Job Announcement

Seeking two detail-oriented, problem-solving professionals for an innovative countywide data analytics team. These two individuals will support the Countywide Data Analytics Division. One of the data scientists will focus on demographics efforts to help develop estimates and forecasts for Fairfax County. One data scientist will support multiple analytics initiatives across the division to include, but not limited to the Countywide Strategic Plan, Youth Survey, and Needs Assessment.

Under general supervision, provides technical skills to collect, analyze, manage, and disseminate data from multiple sources to support countywide projects and initiatives. Performs quantitative and qualitative analyses with large-scale datasets from a variety of data sources to inform decision-making and planning and address business questions. Develops statistical programs, data models, and mathematical equations for complex analysis. Accurately and clearly communicates findings and compelling data that affects strategic objectives and outcomes. Participates in the development of countywide data resources and training materials to provide better access to information. Balances multiple projects affecting diverse business areas, while collaborating with varying groups of internal and external stakeholders.

• Implement or contribute to complex statistical analyses and models to better understand conditions and evaluate impact regarding local government and effective service delivery.
• Develop, manage, and contribute to analyses that create technical products to support the countywide need for actionable data.
• Develop and implement processes and technical practices to routinely acquire, categorize, and prepare data for analysis and manipulation.
• Plan, execute, and guide large-scale, cross-agency, analytics and research projects involving multiple departments and organizations.
• Serve as a key resource in systemwide analysis and ensure data is properly formatted, ready for ingestion, and compatible with a variety of applications for analysis and visualization.
• Design and implement quantitative and qualitative research projects and analysis involving advanced statistical techniques for sampling and weighting.
• Communicate in writing and verbally to disseminate information in a clear and meaningful way to diverse audiences.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in developing materials that build capacity and enhance learning in efficient and effective data analytics, survey research, and data reporting.
• Conduct research and analysis to monitor conditions and track performance.
• Serve as a technical support to review and/or implement data-related trainings.
• Employ general principles, theories, and practices of statistical analysis and research practices.
• Consider equity in the delivery of data analytics services and production of products and materials.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

Employs general principles, theories, and practices of economic, demographic, and statistical analysis and research practices. Implements or contributes to complex, multi-faceted research projects from concept to implementation. The process includes employing advanced principles and theories for problem definition, research design, primary and secondary data collection, data analysis, synthesis, and reporting.

Performs data sourcing from internal and external databases.

Implements or contributes to develop complex mathematical and statistical analyses and models for estimating and forecasting economic and demographic trends; to make predictive analysis for various scenario simulations and understanding situations and evaluating impacts regarding local government for effective service delivery.

Conducts survey research to obtain timely, accurate and valid demographic, economic, and social characteristics for Fairfax County.

Implements or contributes to design and conduct quantitative research employing advanced statistical techniques such as stratified samples, multi-stage sampling, weighting, and quasi-experiment design.

Provides technical expertise for conducting large-scale research projects involving multiple departments and agencies.

Possesses communication skills (written, verbal, non-verbal, visual) to disseminate information in a clear and meaningful way to all types of audiences.

Designs and develops materials and approaches for disseminating research findings, and conclusions to the public and for developing reports for customer agencies and groups; Communicates these findings in an effective manner with appropriate formats (i.e. reports, statistical tables, graphics, maps, Internet products, and databases.)
Utilizes programs such as SQL, SAS, R, ArcGIS, Python and Microsoft Power BI to manage and maintain complex economic and demographic databases, conduct spatial and statistical analyses and to disseminate information.

Contributes to develop, utilize, update and document complex computerized models, databases, methodologies, and statistical tools for sourcing, managing, and analyzing large amounts of structured and unstructured data, and creating products to communicate conclusions.

Conducts quantitative research employing advanced statistical techniques such as statistical tests, multivariate analysis, linear regression, logistic regression, machine learning, causal inference analysis; spatial statistical techniques such as clustering analysis, hot spot analysis, ordinary least square regression, and geographically weighted regression to analyze the large amount of administrative data, census data, survey data and spatial data.

Implements or contributes to develop, manage, and conduct research projects and analyses that create technical products to support countywide need for demographic, land use, social and economic information, forecasts, and use of data intelligence.

Employs geo-spatial models to generate large amount of spatial and temporal explicit data on housing unit, market value, population, household, land use, residential development, industrial and commercial real estate data.

Designs, creates, and updates web pages.

Presents advanced economic, demographic, and statistical concepts in a clear and meaningful way for use by county staff, managers, boards and authorities, and elected officials for policy initiatives, strategic planning, and decision-making.

Serves as technical and business contributors to data production and utilization that requires multi-agency collaboration on data linkage.

Serves as a technical support to review and/or implement Census Bureau's programs.

Collaborates and innovates with academics on studies and methodologies to improve data products.

Serves as a data ambassador to disseminate and communicate Fairfax County's economic and demographic data products to a broad audience including boards, authorities and commissions, county agencies and other governments and public.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

Knowledge of the principles, theories, and practices of economic, demographic, and statistical analysis and research.
Knowledge of data science life cycle and processes.
Knowledge about design data architecture and curate relational databases for data storage, management, and query using Oracle or SQL.
Knowledge of systems management and process improvement.
Knowledge of multivariable calculus and linear algebra.
Knowledge of machine learning methods, to understand when it is appropriate to use different techniques.
Ability to take data — to understand it, to process it, to extract value from it, to visualize it, and to communicate it.
Ability to analyze scenarios and solve problems with data-driven approaches.
Ability to comprehend and process data, extract values, visualize, and communicate findings.
Ability to perform quantitative analysis and economic and demographic forecasting.
Ability to conduct complex research project.
Ability to perform complex mathematical and statistical analysis and modeling.
Ability to effectively organize, prepare and disseminate information through reports, studies, and presentations.
Ability to use computer software (such as SAS, R, SQL, Python, ArcGIS, and MS Power BI) to analyze data and present results of studies.
Ability to use word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software to prepare documents.
Ability to conduct research to assess database and technology needs, and evaluate intactness, connectivity, and accuracy of data.
Ability to collaborate and innovate with academics on studies and methodologies to improve analysis procedures and data products.
Skills of data mining and data wrangling, to be able to source data and deal with imperfections in data.
Skills of programming: a statistical programming language such as SAS, R or Python; and a database querying language like SQL.
Skills in data visualization and communication (writing reports, presentations, including using BI tools, etc.)

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in economics, mathematics, statistics, data science, geoinformatics, applied sciences or a related field; two years of professional work experience in research, quantitative analysis, modeling and forecasting, economics, demographics, statistics, data science or policy analysis.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
None.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.

All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks after the last required dose) as a condition of employment or obtain approval of a medical or religious exemption prior to their start date. Proof of an exemption or vaccination status will be required during the pre-employment onboarding process. New employees who obtain an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs may be subject to a weekly testing requirement. Vaccinated employees and employees with a medical or religious exemption will complete the attestation online on their first day of employment or shortly thereafter.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Master's degree in a related field. Demonstrated experience managing complex data projects, primary data collection, or survey research efforts. Experience with quantitative and qualitative research, analysis, and data validation. Experience working with large datasets and managing projects with stakeholders from multiple organizations. Skilled in communicating findings and results, both verbally and in writing, to a range of audiences. Experience developing products using ArcGIS, Microsoft Power BI, or other data visualization products. Experience with SPSS, SAS, or R.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Job is generally sedentary in nature; however, visual acuity is required to read data on computer monitor, incumbent must be able to operate keyboard driven equipment. Must communicate with others. Employee may be required to lift up to 15 lbs. Ability to carry heavy brief case to meetings and carry materials from the copy room to the office. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or status as a veteran in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.