Full-Time

Senior Data Scientist

Posted on 7/13/2024

Vera Institute of Justice

Vera Institute of Justice

201-500 employees

Addresses injustices in law enforcement and society

Government & Public Sector
Social Impact

Compensation Overview

$114k - $117kAnnually

Senior

New Orleans, LA, USA + 3 more

More locations: Washington, DC, USA | Los Angeles, CA, USA | Brooklyn, NY, USA

Hybrid schedule requiring in-office presence for approximately 10 days per month.

Category
Data Science
Data & Analytics
Required Skills
Python
Data Science
R
Git
SQL
Postgres
AWS
Data Analysis
Google Cloud Platform
Requirements
  • Commitment to using research and analysis to end mass incarceration and undo racism and inequity in the criminal legal system required
  • Bachelor’s degree *AND* 4+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent experience with an advanced degree.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills working with data collection, processing, and analysis in Python and / or R, with preference for experience with messy public datasets
  • Experience maintaining and optimizing complex data product development in an environment where multiple developers are contributing to a codebase
  • Experience working with and maintaining SQL databases in a cloud-based environment
  • An understanding of full-stack development with preference for some experience in a software engineering context
  • Project management experience
  • Ability to work effectively with a diverse array of people and positions, including advocates, government officials, criminal justice system personnel and people who are directly impacted by the criminal or immigration legal systems
  • A professional dedication to issues of race, equity, and fairness
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Exceptional attention to detail
  • Ability to work on multiple projects effectively and efficiently
  • Ability to travel up to 5% of the time (team events, conferences, and / or site visits)
  • Fluency in Python and / or R
  • Fluency in GitHub
  • Fluency in Google Cloud Platform and / or AWS
  • Fluency in PostgreSQL (or similar relational database technology)
Responsibilities
  • Scope project-level end-to-end analysis processes and lead data science practice standards in collaboration with other senior data science staff
  • Scope project requirements for technical development, data analysis, and data management with Associate Director
  • Steer project-wide adoption of analytical and coding process standards where applicable (e.g. style guides, pull request templates, etc.) in coordination with Associate Director of Data Science and other senior data science staff at Vera
  • Lead project peer code review processes
  • Lead centralization of relevant public datasets and facilitate access for researchers across the organization. This will include becoming both the technical and analytical expert on production datasets, working closely with Vera’s tech support and mentoring/supporting research staff on data use context and best practices.
  • Lead data science workflow, analysis, and visualization
  • Lead development of analysis-end ETL processes to maintain and optimize large-scale data collection in close collaboration with the internal data engineer and research staff. This entails building an optimal data architecture for end products in research, data analysis, and visualization using messy source datasets (e.g. large public federal datasets, scraped data, administrative data not originally collected for analysis purposes, etc.)
  • Lead analysis of data using data science techniques and methodologies in support of research and product goals
  • Work collaboratively with web and visualization staff to create data products for public release
  • Collaborate with social science researchers to advance knowledge on the impacts of the criminal legal and immigration systems
  • Collaborate closely with research staff on social science research questions and priorities to guide goals in data analysis and data product development
  • Lead development of innovative uses of data science and develop new data science projects collaboratively with Vera researchers, either as an end product or supportive of research production
  • Support research report writing with contributions on analytical methods and results
  • Lead development, writing and / or editing, and presentation of internal and external data products in support of project goals
  • Lead drafting and maintenance of key documentation including and beyond code repositories
  • Present analytical results and data products to external audiences
  • Facilitate cross-functional relationships that interact with data science (e.g. communications, legal, IT, vendor management, etc.)
  • Team or department-wide tasks, as required
  • Mentorship and / or supervision of analyst and associate-level data science staff
  • Recruitment support as needed
  • Team events and convenings
  • Planning and other administrative duties
Vera Institute of Justice

Vera Institute of Justice

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Vera Institute of Justice focuses on addressing significant social issues related to justice and law enforcement. The organization collaborates with various partners to confront challenges such as mass incarceration, racial disparities, and the erosion of public trust in law enforcement. Their work also extends to supporting vulnerable and marginalized communities, as well as individuals affected by crime and violence. Unlike many other organizations, Vera Institute emphasizes a collaborative approach, working with others who share their vision to create meaningful change. The ultimate goal of Vera Institute is to promote justice and equity in society by tackling these pressing injustices.

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$243.2K

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

1961

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Increased educational tech in prisons aligns with Vera's mission to reduce recidivism.
  • Unionization may improve working conditions, boosting organizational effectiveness.
  • Chubb Rule of Law Fund offers partnership opportunities for racial justice initiatives.

What critics are saying

  • Unionization could lead to higher labor costs and potential disruptions.
  • Partnership on 'Dignity Principles' may face scrutiny if not effectively implemented.
  • Securus' educational expansion might overshadow Vera's initiatives in the same area.

What makes Vera Institute of Justice unique

  • Vera collaborates with JLUSA on 'Dignity Principles' to enhance criminal justice reform.
  • Focus on educational technology aligns with mission to reduce recidivism and mass incarceration.
  • Utilizes AI to enforce privacy, security, and fairness, enhancing social innovation strategies.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Student Loan Assistance

Professional Development Budget

401(k) Retirement Plan

Flexible Work Hours

INACTIVE