Working Title: Early Childhood Longitudinal Data System Research Scientist / Research Scientist 3
Job Class: Research Scientist 3
Agency: Children Youth & Families Dept
Job ID : 90374
Location : St. Paul
Telework Eligible : Yes
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers. This vacancy is open for bids and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bidders will be considered through 11/25/25. Please note that to be considered a bidder, you must be a permanent, non-probationary DCYF employee in the same job classification as the position posted
Date Posted : 11/19/2025
Closing Date : 12/03/2025
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Children Youth & Families Dept / DCYF Central Office MAPE
Division/Unit : DCYF/Early Learning Services
Work Shift: Day Shift
Work Hours : 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : No
Salary Range: $37.26 - $55.42 / hourly; $77,798 - $115,716 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
FLSA Status : Exempt - Professional
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DCYF does not participate in E-Verify.
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
* Telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) (Within Minnesota or neighboring states) and flexible hours options are available.
This position will independently conduct complex research and data analysis activities for early childhood care and education on behalf of the Departments of Children, Youth, and Families; Human Services; Health; and Education; and Children's Cabinet to benefit Minnesota's Early Childhood Longitudinal Data System (ECLDS). Working closely with the ECLDS Lead, this position will be a key staff member helping multiple state agencies better understand the characteristics and experiences of Minnesota's youngest children and their families who use public programs and services. This person will be expected to understand the technical design of data warehouse systems, identify issues and opportunities to enhance data linking and reporting, and is responsible for both detailed and high-level problem solving, data analysis, and data extraction. They will create and maintain documentation.
Responsibilities include strategic analysis and planning of business requests, gathering requirements, and performing data analysis. This position is the primary point of contact for ECLDS data questions and concerns among data contributors and program staff. This position works collaboratively with MNIT staff, local and agency program staff, DCYF Early Learning Services, as well as ECLDS and Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System (SLEDS) staff.
Responsibilities include:
Plan, design, and implement methods and procedures to advance the cross-agency ECLDS data infrastructure to make certain observations within the early childhood field, broadly. This position is responsible for optimizing data linkages, advancing user experience with the system, and producing research reporting to be published on the ECLDS so that research findings can be shared with interested parties and be used to inform both local and large-scale programs, policies, and practice.
Advise researchers at the local, state, and national level on research techniques and procedures to ensure they are informed of the most current practice and functionality for using ECLDS. Gain feedback from researchers to continually improve cross-agency and cross-sector data exploration and use.
Maintain strong relationships with cross-division and department staff members and employ exceptional communications skills in presenting findings to partners, including agency leadership and policy makers, sufficient to translate complex research to general knowledge to increase understanding and action.
Pursue gaining knowledge to continue to conduct difficult research work for the ECLDS, including ensure technical skills are in accordance with best practices and in-depth understanding of cross-agency data relating to children and families.
Actively participate in team efforts.
Minimum Qualifications
To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month, day and year for each job held.
Three (3) years of advanced research experience in education, public policy or social sciences. Applicants who meet the experience requirements will be further evaluated based on the following during the interview process:
Experience with data analysis, data manipulation, data transformation and interpretation, and modelling
Report writing and oral presentation of analysis and research results
Experience using programing language/computer coding for database querying, data manipulation, and/or statistical analysis (for example, including but not limited to Structured Query Language (SQL), R, SPSS, Stata, or SAS, etc.)
Experience with data visualization software (for example, Tableau, PowerBI)
Preferred Qualifications
Degree in education, public policy, social science, mathematics or related field.
Experience with data from programs impacting children and families, including economic assistance, care and education, child welfare, health, etc.
Data stored in complex relational-based data warehouse systems, such as SQL
Experience working with integrated data systems.
Experience managing projects and writing and documenting processes.
Engaging in process improvement work.
Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.
Additional Requirements
It is the policy of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families that the individual selected for this position successfully complete a background investigation prior to employment, that may include the following components:
Reference check
Criminal Background check
Fingerprinting check (MNJIS/CJIS)
Personnel File Review: current and former public sector employees.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
