Chief Data Scientist - Racial Profiling and Biased Policing Investigations Unit

Chief Data Scientist - Racial Profiling and Biased Policing Investigations Unit

Title Code No:

Level:

21744

03

CITY RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Title Classification:

Non-Competitive

Job Category:

Legal Affairs, Policy, Research & Analysis, Public Safety, Inspections, & Enforcement

Proposed Salary Range:

$ 84,468.00 - $104,909.00 (Annual)

Experienced (non-manager)

Work Location:

100 Church St., N.Y.

Division/Work Unit:

Civilian Complaint Review Bd

Job Description

The Civilian Complaint Review Board ("CCRB") is charged with investigating and mediating complaints which members of the public file against New York City police officers involving the use of force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, or offensive language. The Board consists of 15 members who are appointed by the Mayor, the City Council and Public Advocate. The Board is responsible for governing the agency. The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the agency. As the largest police oversight agency in the United States, the CCRB currently investigates approximately 4,500 complaints each year.

In April 2021, the New York City Council passed Intro 2212, which clarified that the CCRB has the authority, under its abuse of authority jurisdiction, to investigate civilian complaints against New York City police officers alleging racial profiling and other forms of biased policing based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, immigration or housing status.

To execute this newly clarified authority, the CCRB has created a Racial Profiling and Biased Policing ("RPBP") Investigations Unit. To investigate racial profiling and other biased policing allegations thoroughly and effectively, the RPBP Investigations Unit must have the ability to conduct quantitative analyses of various NYPD datasets to identify potential patterns of biased conduct by subject NYPD officers, supervisory personnel, and/or entire units or commands. Thus, the CCRB is looking to hire a full-time Chief Data Scientist in the RPBP Investigations Unit to lead this critical quantitative work. Reporting to the Director and Deputy Directors of the RPBP Investigation Unit, the Chief Data Scientist will play a lead role in designing and overseeing these analyses and reporting their results in a clear, comprehensible way to the RPBP Unit investigative staff and CCRB Board members who are investigating and evaluating racial profiling/biased policing cases.

Specifically, the Chief Data Scientist's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Designing and overseeing multivariate quantitative analyses of NYPD officer-level, unit-level, command-level and department-wide data to identify potential patterns of biased police conduct
• Designing and overseeing quantitative analyses of body-worn camera video footage to identify potential patterns of biased police conduct
• Integration and harmonization of CCRB complaint data with related data sets on police enforcement activities
• Summarizing and explaining results of these quantitative analyses to RPBP Unit investigative staff and CCRB board members in writing and orally
• Working with RPBP Investigations Unit staff and CCRB general counsel to identify, request, and obtain necessary data from the NYPD and other entities
• Compiling, cleaning, and processing large datasets
• Working with the Directors of Operations, Information Technology, and Analytics and New Application Development to identify and obtain software needed to conduct quantitative data analyses
• Collaborating with the Director and Deputy Director of the RPBP Unit and the Director of Policy and Advocacy to draft and publish reports on racial profiling and biased policing
• Supervising, training and mentoring junior Data Analysts in the RPBP Investigations Unit

1. For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.
To be appointed to Assignment Level II and above, candidates must have:
1. A doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and one year of full-time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization; or
2. A master's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience described in "2" above. Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in "1" and "2" above.

NOTE:
Probationary Period
Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.

Preferred Skills

• At least two years of research experience in the fields of criminology, sociology, economics, psychology, political science, public policy and/or public health, with a focus on policing or criminal justice issues
• Exceptional skills and experience in quantitative research, particularly multivariate statistical methods for quantitative analysis of racial, gender and/or other demographic disparities in large data sets
• Experience managing and manipulating data in at least some of the following: SPSS, R, Python, Stata, SAS, Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with data security systems and procedures
• Familiarity with machine learning and/or other automated decision-making methods for quantitative analyses of audio and video footage
• Familiarity with data visualization and visualization software, such as Tableau
• Familiarity with geospatial analysis using ESRI tools or the equivalent
• Experience mentoring and supervising research assistants or more junior data analysts
• Ability to communicate complex statistical data and concepts to a variety of audiences in e-mails, memos, reports, slides, and oral presentations
• Skill and experience working collaboratively and productively as a part of a team
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, professional judgment, and initiative
• Ability to produce high quality work product under tight deadlines
• Strong commitment to public service

To Apply

CITY EMPLOYEES:

1. Apply through Employee Self Service (ESS) under Recruiting Activities
2. Search for Job ID# 495222

FOR ALL OTHER APPLICANTS:

1.Go to www.nyc.gov/careers/search
2. Search for Job ID# 495222

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

ONLY THOSE CANDIDATES CONSIDERED FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE CONTACTED.

In compliance with Federal Law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND THE CCRB ARE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS.

The NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and culturally responsive workforce. We strongly encourage people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and gender non-conforming persons to apply.

All applicants will be considered without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, age, prior record of arrest; or any other basis prohibited by law.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

The City of New York is an Equal Opportunity Employer