Research and Evaluation Specialist

WHAT WE OFFER
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits 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 Associates Bachelors or Masters/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 Countys 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 Countys 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 this role youll work where program evaluation meets policy development helping guide decisions that improve life across Ventura County. Were seeking an innovative analytical thinker who enjoys working with others to turn data into clear practical recommendations. Youll lead and support important projects that directly affect the programs serving our community. If youre ready to make a difference through data-driven work wed 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.

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.

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 Bachelors 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 masters 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.

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. If you prefer to submit a paper application please call 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 applicants 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 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 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.