Research Specialist

at  North Carolina North Carolina Dept of Public Safety

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The Social Research Specialist II position is primarily responsible for the planning, organizing, implementing, and analyzing data related to the criminal justice system in North Carolina. This analyst position supports the standing committees of the Governor’s Crime Commission, Executive Director of the Governor’s Crime Commission, and Director of the Criminal Justice Analysis Center regarding the impact of policy, projects or programs. Work includes identifying and collecting information on a variety of areas of interest for stakeholders, developing research and evaluation methodologies, collecting project output and outcome data, as well as contributing to design and development of the Justice Data Portal (justicedataportal.nc.gov).

DESCRIPTION OF WORK DIVISION

The Governor’s Crime Commission (GCC) serves as the chief advisory body to the Governor and to the Secretary of Public Safety on crime and justice issues. GCC also serves as the State Administering Agency (SAA), the executive branch agency designated to apply for federal criminal justice funding from the US Department of Justice on behalf of the State. The Criminal Justice Analysis Center (CJAC) is North Carolina’s Statistical Analysis Center and is a member of the Justice Information Research Network (JIRN). CJAC provides data-driven research and analysis of North Carolina’s criminal justice system to inform policy, programs, legislative recommendations, and federal funding priorities for the Commission, Secretary and the Governor. CJAC’s development and maintenance of the NC Justice Data Portal is one tool to provide criminal justice data to decision-makers and citizens.

TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION, APPLICANTS MUST DOCUMENT ON THE APPLICATION THAT THEY POSSESS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Knowledge and experience with data reporting and using SAS and/or other statistical software packages, for database design, analyzing data, data query design, and creating graphics.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.
Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the field assigned to the position from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of related experience;
or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SUPPLEMENTAL AND CONTACT INFORMATION

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job.
DPS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive information. Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the beginning and ending dates of jobs worked, education with the date graduated, all work experience, and certificates / licenses. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application. Answers to Supplemental Questions must refer to education or work experience listed on this application to receive credit. Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

• Applicants seeking Veteran’s Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. If a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.

• If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, they must attach an unofficial transcript to each application to receive credit for this education.

• • Per NC General Statute 143B-972.1 (Download PDF reader), applicants hired into a position certified as a criminal justice officer or justice officer are required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record check and enrollment in the FBI’s Next Generation Identification System: Criminal Justice Record of Arrest and Prosecution Background Service (“RAP Back”). This is in addition to submitting fingerprints during the application process.
    For technical issues with your application, please call the GovernmentJobs.com Applicant Support Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact Katrina Akin at katrina.akins@ncdps.gov.

• Creating and maintaining data files that are frequently used for crime and criminal justice system analysis.
• Independently applying various research techniques in gathering, analyzing, and developing data to address problems, discuss issues, and inform policy/practice.
• Modifying or writing statistical programs to process and analyze data as it relates to crime and the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems.
• Overseeing aspects of research projects such as defining project parameters, collecting appropriate data, creating surveys, setting up data sets, analyzing data, and writing reports and presentations of findings.
• Identifying and appropriately analyzing data as it relates to the criminal justice system, including designing and developing content for the Justice Data Portal.
• Requires knowledge of valid research methodologies, statistical techniques, and appropriate software.
• Ability to design or create a means to gather, analyze and report information, both quantitative and qualitative, on programs and projects funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission and criminal justice measures.
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders to develop research projects or discussion of efficiency and effectiveness of policy directions and program initiatives related to juvenile justice, criminal justice, and victims’ services.
• Ability to identify and utilize disparate data sets to prepare data for analysis.
• Ability to determine and implement long range plans or schedules for data collection and analysis for the purpose of preparing reports.
• Ability to write clearly in the communication of analytical results and program assessments as part of annual plans, grant applications, standing committees, and publications for various audiences.
  This position qualifies for teleworking on a part-time basis as part of a State Telework Pilot Program. More information on this arrangement may be obtained at the time of interview.