Our Ability Jobs

Working Title: Research Consultant

Job Class: Research Scientist 3

Agency: Children Youth & Families Dept

• Job ID : 82041

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers. This vacancy is open for bids and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bidders will be considered through 11/28/2024. Please note that to be considered a bidder, you must be a permanent non-probationary DCYF employee in the same job classification as the position.

• Date Posted : 11/22/2024

• Closing Date : 12/05/2024

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Children Youth & Families Dept / DCYF Central Office MAPE

• Division/Unit : DCYF/Child Safety and Permanency Administration/Continuous Quality Improvement Unit

• Work Shift: Day Shift

• Work Hours : 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : No

• Salary Range: $36.71 - $54.60 / hourly; $76,650 - $114,004 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE

• FLSA Status : Exempt - Professional

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

In the 2023 legislative session, the Governor’s Office, Minnesota legislature, and leaders for children and families worked in partnership to pass legislation establishing the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to create a sustainable, public face for children’s issues in state government. This new cabinet-level agency brings together programs centered on children and families, including childcare and early learning, child support, child safety and permanency, economic support and food assistance, and youth opportunity. Formerly a part of the Department of Human Services, the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Agency became effective on July 1, 2024.

* Telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) ( Within Minnesota or neighboring states only; telework is not allowed in other states ) and flexible hours options are available .*

The Research Consultant performs complex research, including performance measures development, data manipulation and visualization that help policymakers and program administrators understand how programs are functioning and make decisions related to and in accordance with the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA) and broader Child Safety and Permanency Division (CSP) division work.

The Research Consultant anticipate, identify, and communicate emerging policy, implementation and research questions and trends to respond to department priority areas related to child safety, permanency, well-being, and reduction of racial disproportionality, and in particular drive continuous quality improvement efforts.

Responsibilities include:

• Plan, coordinate, and conduct performance measurement and quality indicators, with focus on the MAAFPCWDA and for Minnesota’s child welfare system with or focused information and data requests received from within the Child Safety and Permanency (CSP); other DCYF divisions; county and tribal supervisors and managers; other state agencies and community groups so that decision-makers have necessary information to make evidence-based and data- informed policy. Make policy and action recommendations based on research and analytics.

• Oversee, plan, coordinate, and conduct research and program evaluation activities for Minnesota’s child welfare programs in accordance with MAAFPWCDA statutory requirement for child welfare practice and policy.

• Lead, plan, and model program performance measures and quality indicators and reports on MAAFPCWDA specific child welfare program areas or other broader areas as determined necessary through CSP and unit collaboration and decision making.

• Provide data related consultation services to DCYF, other state agencies, counties and tribes, legislators, community groups, and others on SSIS, MAXIS, Census/ACS data, and other disaggregated and non-disaggregated data sources used by CFS; child welfare policy; and program evaluation.

• Anticipate and identify emerging areas of public policy concern, including but not limited to child welfare racial/ethnic overrepresentation and related outcome disparities through the CSP’s continuous quality improvement and MAAFPCWDA activities that will have an impact on the successful implementation, execution, and maintenance of existing and proposed programs.

• Provide other support, as needed, to support the mission, vision, and values of the Research and Evaluation Unit, Child Safety and Permanency Division and Department

Minimum Qualifications:

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month, day and year for each job held.

Three (3) years of professional experience in both research and policy expertise that demonstrates experience in these areas:

• Leading work that integrates a complex set of programs, policy areas and/or data sets.

• Managing projects that involve staff in a variety of roles and balance multiple priorities.

• Synthesizing large amounts of information by creating dashboards, white papers, reports, and other methods of sharing analytic results in context.

• Knowledge of social welfare policy and issues, especially in the context of child welfare, child protection, out-of-home care, adoption, and the other areas the division oversees.

• Experience with community engagement and partnerships.

• Experience using automated systems and computer software to access, manipulate and present complex statistical data such as: Structured Query Language (SQL), SPSS Statistical software, Tableau, and Teradata SQL Assist, and Social Service Information system

Preferred Qualifications:

• Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

• Experience with continuous quality improvement.

Additional Requirements

REFERENCE/BACKGROUND CHECKS – DCYF will conduct reference checks to verify job-related credentials and a criminal background check prior to appointment.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.