STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Data Scientist

Recruitment #240321-1947AR-001

Introduction


The State of Connecticut, Secretary of the State (SOTS) is currently seeking a dynamic, detail-oriented individual to contribute their experience to a critical position within the Legislative and Election Administration division as a Data Scientist. Join our team and embark on a rewarding career that offers growth, superlative benefits, and a culture that encourages work/life balance.

Public Act 23-204 codified into state law several aspects of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), which bans discrimination in voting and elections and establishes a mechanism to require certain jurisdictions to seek preapproval before changing their election laws. The new law – the Connecticut VRA – requires the Secretary of the State to establish a statewide information database to help the public, the state, and any municipality (1) evaluate whether, and to what extent, current election laws and practices meet the law’s requirements; (2) implement best practices in election administration to further the law’s purposes; and (3) investigate potential infringements of voting rights.

Pursuant to Public Act 23-204, Sec. 412 (b), the successful applicant must "possess an advanced degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent experience, and have expertise in demography, statistical analysis, and electoral systems."

The Legislation and Election Administration Division (LEAD) administers, interprets, and implements all state and federal laws pertaining to elections, primaries, nominating procedures, and the acquisition and exercise of voting rights. The Division encourages and monitors the implementation of the National Voter Registration Act and other voter registration efforts in Connecticut. In addition, the division is the official keeper of all acts, orders, grants and resolutions of the General Assembly, receives and maintains legislation, regulations and a wide range of other public documents as required by statute, and administers Connecticut’s notary public program.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
  • Work for a Forbes top company - ‘Forbes’:  State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023
  • Comprehensive health and dental insurance, providing you with peace of mind and access to quality healthcare
  • Robust pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings to secure your financial future
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, personal days, and 13 holidays per calendar year
  • We are an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, which means you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.
  • A culture that recognizes the importance of work/life balance and offers alternate work schedules and telecommuting options
  • Opportunities to invest in your professional growth and development with training programs, tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for advancement within the State of Connecticut
  • Connecticut is a strong community with a lot to offer in entertainment, food and shopping, recreation in our beautiful state parks and forests, diverse culture, and rich history. Learn more about all Connecticut has to offer.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
  • Full-Time, 40 hours per week
  • Monday through Friday
  • Location: Hartford, CT
  • Hybrid (office/telework) may be available
THIS JOB IS FOR YOU IF
  • You possess strong technical database expertise and attention to detail necessary to stand up and maintain statewide databases.
  • You value providing prompt quality service and improving access to information.
  • You have a passion for promoting participation in the democratic process by providing a wide range of services for the people and businesses of Connecticut. 
  • You want to do work that matters and want to build a better Connecticut with the Office of the Secretary of the State.
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
  • Coordinate with the UConn VoTeR Center and other CT state and local agencies to compile information necessary for a new statewide information database established under the Connecticut Voting Rights Act (VRA);
  • Review, validate, and maintain accurate and relevant data in compliance with the Connecticut VRA;
  • Create and maintain a list of towns subject to preclearance and language translation provisions;
  • Identify and investigate voting charges that negatively impact protected classes;
  • Evaluate current laws and practices related to elections and revise to align with the VRA; 
  • Provide technical assistance to Office of the Secretary of the State staff and the public in using the tools of statewide databases;
  • Create and routinely audit periodic reports from statewide databases;
  • Oversee the administration of the Centralized Voter Registration System (CVRS) and Election Management System (EMS);
  • Contribute to efforts to transition to a new combined CVRS/EMS system and oversee its administration.
ABOUT US
Through the dedication of knowledgeable staff and advanced technology, the Office of the Secretary of the State works as a team to provide a wide range of services for the people and businesses of Connecticut. We are a repository of records for the State and provide important information and resources regarding business and commercial filings, elections, and authentication as prescribed by the constitution, and federal and state laws. We seek to bolster business development opportunities, and foster a more inclusive political process by educating, informing and engaging communities in youth and civic preparation.

Selection Plan

For assistance in applying, please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page

APPLYING FOR THE POSITION
  • For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable when transferring into the Executive branch from another branch, but your state service credit will not be impacted.
  • To be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date of the job opening, unless otherwise specified. You must specify your qualifications on your application. 
  • Ensure that your application is complete before submitting it. To comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut no longer requests resumes during the initial application process. Once your application is submitted into the JobAps system, you cannot make revisions.
  • To receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. For institutions located outside of the U.S., you must provide documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service specializing in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the specified deadline. Late applications will not be considered. Candidates may request a rare and documented exception for events that incapacitate them during the entire duration of the job posting period by providing a legally-recognized justification to accommodate such an exception. Requests may be made to anne.dana@ct.gov.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER APPLYING
  • Applicants will receive correspondence via email and are also encouraged to monitor their Personal Status Board daily for status updates, notices, and tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • Some postings may require additional referral questions (RQs). You will receive an email with these questions after the posting’s closing date. Check your email and Personal Status Board for notifications, including your spam or junk folders. 
  • You may be required to submit additional documentation supporting your qualifications at any point during the recruitment process. The documentation may include a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, or licensure, at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, but your application may be considered for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • Candidates offered a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
CONNECT WITH US
  • Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot confirm receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. 
  • If you have any questions about this recruitment, please contact Anne Dana at anne.dana@ct.gov.  
  • Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn to stay updated on our career opportunities and news.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for directing and conducting the most complex and specialized research investigations/evaluations, statistical analysis and/or data driven studies/projects.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Applies statistical and research principles and techniques to a wide variety of issues and projects; develops research designs and statistically sound protocols and works with staff to carry out specific research studies; develops statistical and computerized models for analyzing data and interprets results to support business and client needs and facilitate informed recommendations and decisions; performs complex statistical analyses such as predictive modeling, forecasting, multiple regression, trend analysis, log linear analysis, factor analysis, and multi-variate analysis; uses parametric and non-parametric statistics; selects, designs, organizes and works out statistical techniques and research designs most suitable for the project/study at hand; evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of various statistical techniques and research designs, selecting those which achieve the most valid results; conducts in-depth literature searches and writes scientific papers; instructs staff in research and statistical techniques, methods, and use of statistical analysis software; oversees the production of research proposals, development and maintenance of databases, and interpretation, and writing of research and statistical reports for various intra and extra departmental audiences; may assist in the planning, design, selection, and evaluation of technologies related to data retrieval and analysis; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of methods of research design, statistical analysis and database management; considerable knowledge of management systems research and development related to social and economic trends; considerable knowledge of relevant State and Federal statutes, regulations and guidelines; knowledge of data processing computer programming for statistical analysis; knowledge of data retrieval and analysis methods; considerable written and oral communication skills; considerable interpersonal skills; ability to conduct longitudinal investigations/research, including interviewing and performing trend analyses and outcome effectiveness studies; ability to analyze and evaluate data using multiple regression, log linear analyses, factor analyses and multi-variate analyses; ability to use statistical packages and/or various data modeling platforms; ability to design and conduct studies and determine effective solutions; ability to write technical reports; some supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Master’s degree in biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, psychology, statistics or a closely related area with significant coursework in research methodology and statistics and one (1) year of professional experience with significant involvement in research and statistical analysis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The preferred requirements listed here are required by Section 412 (b) of Public Act 23-204.

  • Advanced degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent experience.
  • Experience in demography, statistical analysis, and electoral systems.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.