Senior Research Analyst (RA4)

Initial Posting Date

01/08/2025

Application Deadline

01/16/2025

Agency

Oregon Public Defense Commission

Salary Range

$7,336 - $10,835

Position Type

Employee

Position Title

Senior Research Analyst (RA4)

Job Description

Oregon Public Defense Commission is in search for a Senior Research Analyst (Research Analyst 4) to join our Compliance, Audit, and Performance section. The ideal candidate will effectively contribute to policy and process formulation, implementation, and evaluation. If you’re a self-starter with excellent communication skills and this career opportunity aligns with your passion and goals, we encourage you to take the first step and apply today!     

Who We Are

The Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC) is a 13-member commission appointed by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court based on input from all three branches of Government. The Commission serves as the governing body for Oregon’s public defense system. The Commission provides policy direction and oversight for the administration of the system. The legal services provided by OPDC represent an essential component of Oregon’s public safety system.

The mission of OPDC is to ensure constitutionally competent and effective legal representation for persons eligible for a public defender.

The office includes the Executive Division, the Appellate Division, the Trial Division, the Trial Development & Resources Division, and the Administrative Services Division. The agency negotiates contracts with trial level public defense providers and administers and distributes funds for representation and related services for cases during the biennium for criminal, juvenile, and civil commitment cases. The agency provides compliance and oversight to the trial community providers through quality assurance practices, training, and education. Financial Services processes all expenses related to representation in public defense cases. The Appellate Division provides direct legal representation in the state appellate courts in criminal cases, juvenile dependency and termination of parental rights cases, and parole cases. Other services in the agency include, Data Collection and Analysis, General Counsel, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Internal Audit, and Policy Development.

Primary Purpose Of This Position

The person in this position will plan development, implementation, and evaluation of major research and complex data analysis projects related to the delivery of trial-level representation in criminal and juvenile cases in Oregon. The Sr. Research Analyst will lead the research and data portfolio and engage in a range of tasks to support OPDC’s data-informed decision making in budgeting, attorney contracting, program management, and quality assurance of agency providers.

Duties

Research Planning, Design and Analyses

• Develop qualitative and quantitative research and data activities to support OPDC operations, particularly the delivery of trial level representation and related services. This includes:
• Support data processing and analytic tasks.
• Coordinate the use and implementation of data driven policy development.
• Create visuals of data analysis for agency leaders to use in decision-making.
• Execute research and data projects needed to support OPDC operations by partnering with programmatic, legal, and financial staff to:
• Determine data and research needs.
• Design research and analytic plans and oversee their execution.
• Compare results to the policies, goals, and objectives of the related program.
• Prepare findings and recommendations using both narrative and statistical reports.
• Provide agency management advice regarding data-driven strategic planning and initiatives.
• Develop and apply caseload and workload forecasting models to project attorney capacity needs to maintain target contract workload or caseload.
• Monitor attorney provider appointments, caseloads, workloads, and activity data to support accurate contracting and budgeting.
• Develop and utilize program evaluation methodology for each contract plan to assess model against expected case, client and attorney benchmarks and outcomes. This includes:
• Using advanced statistical tests to execute outcomes evaluation plans.
• Developing methods for analyzing anomalies or trends among attorneys, contract entities, judicial districts, and other relevant points of comparison.
• Use statistical and data visualization software to analyze and visualize internal and external data needed for monitoring and evaluation of contracting models and compliance. Translate complex analytic findings to other OPDC staff and key stakeholders and seek input for additional areas of inquiry.
• Lead the analysis of contracting model outcome evaluations by utilizing evaluation methods and statistical techniques. Partner with programmatic and legal staff to identify measurable standards of representation to monitor attorney performance and contract compliance.
• Develop mixed-methods compliance monitoring plans for each contracting model, compliance plans for attorney oversight, and outcome evaluation plans for contracting models.
• Develop standardized data collection tools, including surveys, observation tools, and interview and focus groups guides, that generate reliable and valid data across counties and contractors.
• Develop standardized data collection processes and work with the staff collecting data to ensure consistency and reliability.
  
  

Technical Consultation

• Present to groups such as the Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC), conference attendees, public defense contractors and court personnel, including preparation of the agenda and written materials.
• Respond to inquiries from the public, outside agencies, and Judicial Department staff and judges – Examples:
• Gather and provide statistical information for reports regarding public defense, including caseloads and cost.
• Provide information to the OCDLA, courts and other agencies regarding caseload and attorneys available for representation.
• Provide information regarding application of public defense payment policy guidelines and public defense contract provisions.
• Prepare statistical reports, fiscal impact statements, and other information necessary for responding to legislative inquiries.
• Identify areas of research and independently plan and conduct major research projects. Provide projects management for these complex research projects, including the coordination of other research staff.
• Participate with Information Technology (IT) staff in planning, designing, and implementing new systems. Use software to extract and manipulate complicated data from databases, SAAS systems and files and prepare relevant reports.
• Plan, assign, check, and coordinate work needed to complete special projects.
• Provide technical direction and verify accuracy, validity, and completeness of data.
  
  

Other

• Engage in effective team participation through willingness to assist and support co-workers and supervisors.
• Develop positive working relationships with internal and external customers and supervisors through active participation in projects and in identifying and resolving problems in a constructive, collaborative manner.
• Contribute to a positive, respectful, and productive work environment in a manner that fosters and promotes the importance and value of an inclusive and diverse, discrimination and harassment-free workplace. Respect diversity of opinions, ideas, and cultural differences.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree in any disciplines that included six-quarter units in statistics or quantitative analysis methods and procedures, and three (3) years’ experience using computerized applications to independently gather, compile, and analyze data and prepare narrative or statistical reports. Two (2) of the three (3) years must have included coordinating complex research projects.

OR

Five (5) years of research experience using computerized applications to independently gather, compile, and analyze data and prepare narrative or statistical reports. Two (2) of the five (5) years must have included coordinating complex research projects.

Salary range: $7,336 - $10,835

The top five attributes OPDC is looking for in the Senior Research Analyst role:

• Ability to interpret and analyze existing data models in order to create tools for monitoring and evaluating.
• Able to plan, execute, prioritize, and evaluate multiple projects while managing resources, timelines, risks, and opportunities.
• Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Effectively relay information using written and verbal language.
• Must have the ability to take strategic policy and incorporate data strategy/analysis to develop outcomes.
  
  

RECRUITMENT TIMELINE    

• These dates are approximate and may change. *    
  
  

Recruitment Closes: Thursday, January 16th, 2025

Recruiter Screening for Minimum Qualifications: Ongoing

Hiring Manager Screening for Desired Attributes:  Ongoing  

Interviews: Friday, January 24th, 2025

Anticipated Start Date: By Monday, February 10th, 2025

Applicants Must Submit

• Resume   
• Cover Letter: Describing how you meet the desired attributes for this position. A cover letter that does not meet the required criteria will be graded as ineligible.
• Three professional references (including email addresses and phone numbers) 
• APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE THE ABOVE DOCUMENTS WITH THEIR APPLICANTION WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE RECRUITMENT**
  
  

Veterans Preference

Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. If you checked that you are a veteran, be sure to submit your documentation prior to the close date of this posting. For more information, please go to the State website: https://www.oregon.gov/jobs/Pages/Veterans.aspx

The Oregon Public Defense Commission is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and is strongly committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce.  Assistance will be provided in the recruitment, application, and selection process to applicants with disabilities who request such assistance.  Please call (503) 991-2274 as early as possible regarding any assistance you may require.

• This recruitment is scheduled to be open until 11:59pm on Thursday, 1/16/2025 **