Research and Evaluation Specialist

Job Description:

Research and Evaluation Specialist

Description

Description

WHAT WE OFFER
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. In addition to the salary, an employee within this position will also be eligible for the following:

• Educational Incentive - Incumbents may be eligible for educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's/Doctoral degree that is not required for the classification.
• Bilingual Incentive - Proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level (II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Annual Leave Redemption - The ability to "cash in" or redeem up to 100 hours of Annual Leave per year after using 80 hours of annual leave within the previous 12 months.
• Annual Leave Accrual - A candidate selected for this position will earn 208 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service (based on a full-time schedule; hours are pro-rated for part-time schedules).
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Insurance - You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participation in the County's defined pension plan. If eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS.
• Holidays - 12 paid days per year which includes a floating holiday.

THE POSITION
Do you want to use research to influence public policy and make a positive impact in your community? Join us as a Research and Evaluation Specialist with the Ventura County Probation Agency (VCPA) and help drive data-informed decisions that make a real difference. In this role, you’ll work where program evaluation meets policy development, helping guide decisions that improve life across Ventura County. We're seeking an innovative, analytical thinker who enjoys working with others to turn data into clear, practical recommendations. You’ll lead and support important projects that directly affect the programs serving our community. If you’re ready to make a difference through data-driven work, we’d love to hear from you.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
The successful candidate will be detail-oriented and analytical, with a strong background in research methods, statistical analysis, and program evaluation. Ideally, they have an advanced degree in a field focused on research methods and statistics, such as psychology, criminology, public health, statistics, or a related area, with hands-on experience designing and carrying out program evaluations of services or similar applied research projects within a justice setting.

The candidate can develop logic models, evaluation plans, and performance metrics, and is adept at interpreting research findings to inform recommendations for policy and practice. They are proficient in statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R, or SAS) and data visualization tools and can effectively communicate findings to both technical and non-technical audiences. The candidate excels in collaborating with stakeholders, including program staff, leadership, and community partners. They demonstrate strong time management and project management skills, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities and requirements.

PAYROLL TITLE: Program Administrator III

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Ventura County Probation Agency/Administration

Program Administrator III is a Management classification and is not eligible for overtime compensation.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: October 8, 2025
CLOSING DATE: November 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

Examples Of Duties

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Plans, organizes, and conducts program evaluations of services provided to juvenile and adult clients;
• Evaluates the reliability and validity of assessment instruments;
• Creates project plans, which identify key issues, problems, approaches, timelines, and resources required;
• Presents findings in visual (e.g., charts, maps, and calendars) and written (e.g., reports) formats in a way that is understandable by diverse and non-expert audiences;
• Works on special projects as assigned;
• Collaborates with Agency employees, service providers, and other partners to create program-based logic models (including the identification/definition of resources/inputs, program activities, program outputs, and short- and long-term program outcomes);
• Collects, cleans, validates, transforms, integrates, and monitors data to ensure quality and consistency;
• Analyzes operations, processes, trends, and outcomes to identify strengths and weaknesses;
• Performs basic and advanced statistical analyses with quantitative and qualitative data;
• Works with other team members to translate evaluation and monitoring findings into organizational and program improvement;
• Provides data support and facilitation across the Agency;
• Ensures research projects comply with ethical and legal standards.
• Other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the exam process, possession of which assures neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination of education, training, and experience which has led to acquisition of the required competencies.

An example of a qualifying education and experience is:

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree in a field that emphasizes research methods and analysis such as criminology, psychology, statistics, data science, or a related field.

AND

Three (3) years of full time progressive experience planning, organizing, and conducting program evaluations of services provided or other relevant research projects.

Substitution:

• Additional related professional experience may substitute for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• A master’s degree in a related field may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
• A doctoral degree in a related field may substitute for all three (3) years of the required experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be willing to work on-site in Ventura, California, full time.

Demonstrated skills in:

• Designing and conducting research
• Advanced statistical analyses, such as analysis of variance, regression, survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve
• Communicating research findings to diverse audiences including non-experts through written reports and oral presentation

Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Proficiency with SPSS, Stata, SAS, R, or similar statistical analysis software

NOTE: Excellent written communication skills must be demonstrated in the completion of the employment application and supplemental questionnaire

Desired

Master and/or doctoral degree in a field focused on research methods and statistics, such as psychology, criminology, public health, statistics, or a related area

Experience demonstrating knowledge of:

• Evidence-based and promising practices within justice settings
• Human subjects’ protection and ethical standards when working with sensitive and/or protected data and information

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Working knowledge of: principles, methods, and techniques used in research and program evaluations; evidence-based practices and promising practices in criminal justice settings; human subjects’ protections and ethical standards when working with sensitive and/or protected data and information.

Ability to: plan, organize, and conduct program evaluations effectively; create program-based logic models (including the identification/definition of resources/inputs, program activities, program outputs, and short- and long-term program outcomes); work with sensitive and/or protected data and information; use research findings to make recommendations for policy and practice; understand, work with, and meet needs of diverse teams and stakeholders; adapt to changing priorities and requirements.

Demonstrated skills in: designing and conducting research (e.g., experimental, quasi-experimental, survey, etc.); conceptualizing and operationalizing outcome and performance metrics; data collection, cleaning, transformation, and merging; using statistical analysis software for example SPSS, Stata, SAS, R, etc.; advanced statistical analyses for example analysis of variance, regression, survival analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve; communicating research findings to diverse audiences including non-experts through written reports and presentations; using Microsoft programs including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; project and time management; critical and flexible thinking (e.g., seeing multiple solutions to problems, applying knowledge to new situations or in new ways); attention to detail; collaborating with stakeholders, including program staff, leadership, and community partners; excellent written communication.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE

Applications must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 7, 2025.

To apply on-line, please refer to our website at hr.venturacounty.gov. If you prefer to submit a paper application, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura, Human Resources Division, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Loc. # 1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that sufficient information is provided under the Education/Work Experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire to thoroughly and accurately demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another merit or civil service public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a merit or civil service style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - QUALIFYING

All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - QUALIFYING

All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

TRAINING and EXPERIENCE EVALUATION
A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.

NOTE: The selection process will likely consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded or replaced with the score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence. Responses such as "See Resume" or "Refer to Resume" are not acceptable and may disqualify an applicant from further evaluation.

ORAL EXAMINATION/PRACTICAL EXAM - 100

A job-related examination consisting of a practical exam and an oral exam will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating candidates’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job.

Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list. The oral/practical examination may be consolidated into one process or expanded into two separate exam components contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool.

If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination will not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill present and future Regular (Temporary or Fixed-Term), Intermittent, or Extra Help vacancies for this and similar positions only.There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy within the Probation Agency.

Applicants successfully completing the exam process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

After successful completion of the examination process, certified candidates who have been invited to a selection interview and accepted a conditional offer of employment, will undergo a thorough background investigation that will include, but not necessarily be limited to, contacting personal, educational and business references, and Livescan fingerprinting for a criminal records check. Additionally, certified candidates will undergo a polygraph, psychological, and medical examination. Those entering the background process are required to provide a current (issued within the past 30 days) Department of Motor Vehicles printout (K4 - 10 year driving record) to the Background Investigator.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Katie Reynolds by email at katie.reynoldsl@venturacounty.gov by telephone at (805) 654-2629.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

MANAGEMENT

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQ's
• Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes: MB3, MB4, MS, MT, MCC, MU

Closing Date/Time: 11/7/2025 5:00 AM Pacific

Salary:

$84,487.04 - $118,293.47 Annually