Entry Level Data Analyst Government Jobs in California

About the California Policy LabThe California Policy Lab translates research insights into government impact. Through hands‑on partnerships with government agencies, CPL performs rigorous research across issue silos and builds the data infrastructure necessary to improve programs and policies that millions of Californians rely on every day. CPL's UCLA site is a dynamic and growing organization with nearly 20 full‑time employees, half a dozen graduate student researchers, and numerous faculty affiliates. CPL recognizes the value of having a diverse staff at all levels of the organization. We are looking for equity‑minded applicants who represent and understand the diverse racial and ethnic, gender identity, sexual orientation, educational, socioeconomic, cultural, and disability backgrounds present in California. When you join our team, you can expect to be part of an inclusive and equity‑focused community.

The California Policy Lab is seeking an experienced Data Analyst to contribute to our organization's proven track record bridging the gap between academic researchers and government policymakers. The Data Analyst will have the opportunity to apply methodologies from econometrics, statistics, and data science to original research projects primarily focused on homelessness, mental health, and the social safety net. The Data Analyst may embed with public agencies in Los Angeles to support collaborative research partnerships. The successful candidate will be well‑versed in data manipulation, wrangling, and cleaning, with experience running, testing, and interpreting a variety of statistical models. They will be passionate about using data to find innovative solutions to the problems facing California policymakers and citizens. This position requires an individual who is able to work as part of small research teams running multiple projects concurrently, including fast‑turnaround data analysis. We seek highly organized individuals with superior written and verbal skills and excellent time management. The Data Analyst will also be required to follow coding guidelines established by CPL and to contribute to the organization's efforts to build richly detailed documentation of the data we use. The Data Analyst will report to CPL's senior research staff and will work collaboratively with CPL's Executive Director, other CPL staff, and our partner agencies. We prefer applicants who are willing to work from the Los Angeles area.

UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

• One Year Applicants must also have at least one year of relevant research experience; experience gained in school counts toward this requirement. (Required)
• Two to three years Professional post‑baccalaureate experience (Preferred)
• Experience working in an academic or think‑tank environment (Preferred)
• Experience with business intelligence tools such as Tableau or PowerBI (Preferred)
• Experience with predictive modeling, machine learning, or artificial intelligence (Preferred)
• Project management experience (Preferred)
• Strong interest in applied policy questions in homelessness, mental health, poverty, or social services (Required)
• Mastery of data analysis and data visualization in Python, R, or Stata (Required)
• Superior verbal and written communication skills (Required)
• Attention to detail and ability to organize and document workflow (Required)
• Strong initiative and a resourceful approach to problem‑solving (Required)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team; Ability to multi‑task with demanding timeframes; Ability to work discreetly with sensitive and confidential data (Required)
• Substantive knowledge or experience in at least one of our core research areas – homelessness, health, criminal justice, poverty, education, or labor (Preferred)
• Understanding of relational databases and mastery of data analysis and data management in SQL (Preferred)

• Bachelor's Degree In public policy, economics, statistics, or other relevant field or equivalent experience/training (Required)
• Master's Degree (Preferred)

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

99-Policy Covered

UCLA offers a comprehensive benefits package, including an average of three weeks' vacation per year; an average of 12 days per year sick leave; 13 paid holidays per year; health, dental and optical benefits; life insurance; disability insurance; the University of California Retirement Plan with 5 year vesting and various voluntary UC Savings Plans. There are also special programs and privileges available, such as accessibility to cultural and recreational programs, athletic events, and the University Credit Union.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.