Vendor Analysis, Research, and Evaluation Section Chief

The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) has been part of the nation’s nutrition safety net for 50 years.

Extensive research has found WIC to be a cost-effective investment that leads to healthier infants, more nutritious diets, health care for children, and subsequently higher academic achievement for students. WIC helps families receive healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other community services.

Like other divisions within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), WIC builds its program by addressing social determinants of health. WIC impacts the life course by promoting health practices that can ultimately improve life outcomes often experienced by vulnerable communities.

WIC serves babies and children up to age five, pregnant women, and new mothers. Dads, grandparents, foster parents of young children, and working families are welcome at WIC too!

Monthly, nearly one million WIC participants can find support at one of 84 local agencies which offer services at more than 500 sites throughout California. WIC participants can redeem their food benefits at approximately 3,800 grocers that are authorized to serve WIC families.

In 2019 - 2020, the WIC Division implemented an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card called the California WIC Card and a new management information system known as WIC WISE, that allows WIC participants to be served more efficiently. The CDPH WIC Division works continuously to improve its operations and system to better support families and their partners.

About the CDPH/WIC Family

Over 200 state staff work at CDPH’s WIC Division, headquartered at the Natomas campus in Sacramento. WIC is committed to a hybrid workforce and the state provides a modest stipend for those who fully and partially work from home. Staff are provided with a computer or laptop, camera, and large screen to conduct their work. We build our unit teams virtually and maintain contact with stakeholders by being on camera to solidify our relationships.

The WIC Division is led by senior managers administering the Data and Integrity Branch, WIC Systems Integration Branch, Operations, Local Policy and Health Programs Branch, Local Services Branch, Vendor Management Branch, and the Communications, Food, and Vendor Policy Branch. Through these branches, our support staff, analysts, specialists, researchers, and nutritionists serve the needs of WIC families, support our program partners, and ensure the California WIC program is administered appropriately and effectively.

Job Description and Duties

Incumbents in one of these classifications, where a Master’s Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 2% of their monthly base pay. Those where a Doctoral Degree is a required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 3% of their monthly base pay. Individuals with both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree will be given the best benefit in relation to salary shall only be eligible for only one amount.

The incumbent works under the general direction of the Chief, Data and Integrity Branch, Research Scientist Supervisor II (RSS II). The Research Scientist Supervisor I (RSS I) will lead the Vendor Analysis, Research, and Evaluation (VARE) Section in the research analysis, monitoring, evaluating, reporting, and dissemination of WIC vendor, program, and policy data to support efforts to maximize the utilization of benefits by WIC-eligible individuals, address racial and health equity issues, and maximize positive programmatic health and nutrition outcomes. The RSS I is responsible for assessing and leveraging Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) data to monitor California’s progress in meeting goals and objectives, including developing a data analytics plan to contain program costs and maximize health outcomes. They will provide stewardship of WIC data to ensure it is accessible, usable, safe, and trusted. The RSS I will develop and invest in the talent and strengths of their team. They will support and collaborate on program integrity initiatives to monitor program activities to safeguard the WIC program from program abuse. Finally, they will collaborate and build data literacy with internal and external partners to support data-informed decision making and policy development. The incumbent actively participates as a member of the WIC Division management team and contributes to strategies and initiatives to support data-informed decision making at the Division level. is responsible for the operation, technical guidance, and supervision of the VARE Section in providing analysis, monitoring, evaluating, reporting, and dissemination of WIC vendor and Electronic Benefit Transaction (EBT) redemption data and reports. The manager actively participates as a member of the WIC Division management team and contributes to strategies and initiatives to support data-informed decision making at the Division level.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

1. Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
2. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues
3. Ability to communicate effectively with staff at various levels, external agencies, and the general public
4. Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills including reviewing and editing documents
5. Public health and program planning, management, and evaluation of public health or community programs.
6. Analyzing complex situations and providing guidance to subordinates and colleagues.
7. Managing, prioritizing, and meeting multiple deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.
8. Leading workgroups, projects, teams, and other managers.
9. Communicating effectively with various levels of staff and the general public.
10. Creating processes and procedures based on policies and regulations.
11. Analyzing and evaluating the impact and effectiveness of program, policies, regulations, and/or procedures as they relate to community outreach programs.
12. Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting various forms of data.
13. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues.

Experience In:

1. Facilities management, business operations, and procurement administration
2. Coordinating with others to accomplish work-related assignments
3. Managing, prioritizing, and meeting multiple deadlines in a fast-paced work environment

Knowledge Of:

1. State and federal policies and regulations as it related to the WIC program or other public assistance programs
2. Project management methodology
3. Data-driven decision-making techniques.
4. Public health principles.
5. Leadership techniques.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• https://hrnet.calhr.ca.gov/CalHRNet/SpecCrossReference.aspx?ClassID=5643

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. 

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=517901