Overview
The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) has been part of the nation’s nutrition safety net for 50 years.
Extensive research has found WIC to be a cost-effective investment that leads to healthier infants, more nutritious diets, health care for children, and subsequently higher academic achievement for students. WIC helps families receive healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other community services.
Like other divisions within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), WIC builds its program by addressing social determinants of health. WIC impacts the life course by promoting health practices that can ultimately improve life outcomes often experienced by vulnerable communities.
WIC serves babies and children up to age five, pregnant women, and new mothers. Dads, grandparents, foster parents of young children, and working families are welcome at WIC too!
Monthly, nearly one million WIC participants can find support at one of 84 local agencies which offer services at more than 500 sites throughout California. WIC participants can redeem their food benefits at approximately 3,800 grocers that are authorized to serve WIC families.
In 2019 – 2020, the WIC Division implemented an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card called the California WIC Card and a new management information system known as WIC WISE, that allows WIC participants to be served more efficiently. The CDPH WIC Division works continuously to improve its operations and system to better support families and its partners.
About the CDPH/WIC Family
Over 200 state staff work at CDPH’s WIC Division, headquartered at the Natomas campus in Sacramento. WIC is committed to a hybrid workforce and the state provides a modest stipend for those who fully and partially work from home. Staff are provided with a computer or laptop, camera, and large screen to conduct their work. We build our unit teams virtually and maintain contact with stakeholders by being on camera to solidify our relationships.
The WIC Division is led by senior managers administering a Local Policy and Health Programs Branch, Local Services Branch, Vendor Management Branch, Communications, Food, and Vendor Policy Branch, Data and Integrity Branch, Systems Integration Branch, and the Operations team. Through these branches, our support staff, analysts, specialists, researchers, and nutritionists serve the needs of WIC families, supports our program partners, and ensures the California WIC Program is administered appropriately and effectively.
The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.
Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov
Candidates in one of these classifications, where a Master’s Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 2% of their monthly base pay. Those where a Doctoral Degree is a required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 3% of their monthly base pay. Individuals with both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree will be given the best benefit in relation to salary shall only be eligible for only one amount.
The candidate works under the general supervision of the Chief, Participant Analysis, Research, and Evaluation (PARE) Section, Research Scientist Supervisor I (RSS I). The Research Scientist (RS) II (Social/Behavioral Sciences) conducts scientific research studies and data analysis of moderate scientific scope and complexity related to the participation and engagement trends within the WIC program. The RS II theorizes and tests various hypotheses to understand participation differences within the WIC program; collects, analyzes, and monitors data to assess the quality of services delivered by WIC local agencies; and evaluates program and health outcomes. The RS II develops data tables, figures, written summaries, reports, presentations, and articles for internal and external stakeholders.
This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.
Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.
Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
RESEARCH SCIENTIST II (SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES)
Desirable Qualifications
In addition to evaluating each candidate’s relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
At least two years conducting descriptive and inferential statistics using a software program such as SAS or R
Ability to communicate effectively with staff at various levels, external agencies, and the general public
Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills including reviewing and editing documents
Experience In:
Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting various forms of data and querying large databases
Developing and monitoring performance and outcome measures
Communicating data to non-data partners
Survey development and analysis
Knowledge Of:
Data-driven decision-making techniques
Program monitoring and evaluation methods
Structured Query Language (SQL) and relational databases
Government assistance programs
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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included
https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=493528
At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.
About The California Department of Public Health
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) works to protect the public's health in the Golden State and helps shape positive health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. The Department's programs and services, implemented in collaboration with local health departments and state, federal and private partners, touch the lives of every Californian and visitor to the state 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our Shared Vision
CDPH public health professionals, researchers, scientists, doctors, nurses, and other staff members have a shared vision to protect and improve the health of all Californians. We are dedicated to public service and passionate about our work and the people and communities we serve and protect.
