Data Scientist I

This position works under the direct supervision of DFPS agency leadership. This position supports large scale, data science projects that leverage data transformation and may include machine learning models. The position supports development of tools and provides predictive analytic/forecasting insight for leadership by balancing complex data, coding/visualization platforms, and information to support a healthy child welfare system in the State. The DFPS Senior Data Scientist supports automation and streamlining of projects to increase efficiencies and scalability, while producing high quality deliverables to agency executives and members of the Legislature. This position must have the ability to work well across multiple divisions within DFPS, with other state agencies, and with external stakeholders including, but not limited to contractors to support key agency functions. The DFPS Senior Data Scientist will be faced with competing deadlines/demands and must have the ability to independently prioritize deliverables. Deliverables produced by the DFPS Senior Data Scientist will be used to assist leaders and stakeholders in the decision-making process and to advance strategies aligned with agency goals.
This position will be required to develop project plans and timelines, and track and report on progress through milestones.
Performs highly complex (senior-level) data science work involving gathering, analyzing, and managing large data sets to guide key business decisions and model various market conditions to provide information for special projects or reports. Also involves designing and constructing new processes for data modeling and production using prototypes, algorithms, predictive models, and custom analysis. Works under limited supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. May serve in lead or supervisory roles overseeing or managing agency data science functions, or as subject matter experts.

Essential Job Functions:
Develops and manages predictive modeling algorithms to mine large data sets in order to make business decisions and discover solutions to business problems.

Manages the development and execution of a new financial forecast model for foster care and others services for DFPS.

Produces forecasts that are used by agency leadership, the Legislative Budget Board, and the Legislature to inform agency appropriations.

Utlizes data to produce predictive models that are used to inform agency policy decisions that impact outcomes for children, youth, young adults, and families involved with the child welfare system.

Develops and implements databases, data collection systems, data analytics, and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency, accuracy, and quality.

Designs and modifies new and existing databases and systems to support analysis and high-quality financial forecasts for the Texas Child Center Care System and Community-based Care.

Analyzes complex data sets related to foster care, kinship care, purchased client services, and staffing models to predict trends and patterns of growth and/or reduction in need.

Performs complex analysis of data sets to inform the maximization of federal financial claiming across multiple methods of finance.

Develops data quality measures, analyzes data quality results, and implements necessary changes to ensure data quality improvement.

Performs quality control and quality assurance activities of all deliverables produced by the DFPS Forecast Division.

Works in collaboration with the Office of Data and Systems Improvement to ensure the foundational data used to inform forecasts and appropriations requests meets agency quality expectations.

Identifies opportunities for improvement and efficiencies in processes used to collect, produce, store, and analyze relevant forecast and financial data.

Gathers, cleans, process, compiles, and queries raw data.

Develops processes and protocols necessary to ensure data integrity.

Identifies data outliers and works independently to clean data to ensure the best possible product.

Navigates large and complex historical data, that considers and accounts for recent policy changes in order to produce a model that results in a high quality predictive forecast.

Performs data collection and processing and to use for statistical modeling and graphic analysis; builds data visualization tools, dashboards, and reports.

Performs statistical models using various tools.

Produces timely, high-quality financial forecast rider reports required in the General Appropriations Act.

Develops and delivers charts, graphs, dashboards and other products that can be used by leadership and the legislature to identify and understand population, finance, and utilization trends relevant to the agency.

Uses the data collection and processing without actually coding programs for collection and processing for various analysis.

Researches and applies knowledge of existing and emerging data science principles, theories, and techniques to inform business decisions; and researches analytics products to develop new or improved predictive modeling products.

Analyzes and applies continued quality improvement processes in the day-to-day functions of the DFPS Forecast Division.

Remains current on industry standards and advancements in the world of data science, and provides consultation to agency leadership using the advancements in practice.

Researches and explores emerging products that can be used to improve agency functioning, efficiency, and produces ever-improving predictabily in forecast and financial data.

Identifies and adopts best practices in reporting and analysis: data integrity, design, analysis, validation, and documentation.

Examines current practice and identifies areas for improvement in the quality of data.

Establishes and implements protocols and processes that support data quality, replication, and sustainability for future use by the DFPS Forecast Division.

Works with contractor(s) and other internal and external stakeholders to develop new forecast models that can be used to inform best practice decisions that support foster care, kinship care, staffing patterns, and other agency needs.

Prepares concise, comprehensive technical reports to present and interpret data, identify alternatives, and make and justify recommendations on data revisions.

Develops, oversees production and manages quality assurance activities related to the agency's forecasts including making needed adjustments based on emerging trends, policy changes, and appropriations.

Assists in production of, and provides quality assurance of agency-mandated legislative and federal financial and budget reports.

Interprets complex data sets and produces concise presentations and reports that can be easily digested by agency leadership, the legislature and other stakeholders that require the information to inform agency decisions that impact financial health, and more importantly client outcomes.

Conducts in-depth investigations into business problems to identify trends and potential improvements.

Performs analysis that identifies the root cause (whether that be a data integrity issue, human error, changes to policy or practice, etc.) impacting trends.

Directs and manages the implementation of process changes in an effort to rectify challenges/problems.

Examines best practices and solutioning practices used in the private sector and in other state agencies to address challenges in financial predictive analytics.

Administers project planning techniques to divide projects into tasks and ensure that deadlines are met.

Manages competing priorities with the ability to prioritize the timeliness of deliverables in a manner that maintains the credibility of the Office of Finance and DFPS.

Assists the CFO and other leadership in the management of the workloads of members of the DFPS Forecast Division.

Develops an indepth understand and adheres to legislative, state, and federally derived timeframes when delivering work products.

Quantifies the potential value of a new data set for future models and models accuracy over baselines for data sets.

Approaches work in a manner that remains open to new ideas, innovation, and flexibility around the achieving the best possible practices, outcomes, data, and resulting forecasts.

Develops models and potential solutions using cost/benefit analysis.

Employs continuous quality improvement processes in day-to-day work.

May serve as a subject matter expert on data integrity, extraction, and compilation.

In consultation with the Office of Data and Systems Improvement, identifies and employs methods to improve the integrity of the data used to inform predictive analytic and forecasting models.

Trains and provides technical assistance to members of the DFPS Office of Finance, the data teams, CPS, CPI, and other stakeholders both within and external to the agency.

Understands, intimately, the process used to produce the foundational data, the processes used to model the forecast, and the resulting products informed by the forecasted data.

Performs related work as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to data science and data governance; data modeling techniques and algorithms; statistics and analyzing data sets; artificial intelligence; visualization techniques; running queries, report writing, and presenting findings; database design development, data mining, and segmentation techniques; computer programming languages; and record keeping, including security procedures for handling, protecting, and distributing confidential data.
Skill in the use of a computer and applicable software; in analyzing problems and devising effective solutions; in conducting data searches; in evaluating and translating large amounts of data; in programming; and in critical thinking.
Ability to manage and manipulate large data sets; to provide advanced analysis and interpret moderate to complex concepts; to manage projects and prepare reports; to maintain accuracy and attention to detail; to code, test, and debug software; to communicate effectively; and to supervise the work of others.

Registration or Licensure Requirements:
NA

Initial Selection Criteria:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in data science, business analytics, computer science, computer information systems, management information systems, accounting, finance, mathematics, statistics, economics, or a related field is generally preferred. Experience and education may be substituted for one another.

MOS Code:
There are no direct military occupation(s) that relate to the position