Data Specialist On-Call

ICF Job Title:  Data Specialist

Project Labor Category:   20 hrs

Position Summary/Purpose:

The Data Specialist will support the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families’ Data Analytics and Reporting Team (DART) in managing, analyzing, and reporting on national and state child welfare data, with an emphasis on data analysis related to child welfare outcomes. In addition to general data management and analytic responsibilities, the Data Specialist also will provide data analytic support to the Program Specialist in the development of the annual Child Welfare Outcomes Report to Congress and assist with the continued development and maintenance of the Child Welfare Outcomes Data Site. The Data Specialist will work closely with DART staff to support the management and analysis of data submitted by states to federal data collection systems that may include the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS), the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) and the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) data.  The Data Specialist also may support the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) monitoring program by analyzing data and conducting data quality checks. 

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

Assist in data quality assurance activities and data analyses in preparation of material for inclusion in annual Child Welfare Outcomes Reports, the Child Welfare Outcomes Data Site, and other products/reports as assigned Assist in data quality activities and preparation of AFCARS 2020 files for analytic use Assist in the analyses and presentation of data in support of the Child and Family Services Review monitoring program Conduct basic and advanced statistical analyses for use in data briefs and research articles Assist with drafting, producing, and disseminating a variety of reports, including data briefs, technical assistance briefs, and technical bulletins Design and generate customized data visualization reports for a wide variety of audiences Participate in Federal meetings, committees and workgroups as appropriate Other duties as assigned

Preferred Education and Skills:

Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, statistics, computer science, mathematics or related field from an accredited university

Proficient use of SPSS analytic software

Ability to manage and analyze data using Microsoft Excel

Proficient use of Tableau or similar visualization software

Knowledge of R software and Python programming language

Strong mathematical, analytical, and data modeling skills

The ability to transform findings and results from analyzing large, complex data sets into manageable and understandable reports

Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

Familiarity with title IV-E child welfare programs

Challenges of the Position:

Perform complex statistical analyses of large, aggregate data sets using SPSS, R, or Python software; prioritize and manage multiple tasks under critical timeframes; demonstrate strong attention to detail and quality check all outputs; work both independently and collaboratively with Federal, State, and consultant staff; utilize strong written and verbal communication skills to share information related to complex data analyses to a variety of audiences.

Related Duties and/or Matrixed Participation:

Participate in related Children’s Bureau activities and meetings; represent Information Gateway and the Children’s Bureau at selected conferences; interface with ACF staff; work across Children’s Bureau divisions; provide support to Federal and consultant staff related to data issues.

Reporting Structure:

Supervision received: Receives direct supervision from the Federal point of contact and corporate supervision from the Manager for Child Welfare Strategic Initiatives.

Working at ICF

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