Research Data Manager

The California Department of Finance is hiring a Research Data Manager within the Demographic Research Unit. This position functions as the Director of the State Data Center (SDC) within the Demographic Research Unit. The SDC was established to disseminate census data, improve public access to census data products, and serve as a resource to the regional and local affiliate centers throughout California. The SDC Director is the state expert in census data products and their use in policy.

Title: Research Data Manager
Company: The State of California, Department of Finance
Unit: Demographic Research Unit
Pay: $10,050 – $11, 410 per Month
Application Deadline: 11/17/2026

Please follow the link below for the full job description/application:
https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=538236  
(NOTE: HR is only able to consider complete applications submitted to the link listed above)

As a Research Data Manager, you will:

• Report to the Chief Demographer and oversee research staff engaged in demographic and statistical analysis.
• Provide oversight of the city population and housing estimates, including its planning, methodology, and production, through direct supervision of the program’s Research Data Supervisor.
• Work closely with the Assistant Chief Demographer and the staff of Economic and Revenue Research to ensure that the best available research data are used, forecasting assumptions are as accurate as possible, and that policy and budgeting implications of demographic change are understood by appropriate staff in the Department of Finance and throughout the state.

Research Data Manager Requirements: 
All Applicants must take and pass the Research Data Manager Exam prior to applying:
https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=2373

Requirements:

• One year in the California state civil service performing data research-oriented duties in a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to that of Research Data Supervisor II, or the Research Data Specialist II;
  OR
• Six years of professional data research-oriented experience which must have included responsibility for the determination of research data gathering and reporting design and methodology of a complete research project. (Research experience applied toward this pattern must include at least one year of experience performing duties with a level of responsibility equivalent to Research Supervisor II, or the Research Data Specialist II.)

Education Requirements:

• 12 semester or 18 quarter units course work in any combination of a data driven research-related field, such as economics, mathematics, psychology, sociology, demography, geography, anthropology, statistics, data science or a research-related field. This must include at least one course in statistical methods;
  AND
• Equivalent to graduation from an accredited college with a bachelor’s degree.

Experience Substitution Options:

• Work experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis by applicants who have the required units mentioned above.
• A Master’s Degree in economics, mathematics, psychology, sociology, demography, geography, anthropology, statistics, data science or a related research-oriented field may be substituted for two years of the required experience. A doctoral degree in the same areas may be substituted for three years of the required experience.
• Experience applicable to one of the following patterns may be combined on a proportional basis with experience applicable to the other pattern to meet the total experience requirements.