Research Coordinator

The DSS Accountability Office (DSS-AO) is responsible for protecting the integrity of social services programs administered by the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) and ensuring that DSS complies with all statutory, regulatory, and contractual standards.

The Accountability Research and Response unit conducts in-depth social policy and operational research to ensure that DSS adheres to all statutory, regulatory, and contractual standards. AR&R also designs and conducts pilot demonstration programs aimed at making DSS social service delivery more efficient and effective.

AR&R is recruiting for (4) four City Research Scientists II to function as a Research Coordinator, who will:

• Conduct complex high-level policy analyses and data research projects in areas of social service integrity and programmatic controls. These areas of study include assessments and analyses of agency-related controls such as agency’s populations, and population exceptions, demographic trends; determine levels and categories of verification required e.g., identification, documentation, income, resources, family composition and others to identify the correct population for services.
• Ensure services meet compliance requirements and standards of social service integrity based on the various facets of integrity controls.
• Observe and evaluate agency or city data using Medicaid Data Warehouse, New York City open data, interagency data-sharing agreements.
• Review large complex internal and external data sets utilizing predictive modeling, geospatial analysis, risk regression models, scoring mechanisms and highly quantitative research to extract critical information for demographic analyses of the agency’s client population, socio-economics, low wage labor markets, and demographic trends in family structure.
• Utilize various statistical tools using computer software applications such as Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS), Structured Query Language (SQL), geo-mapping tools; data collection from data warehouse and scientific surveys for integrity research studies.
• Identify relevant policy and programmatic vulnerabilities conducive to integrity control issues and/or compliance.
• Synthesize findings on public policy analysis and research progress reports in the field of integrity controls.

Work location:

155 West Broadway New York, NY

Work schedule:

Monday - Friday: 9 AM
-5 PM

• 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:

• 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
• 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
• 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.

Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.

• Experience in data analytics with extensive knowledge of DSS programs and systems.
  
  - Experience using SQL, Excel, Python, SAS, Stata, SPSS, or R.
  
  - Experience researching program operations and organizational structure.
  
  - Strong qualitative research and interviewing skills.
  
  - Strong writing skills.
  
  - Comfortable working in a fast-paced…