SENIOR DATA SCIENTIST / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT HOMELESSNESS

Salary : $119,403.36 - $160,912.32 Annually
Location : Los Angeles County, CA
Job Type: Full time
Job Number: PH1764C-EA
Department: PUBLIC HEALTH
Opening Date: 08/18/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Position/Program Information
EXAM NUMBER:

PH1764C-EA
TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:
OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY

FIRST DAY OF FILING:

The application filing period will begin on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 8:30 a.m., (PT) - Continuous.
We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.
This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.
The LA County Board of Supervisors recently , and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Senior Data Scientist vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Senior Data Scientist.
DEFINITION:

Under general supervision, leads the development and application of methods to identify, collect, process, organize, and analyze structured and unstructured data using advanced statistical prediction, inference, and optimization; effectively communicates results to County, departmental, and divisional decision makers and provides ongoing support to strengthen data-driven program design and management.

For information about the specific classification standards for this position, please visit the following link:
Essential Job Functions

What will I do as a Senior Data Scientist?

• Collaborates with division, departmental, and countywide stakeholders to solicit, define, and manage highly complex data science projects from conception through implementation; ensures that projects result in actionable insights and recommendations that can be used to support business decisions and allocate resources; and provides ongoing consultation during program implementation of recommendations as necessary to ensure program fidelity.
• Provides technical oversight to small teams of Data Scientists and Predictive Data Analysts as necessary to ensure project success.
• Leads the discovery process with departmental stakeholders to document business requirements and frame business problems so that appropriate corresponding data science techniques and products can be identified and deployed.
• Collaborates with other department subject matter experts to understand, identify, and select available and relevant sources of data for use cases, including internal, external, structured, and unstructured data sources; and provides guidance to other department data experts in the selection and transformation of such sources.
• In conjunction with the Information Technology organization, supports collection, integration, and retention requirements for large sets of structured and unstructured data from disparate sources; acts as a resource for senior data engineers and architects in the selection and design of systems for use by the data science team.
• Reviews proposals by Data Scientists and analysts regarding selection and improvement of data science tools and ensures that the team's tools and systems are well documented.
• Conducts and coordinates statistical inference of data and conveys findings and conclusions orally, in writing, visually, in presentations, and by developing interactive tools as appropriate to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences, including technical and nontechnical staff, stakeholders, and members of the public.
• Works with program staff to understand the implications of analyses and to ensure that findings are actionable and support data-driven program, policy, and operational decision-making.
• Assists in implementing recommended business process changes in ways retain fidelity to best practices identified through the analysis and recognize the operational realities underlying existing business processes; provides ongoing consultation as recommended changes and new programs grow and evolve, including recommending modifications to adopted goals and metrics.
• Coordinates with various functional teams to develop and implement products, services, tools, or business process changes resulting from the analysis.
• Creates and validates advanced analytic products (e.g., Recommender Engines, Auto Classification algorithms, Predictive Scoring, geo-spatial clustering, NLP classifier, etc.) and places them in production; works with nontechnical program managers and staff to understand analytic products and to integrate them into departmental programs.
• Recommends ongoing improvements to methods and algorithms that lead to findings, including new information.
• Creates and monitors performance of automated-detection systems and provides business metrics for overall project to show improvements initially and over multiple iterations. Provides ongoing tracking and monitoring of performance of decision systems and statistical models and troubleshoots and implements enhancements and fixes to systems as needed.
• Develops and maintains a high level of expertise in statistical programming languages and packages and other software tools; provides training and support to Data Scientists and Predictive Data Analysts as necessary; and ensures the quality of code and programming logic generated by the data science team.

Requirements
REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:

Option I:Two (2) years of experience carrying out complex data science projects* that included independently developing and applying methods to identify, collect, process, structure, and analyze data using statistical prediction, inference, and optimization to support data-driven program design and management, at a level** equivalent to the Los Angeles County class of

Option II: A Bachelor's degree*** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health that included 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework*** in data science, predictive analytics, quantitative research methods, or statistical analysis
-AND-
Six (6) years of experience, including two (2) years in a lead capacity****, applying and overseeing the application of machine learning, predictive analytics, data management, and hypothesis-driven data analysis to make actionable recommendations to support program, policy, and operational decision-making.

A Master's or Doctoral degree*** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health may substitute for up to two (2) years of experience.
LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class II - Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS INFORMATION:
You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.
*Complex data science projects include artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), or sophisticated algorithms.

**You may still qualify even if your job title isn't exactly the same as the ones listed. What matters is that your experience is at a similar level - meaning your job involves similar responsibilities, requires comparable skills and knowledge, and takes place within a similar organizational structure. Please provide a clear explanation of your experience to demonstrate that it is at the appropriate level.

***To receive credit for your education, include a legible copy of all relevant official documents, including your transcript from an accredited institution or email it to within seven calendar (7) days of filing your application. The document should show the number of units and the type of unit system used (e.g., semester, quarter) and be in English. If not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to US standards and indicate the number of units and unit system. Documents marked as unofficial will not be accepted. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit:

• Official Transcript is defined as a transcript that bears the college seal and states "official and/or copy" issued by the school's registrar office. A printout of the transcript from the school's website is NOT considered official and will not be accepted and may result in your application being incomplete and rejected.
• We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

*****Lead capacity is defined as act as team or group leader to at least two (2) or more journey or lower-level employees with responsibility for assigning, coordinating, and reviewing the work, ensuring proper work methods are followed, and providing technical assistance and training.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.
Application and Filing Information
HOW TO APPLY:

Applications must be filed ONLINE ONLY and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add as well as and to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.
You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.
Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00 p.m. PT deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Check the website for updated information at
DO NOT SHARE USER ID AND PASSWORD:

All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the in equalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Department Contact Name: Exam Analyst

Department Contact Phone:

Department Contact E-mail:

Exam Number: PH1764C-EA

California Relay Services Phone:

ADA Coordinator Phone:

Teletype Phone:

Alternate Teletype Phone:
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement:
The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit:
Testing Accommodations for Applicants:
The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit:
Fair Chance:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).
Employment Eligibility:
Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.
Career PathFinder:
Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at
Veteran's Credit:
Pursuant to the County Charter and County policy, in all open competitive examinations (i.e., examinations open to everyone), the County of Los Angeles will add a credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examination to the final passing score of an honorably discharged veteran, as well as the spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under specific conditions.
For more information on veteran's credit, please visit:
Revised September 2025
For detailed information, please click
01

The information you provide on this supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and used to determine your eligibility to participate in the next phase of the examination process. Please be as specific as possible and include all information as requested. Please do not use "see resume and application", for this is not acceptable and credit will not be given. Please note that all information is subject to verification at any time in the examination and hiring process. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or dismissal.

• Yes, I understand the above information

02

This position works to support the County's response to the homelessness emergency.

• Yes, I understand and am willing to perform all necessary work duties.

03

Please indicate which of the following best describes your qualifications.

OPTION I: Two (2) years of experience carrying out complex data science projects* that included independently developing and applying methods to identify, collect, process, structure, and analyze data using statistical prediction, inference, and optimization to support data-driven program design and management, at a level** equivalent to the Los Angeles County class of Data Scientist.

OPTION II: A Bachelor's degree*** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health that included 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework*** in data science, predictive analytics, quantitative research methods, or statistical analysis -AND-Six (6) years of experience, including two (2) years in a lead capacity****, applying and overseeing the application of machine learning, predictive analytics, data management, and hypothesis-driven data analysis to make actionable recommendations to support program, policy, and operational decision-making. A Master's or Doctoral degree*** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health may substitute for up to two (2) years of experience.

• Option I: Two (2) years of experience carrying out complex data science projects* that included independently developing and applying methods to identify, collect, process, structure, and analyze data using statistical prediction, inference, and optimization to support data-driven program design and management, at a level** equivalent to the Los Angeles County class of Data Scientist.
• Option II: A Bachelor's degree*** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health that included 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework*** in data science, predictive analytics, quantitative research methods, or statistical analysis -AND-Six (6) years of experience, including two (2) years in a lead capacity****, applying and overseeing the application of machine learning, predictive analytics, data management, and hypothesis-driven data analysis to make actionable recommendations to support program, policy, and operational decision-making.

04

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY - OPTION I:
Please describe in detail your experience carrying out complex data science projects* that included independently developing and applying methods to identify, collect, process, structure, and analyze data using statistical prediction, inference, and optimization to support data-driven program design and management, at a level** equivalent to the Los Angeles County class of Data Scientist.

*Complex data science projects include artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), or sophisticated algorithms.

**You may still qualify even if your job title isn't exactly the same as the ones listed. What matters is that your experience is at a similar level - meaning your job involves similar responsibilities, requires comparable skills and knowledge, and takes place within a similar organizational structure. Please provide a clear explanation of your experience to demonstrate that it is at the appropriate level.

If you do not have this experience please indicate "Not Applicable".

NOTE: For each experience please indicate the following information:
a) Employer's Name and Address
b) Position/Title held
c) Employment Period: From (MM/YYYY) To (MM/YYYY)
d) Hours Worked per Week
e) Describe experience/responsibilities in details. (Comments such as "see resume or application" will not be considered as a response.)

05

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY - OPTION II:
Do you have a Bachelor's degree*** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health that included 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework*** in data science, predictive analytics, quantitative research methods, or statistical analysis.
***To receive credit for your education, include a legible copy of all relevant official documents, including your transcript from an accredited institution or email it to within seven calendar (7) days of filing your application. The document should show the number of units and the type of unit system used (e.g., semester, quarter) and be in English. If not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to US standards and indicate the number of units and unit system. Documents marked as unofficial will not be accepted. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: _PPG123.pdf
Official Transcript is defined as a transcript that bears the college seal and states "official and/or copy" issued by the school's registrar office. A printout of the transcript from the school's website is NOT considered official and will not be accepted and may result in your application being incomplete and rejected.

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

• Yes, I have attached a copy of all relevant official documents, including my transcript with my application.
• Yes, I will email a copy of all relevant official documents, including my transcript within seven (7) calendar days of my application submission to
• No, I do not possess a degree from an accredited college or university.

06

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY - OPTION II:
Please describe in detail your experience, including in a lead capacity****, applying and overseeing the application of machine learning, predictive analytics, data management, and hypothesis-driven data analysis to make actionable recommendations to support program, policy, and operational decision-making.
****Lead capacity is defined as act as team or group leader to at least two (2) or more journey or lower-level employees with responsibility for assigning, coordinating, and reviewing the work, ensuring proper work methods are followed, and providing technical assistance and training.
If you do not have this experience please indicate "Not Applicable".
NOTE: For each experience please indicate the following information:
a) Employer's Name and Address
b) Position/Title held
c) Employment Period: From (MM/YYYY) To (MM/YYYY)
d) Hours Worked per Week
e) Describe experience/responsibilities in details. (Comments such as "see resume or application" will not be considered as a response.)
07

OPTION II - EDUCATION (Optional):
Do you have a Master's or Doctoral degree*** from an accredited college or university in a field of applied research such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Analytics, Psychology, or Public Health?

***To receive credit for your education, include a legible copy of all relevant official documents, including your transcript from an accredited institution or email it to within seven calendar (7) days of filing your application. The document should show the number of units and the type of unit system used (e.g., semester, quarter) and be in English. If not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to US standards and indicate the number of units and unit system. Documents marked as unofficial will not be accepted. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: _PPG123.pdf
Official Transcript is defined as a transcript that bears the college seal and states "official and/or copy" issued by the school's registrar office. A printout of the transcript from the school's website is NOT considered official and will not be accepted and may result in your application being incomplete and rejected.

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

• Yes, I have attached a copy of all relevant official documents, including my transcript with my application.
• Yes, I will email a copy of all relevant official documents, including my transcript within seven (7) calendar days of my application submission to
• No, I do not possess a Master's or a Doctoral degree.

Required Question