Principal Data Scientist at State Of California

As a Principal Data Scientist with the Advanced Analytics and Evaluation team, you will be the point person in providing innovative advanced analytic and data science support for projects across California. You will serve as the principal data scientist on a wide variety of data science projects across the state. In this capacity, you will serve as the lead advisor on exploratory, statistical, and predictive analytics to inform data-driven decisions.
You will lead the evaluation of the best approach for projects from an ethical lens, as well as statistical lens. You will help spread the adoption of ethical best practices by advising data teams across the state on responsible, effective, and ethical data science practices.
You will collaborate with the team’s data engineers and data analysts on projects and be the lead on identifying workflow improvements for the team’s data science practice. Years of experience is the primary distinguisher between our principal data scientist (5+ years) and senior data scientist (3+ years).
CalData works across all departments in the state, with data that reaches all Californians. You will find the problems and challenges we engage with need the heart as much as the mind.
About you: You are an experienced data scientist who wants to create impact at scale. The following bullets points describe you:
You are a responsible, thoughtful, and rigorous user of advanced statistical techniquesYou know from experience that modeling is one of many steps to drive data driven decisions makingYou want to bring the right approach to solve the client’s problemYou avoid needless statistical complexityYou are eager to consult, brainstorm, and advise other data teamsYou enjoy abstracting your approaches and helping to build capacity across multiple teamsYou enjoy the process of communicating and collaborating with both technical clients and non-technical clients to truly understand a problem and its dataYou have an eye for sustainability and take great joy in improving data science practices at scaleYou understand the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on data and analytics. 
Location: ODI staff reside throughout California. The employee’s workstation is located in Sacramento, CA. Travel to the Sacramento headquarters may be required as needed. This position provides telework opportunities in accordance with agency telework policies. (Must currently reside in California)
Annual Salary: $147,540 to $164,328 based on experience
Benefits: The state offers many benefits
Last day to apply: Open until filled. First application review begins Wednesday, December 7, 2022
What you’ll do
Serve as the principal data scientist for advanced analytics and data science projects from across the stateServe as the data science methodology expert for the stateDefine best practices in advanced analytics and data science and help grow these practices within ODI and across the stateParticipate in project solicitation, vetting, and scoping processes to identify client projects across the state
Apply now
About ODI
We deliver better services to Californians through technology and design. We do so through close partnership with other state departments. Our goal is to create programs and products that are more equitable and effective. We listen to Californians who use a program now or may do so tomorrow and learn about what they need.
We:
Build tools and productsCreate and enhance digital servicesConduct researchIdentify data solutionsOffer training
We are a cross-discipline staff with blended backgrounds in:
DesignEngineeringProductOperationsDataResearchPolicyStrategy
Learn more about ODI’s vision and mission.
About CalData division
CalData uses data to deliver better decisions, services, and outcomes for Californians.
As the central data team for the state, we empower people to use data. We build infrastructure, develop processes, and train people to better manage and use data. We want the state’s data use to be:
EfficientEffectiveSecureResponsible
To help state departments use data well, we created California’s Data Strategy. We use a road analogy to illustrate the strategy. We must:
Build data roadsCraft rules of the roadBoost the drivers
Read the full strategy in Google Doc or PDF.
More details about CalData, our positions, and how we work are available in our Gitbook.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion at ODI
Diversity, equity, and inclusion help us deliver better government services to Californians.
Fostering diversity inspires better ideas and more innovative thinking.Feeling included nurtures a shared sense of community. This drives us to take collective action on challenging problems.Prioritizing equity ensures we build solutions for people whose needs are often overlooked.
We acknowledge our history and present of implicit and structural injustice, bias, and discrimination. We see, hear, and accept each other and the lived experiences we bring to our work. We support each other in learning and developing so we can help all Californians thrive.
We understand this work is never done. That’s why we commit to constant improvement.