognize our employees are our most valuable asset. We have a variety of career fields that help make a difference in the lives of Californians, and we’re looking for talented and enthusiastic individuals to join our team! Learn more about why you should join the

This position is headquartered in Sacramento County or Alameda County, Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquarters office subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. Travel expenses associated with commuting to the employee’s office headquarters location are not reimbursable, other than authorized transit subsidies.

NOTE: To be considered for this job opportunity, applicants must be reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility, or have reinstatement eligibility. If you are new to California State service and you do not have list eligibility, you must take the exam for this classification. To gain employment list eligibility, please see exam bulletin links below:

Possession of minimum qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment . If it is determined an applicant does not meet the minimum qualifications, the applicant's name may be removed from the eligibility list.

Covered California does not provide visa sponsorship and is not an E-Verify employer.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Special Requirements

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Instructions: A SOQ is required to apply. The SOQ will be used as a pre-interview screening tool. Applicants who do not follow the SOQ instructions and/or do not answer the prompt as stated below may not be considered.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be useful in the development of written responses; however, it is important to use these tools responsibly and ethically.  Where assistive tools may be used, responses within the SOQ should be your own original work. Applicants must write in their own words and avoid plagiarism.  Failure to comply may be cause for disqualification.

Please provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring manager’s review. Applications received without an SOQ will not be considered. The SOQ must not exceed 1 page in length in 11 point Arial font. The SOQ must address the following questions, numbered, and in the order listed below: 

1. Describe a time you worked with a large dataset using a statistical package that requires writing your own code (e.g. SQL, R, Python, SAS). 
2. Describe a research or evaluation project where you developed the study design, analytic plan, collected data, executed analyses, generated a report or publication, and made recommendations. 

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 7/7/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Covered California

Employment & Classification Services

Attn: HRB-ECSU-AP

1601 Exposition Blvd

Sacramento , CA 95815

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Covered California

Employment & Classification Services

HRB-ECSU-AP

1601 Exposition Blvd

Sacramento , CA 95815

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• School Transcripts
• Statement of Qualifications -

  Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Instructions: A SOQ is required to apply. The SOQ will be used as a pre-interview screening tool. Applicants who do not follow the SOQ instructions and/or do not answer the prompt as stated below may not be considered.

• Other - Cover Letter

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Health, Vision, Dental, Retirement, and an array of other options. For more information on the benefits offered by the State of California, please click below:

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Human Resources Contact:
Ashley Poritz
(916) 354-3515
ashley.poritz@covered.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Office
(916) 999-8733
EEO@covered.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Background Check: All applicants shall be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The investigation will consist of completion of a pre-employment questionnaire, fingerprinting, and an inquiry to the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation to disclose criminal records.

Incompatible Activities: To maintain our integrity and focus on serving Californians, Covered California adheres to unique conflict of interest restrictions on the outside employment and activities of its board members and staff. If you’re considering a role with us, it’s important to know at the time of your start:

• You must not be employed by or otherwise affiliated with health insurance carriers, other insurers, agents, brokers, health care professionals, health facilities, or health clinics, or trade associations of any of these entities. This also means that you must not hold an active license to sell health insurance in California.
• You must not hold an active license to sell health insurance in California.
• Health care professionals are welcome to join our team, provided you do not receive payment for professional services and do not hold ownership or financial interests in a health care practice.

Conflict of Interest: This position is also designated under Covered California’s Conflict of Interest Code. This means if you’re selected to join us, you’ll be required to disclose certain financial interests, including of a spouse, that could potentially interfere with your ability to perform your duties impartially and with the best interests of the public in mind. You may also be disqualified from participating in decisions that may affect those financial interests.  

Please email any questions or concerns you may have prior to accepting a final offer of employment to Form700@covered.ca.gov .

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work,

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