Research Data Specialist II - Climate Risk Lead

The California Department of Insurance is hiring a Research Data Specialist II - Climate Risk Lead to analyze climate-related insurance data and develop policy recommendations. The role involves researching risks such as wildfires and flooding, designing analytical tools, and collaborating with experts. Duties include data collection, creating communication materials, and engaging with stakeholders. The position is based in Sacramento but offers telework flexibility.
Overview
CDI is seeking a Research Data Specialist II to join our Climate and Sustainability Branch!

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled Climate Risk Lead to play a key role in addressing climate risks and promoting resilience for California consumers and communities.

In this position, you will take the lead on researching and analyzing climate-related insurance data, with a focus on risks such as wildfire, flooding, extreme heat, and sea-level rise. You’ll oversee the design of analytical tools and modeling approaches to assess insurance protection gaps and mitigation strategies. Your work will involve collaborating with experts across state, national, and international organizations to shape regulatory and policy solutions. You'll also develop reports, visual aids, and strategic communication materials that help inform public understanding and support evidence-based decision-making.

This role is based in Sacramento, with telework flexibility available.

Duties
• 35%: Independently researches, evaluates, and prepares analyses on metrics of insurance coverage options related to climate risks and mitigation strategies. Designs investigations to improve understanding of wildfire, high rainfall, extreme heat, and sea-level-rise, and develop policy recommendations for addressing protection gaps, data and information gaps, and the protective benefits of natural infrastructure as part of community mitigation. Recommends new studies to the Senior Deputy Insurance Commissioner and Climate and Sustainability staff. Reviews of climate mitigation technologies, metrics, and targets.
• 30%: Leads the development and design of data collection projects that examine complex multi-peril datasets and policy options related to the climate-intensified perils of wildfire, flooding, extreme temperature, landslides, and severe storms, including modeling and reinsurance information. Such analytical approaches will include analysis and summaries of information related to catastrophe risk assessments and models, examination of specific risk factors in combination with insurance availability
• 20%: Collaborates with Climate and Sustainability staff to create strategic communication documents and visual aids for understanding emerging technologies, property and casualty market intelligence data, economic impact trends and projections, risk management and mitigation factors used in catastrophe modeling and reinsurance, and climate risk and resilience research. Prepares internal and external fact sheets, and presentations, maps and visual aids for publication in both hard-copy and digital formats. Analyzes and makes recommendations on regulatory and legislative alternatives to policy questions to Senior Deputy Insurance Commissioner and Climate and Sustainability staff.
• 10%: Engages with stakeholders in California and with financial regulators of other states and internationally and interagency working groups to identify and review financial or sustainability focused reports, forecasts, or strategy initiatives. Reviews utility of existing CDI public data releases and publicly available data on climate risk and provides Senior Deputy Insurance Commissioner and Climate and Sustainability staff recommendations to improve the use of software, data collections, and analyses.
• 5%: Maintains an organized electronic shared filing system of all current working documents, as well as maintains climate risk related databases and report updates that serve as data repositories for the Climate and Sustainability Branch.

Desirable Qualifications:
• Experience with the collection and analysis of complex datasets, including climate risks, economic losses, mapping, and natural catastrophe information;
• Experience with catastrophe risk data, climate finance data, insurance data, and physical risk data;
• Expertise on flooding, wildfire, heat, or extreme temperature physical risks;
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and through written communications;
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment;
• Demonstrated ability to manage and analyze data with thorough attention to detail.

Apply here: https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=475891

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $7,417.00 - $9,283.00 per month

Benefits:
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:
• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Sacramento, CA 95814