Senior Research Scientist
Location
Manhattan, NY | United States
Job description
As the DSS policy analysis, research, and program evaluation unit, the Office of Evaluation and Research (OER; a unit of the DSS Office of Research and Policy Innovation, ORPI) informs high-level decision-making across DSS-HRA-DHS. Through rigorous research studies and evaluations, OER develops and analyzes the evidence base for HRA and DHS work and provides unbiased recommendations regarding priority issues and initiatives to the NYC Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner, the Human Resources Administration (HRA) and Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Administrations, the DSS Chief Program Planning and Financial Management Officer, and HRA and DHS program leadership. Staff bring an interdisciplinary lens to their work, drawing on a broad range of quantitative and qualitative social science research methods. ORPI is additionally responsible for providing strategic direction in the development and monitoring of collaborative research and evaluation efforts and grant proposals.
OER is recruiting for one (1) City Research Scientist III to function as a Senior Research Scientist whose primary focus will be on housing and homelessness. In that capacity, the Senior Research Scientist will:
* Design and lead rigorous program evaluations in close coordination with senior staff from across relevant DSS/HRA/DHS departments to assess the effectiveness of pilot programs and other priority interventions. Responsibilities include working with program leadership to identify intervention goals and key metrics; selecting appropriate evaluation methods and data sources to measure impact; developing relevant data collection tools and plans; and conducting rigorous data collection and analysis to examine program implementation experiences and outcomes and measure impact.
* Lead complex analyses of large agency administrative datasets, as well as large-scale survey datasets (e.g., from the U.S. Census Bureau). Use sophisticated statistical methods to address questions posed by program area leadership and executive staff.
* Serve as a subject matter expert to provide technical assistance and consultation on research design and analysis within OER and across the agency.
* Produce environmental scans and literature reviews, synthesizing existing research from the academic literature and social science research organizations.
* Make recommendations to agency leadership and inform agency decision-making through reports and presentations to the Commissioner, Executive staff, and other program area leadership, describing study questions and methods, detailing evaluation and research findings, and assessing implications for agency operations.
* Represent OER in meetings and interagency communications. Present findings from OER research and evaluation projects and provide technical and analytic support to other agencies and city offices on research and evaluation methods and on the content and organization of administrative data.
Minimum Qualifications
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
* Expertise in research and evaluation methods, including at least three years' experience designing and implementing experimental and/or quasi-experimental program evaluations. - Detailed knowledge of applied statistics and data analytics, including proficiency in a statistical software package (e.g., SPSS, Stata, SAS, R). - Experience analyzing large-scale survey or administrative data, such as the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. - Experience collecting and analyzing primary data through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and/or observations. - Experience coordinating project timelines and activities and/or experience leading a team. - Experience disseminating research findings through written reports and presentations. - Working knowledge of federal and state social policies and social service programs.
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.
Additional Information
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
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